Sverre Fehn
Exhibition Pavilion
Norwegian Museum of Architecture
Oslo, Norway
A new Exhibition Pavilion and a complete restoration of the historic buildings.
Photo: Thomas Mayer
The new Architecture Museum is an extention to one of Norway’s first monumental Empire Style buildings, designed by Christian Grosch in 1830, and a four-story building that was added in 1910. The buildings had been empty since 1990 and were in great need of repair.
Photo: Thomas Mayer
Photo: Thomas Mayer
The concept behind the new Exhibition Pavilion was to create an introverted situation with daylight, the sky, and the surrounding vegetation as important elements in the total experience.
Photo: Thomas Mayer
The cast on site construction is square in plan with four large columns supporting the slightly curved concrete roof. The facades are glass, blurring the transition between outside and inside. Exterior glass louvers provide for sun screening.
Photo: Thomas Mayer
The pavilion is surrounded by concrete walls that expand the experience in the room and act as a quiet backdrop for the exhibitions.
Photo: Thomas Mayer
Photo: Thomas Mayer
Photo: Thomas Mayer
Photo: Thomas Mayer
Visitors enter the museum through the original Main entrance in the Grosch Building. All public functions, Reception, Bookstore, Café etc., are located in the Main Hall on the ground floor. The Library and the Administration are located on the second floor.
Photo: Thomas Mayer
Photo: Thomas Mayer
From the Main Hall visitors have access to the Exhibition Pavilion with changing exhibitions, or to the adjacent building with the permanent collection.
Photo: Thomas Mayer
Photo: Thomas Mayer
Photo: Thomas Mayer
The goal for the restoration was to recreate the buildings original character and accentuate the structure to interact with the new elements. The original room sizes have been reestablished when possible.
Focus has been on excellent craftsmanship, using period methods when applicable. Walls are plastered and painted with an oil based paint, stucco lofts have been repaired and reconstructed.
Technical installations were fitted to the existing construction, preserving the architectural language in a satisfying way.
New building materials are mainly concrete, glass, steel, marble and oak.
Photo: Thomas Mayer
The museum opened in 2008 with a retrospective of 1997 Pritzker Prize Laureate Sverre Fehn.
Drawing courtesy Ark Sverre Fehn AS
Site Plan
Drawing courtesy Ark Sverre Fehn AS
Ground Level Plan
Drawing courtesy Ark Sverre Fehn AS
Level One Plan
Drawing courtesy Ark Sverre Fehn AS
Level Two Plan
Drawing courtesy Ark Sverre Fehn AS
Longitudinal Section
Drawing courtesy Ark Sverre Fehn AS
Cross Section
Total area: 3,800 square meters
Completed: 2008
Clients:
Restoration Grosch and Magasin Building: Statsbygg
Exhibition Pavilion: The National Museum
Arkitekt: Ark Sverre Fehn AS
Project Architect: Martin Dietrichson
Project Team:
Marius Mowe
Kristoffer Moe Bøksle
Henrik Hille
General Contractor: Kåre Hagen AS
Photographed by Thomas Mayer
September 1, 2008