Photographer: Sindre Ellingsen | ArchDaily

The Evolving Practice of Designing Light in Scandinavian Environments

Olivia Poston — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Scandinavia is shaped by environmental conditions that test both human endurance and architectural ingenuity, with long winters defined by limited daylight, low sun angles, deep snowfall, and cold winds that transform everyday movement, gathering, and habitation into deliberate acts. In this context, architecture is never neutral, and hospitality is never incidental. Buildings that welcome visitors across cities, forests, and coastlines must respond directly to darkness and cold, not by denying them, but by creating interior worlds that offer orientation, warmth, and psychological relief. The act of welcoming in Scandinavia is therefore inseparable from the climate, grounded in the understanding that shelter, light, and human presence are fundamental resources in Arctic environments.

Hellestø Cabin / Helen & Hard

Andreas Luco — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Hytte Hellestø is located at one of Norway's most beautiful sandy beaches on the edge of gently rolling, grass-covered sand dunes. The goal was to carefully integrate the vacation home into the landscape so that it feels like a natural part and extension of the dunes. At the same time, the residents should feel as if they are living in close contact with nature, nestled in the dunes, with a spectacular panoramic view of the open sea.

Husene i Skogen / Helen & Hard

Andreas Luco — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Our goal was to develop a new typology that takes into consideration the unique qualities of the site and makes them perceptible to the residents and neighbouring communities. The development consists of six residential buildings built in timber, situated on a terrain that slopes steeply towards the northeast. The buildings are arranged in two rows, with the rear row overlooking the front row. In each row the residential floors extend down over the front of the parking garage. The apartments span over two levels, bringing the residential facades down to the ground level whilst concealing the long parking garages behind.

Innoasis / Helen & Hard

Valeria Silva — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Innoasis is an office building with a strong history transformed into a modern work environment. In 1978, Sverdrupsgate 27 was built as the headquarters of the newly established Norwegian Petroleum Directorate. The building had a rational plan and a clear and legible industrial building system made up of concrete columns and DT rib elements. This existing load-bearing system has been preserved and made visible in the new interior. The main transformational change was to turn the old backyard into a covered atrium which forms a new strong spatial center. A wooden structure has been implanted here creating new galleries for circulation, informal meeting places, and integrated green plants in the balustrades. This structure also holds the glass roof over the atrium. It consists of a framework of glulam beams and round, natural tree columns of spruce which hold the curved cut CLT floor elements.

Flor og Fjære Greenhouse / Helen & Hard

Paula Pintos — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Flor & Fjære is a unique garden on Sør Hidle outside Stavanger. The addition of a new greenhouse makes this destination more self-sufficient and sustainable. The spectacular park facility on the island is the result of continuous, persistent, and passionate work. It is an oasis that invites one to a feast for the senses. The new greenhouse is 4,000 square meters. It provides a completely new experience of the park, as well as an important transition to local food and energy production and thus, reduced transport. Here, guests can visit the Jungle Restaurant and event and meeting rooms, which are experienced as an organic and coherent part of the garden.

Sola Church / JAJA Architects

Andreas Luco — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The Sola Church is designed to be the new gathering space in the town of Sola. Located at the end of the main street, it is the first of its kind in the town center and has a significant presence in the urban space. Designed for both spiritual congregations and as a social gathering space, the church redefines the identity of the small town. The contemporary church and existing town center exist in symbiosis. The nave is placed as a direct extension of the main street creating a plaza for both the church and town. This provides the town with an active termination of the main street and the church with an urban space that opens up to its surroundings.

Building the Future: Cross Laminated Timber

Eric Baldwin — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 07:30:00 +0000

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) has been dubbed the concrete of the future. As a highly resilient form of engineered wood made by gluing layers of solid-sawn lumber together, CLT is reshaping how we understand architecture and design today. As a material with a high degree of flexibility, CLT has to undergo great deformations to break and collapse, unlike concrete. In turn, it's a material chosen for its warmth and natural properties.

Vindmøllebakken Housing / Helen & Hard

Paula Pintos — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Vindmøllebakken is a collaboration between Helen&Hard architects and Kruse Smith real estate: The whole development comprises 40 co-living units, 4 townhouses, and 10 apartments. The project is planned using a low-rise typology with 3-5 stories and is built of prefabricated timber elements. This refers to the traditional timber housing typology of the neighbourhood. Vindmøllebakken has become a modern housing typology that fulfills human, social, and environmental needs in a sustainable way.

Woodnest Cabin / Helen & Hard

Valeria Silva — Sat, 08 May 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Stemming from the client’s wish to create a unique spatial experience that connects to both the ordinary and extraordinary sensation of climbing and exploring trees, our aim was to create a space that truly embodies what it means to dwell in nature.

Nordic Pavilion to Be Transformed into an Experimental Co-Housing Project for the 2021 Venice Biennale

Christele Harrouk — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 06:30:00 +0000

The Nordic Pavilion at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale will be transformed into an experimental cohousing project by architects Helen & Hard, supported by a curatorial team from the National Museum of Norway. Responding to the theme of How will we live together? the intervention “will present a framework for designing and building communities based on participation and sharing”.

Samling Library / Helen & Hard

Paula Pintos — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Concept and Organization. It is a contextual and yet spectacular signature building that together with the proposed square creates a new identity and an initiation for further development in Nord-Odal. It is the new living-room for Sand´s inhabitants, the main gathering space with a low threshold for participation. It brings together literature, knowledge, economy, people, tradition, and history under one single roof. A holistic space with several functions that enhances a feeling of ownership for its users. Samling also connects the main street with the park and church on the other side at the same time that it connects to the courtyard of the municipality on the back. This layout, together with the inviting and transparent main entrance, makes it an obvious urban passage. An indoor street through the library’s main room that increases life in the building, an invitation to unintentional visits, meet people, bring a newspaper or book, or have a short coffee break.

NCARB Reports Number of U.S. Architects Continues to Grow

Eric Baldwin — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 05:00:00 +0000

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) has released its annual Survey of Architectural Registration Boards, which provides exclusive insight into data collected from the architectural licensing boards throughout the United States. Based on the new data, the number of architects licensed in the United States has increased over the last two years.

How Will COVID-19 Shape the Future of Work?

Eric Baldwin — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 07:35:00 +0000

The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed how we work around the world. From telecommuting and distance learning to virtual events, designers have quickly rethought traditional workflows to stay connected. With the rise of both self-imposed and mandated social distancing, as well as global turn towards remote work, ArchDaily is exploring the impact of COVID-19 and what it will mean for the future.

The Financial Park Offices / Helen & Hard + SAAHA

Andreas Luco — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 04:00:00 +0000

Bjergsted Financial Park is the new head office for SR-Bank in the centre of Stavanger. The bank’s unique position in the area will be strengthened through its new location in a central financial park and cultural arena. Here, the company can realize its visions of creating value in the local area and offer the best for the surroundings and the buildings’ users. This is an example of the future workplace and one of Europe’s largest office buildings in timber. To make a large-scale bank in timber challenges the notion of a strong, robust bank, while breaking ground for the use of structural timber. The main structure of the 13 200m2 over ground is made of timber up to seven floors. This rests on a 9000m2 underground structure.

Reilstad Summerhouse / Helen & Hard

Daniel Tapia — Sun, 12 May 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Reilstad is on the island of Finnøy - one of the largest islands in Ryfylke. The island is characterized by its typical Norwegian fjord landscape. The steep plot lowers towards the sea with outcrops and visible bedrock. Towards the east, sheep graze among a small collection of oak trees. There is terracing of levels within the house – adapting to the steep landscape of the plot. Each level steps down towards the private quay. Here one lives on four levels – and move through an inner landscape that is connected to the exterior landscape on every level. In this way, the house is organically adapted to the unique context.

ABC Street House / Austigard Arkitektur

Rayen Sagredo — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 04:00:00 +0000

The house is an infill project, utilizing an empty lot in the dense urban fabric of the coastal town of Stavanger. The house is in many ways a sequel to House in Stavanger from 2016, which is located just 100 meters away and which spurred a new development in the area.

Ydalir Hotel / Lund+Slaatto Architects

Rayen Sagredo — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 04:00:00 +0000

Ydalir Hotel, in the proximity of the University of Stavanger, is the first campus hotel in Norway. Thoughtful solutions characterize the building with durable materials; brick, concrete, copper and oak. In addition to high building qualities, Ydalir also represents significant added value to the university and the innovation and business environment in the Stavanger Innovation Park. The hotel consists of 59 rooms, several of which with kitchen facilities adapted for long term stays. At the ground floor, several rooms are intended for the university, with space for events such as public defense of a PhD thesis.

Grimstad Library / Helen & Hard

Pilar Caballero — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 02:00:00 +0000

The new library in Grimstand has a central, waterfront location. It lies between the old town and the new town center. The intention is for the library to not only be a place to read and borrow books, but for the building to become a social meeting point with the opportunity to host a variety of cultural events. The building is accessible for all.