Architects: BRENDELAND & KRISTOFFERSEN.
Location: Trondheim, Norway.
Year: 2005.
Photographs: David Grandorge, Johan Fowelin.
The Svartlamoen community in Stavanger, Norway, is a testament to the potential of timber construction and its ability to foster sustainable, communal living. The area consists of a series of buildings designed and constructed by the architectural firm Brendeland & Kristoffersen, including housing, a kindergarten, and a community centre. Through the use of prefabrication and complex geometry techniques, the firm was able to create unique and innovative structures that stand out in their urban environment. The buildings are characterized by large open windows and a lack of security fencing, which reinforces a message of trust and openness.
Despite the limitations of research and development in the Norwegian timber sector, the Svartlamoen project has had a significant impact on the country’s architectural community. The use of massive wood and CNC technology in these buildings has become increasingly commonplace, and the area has garnered international attention. The community has also served as an inspiration for sustainable and communal living, and its success can be attributed to a small group of neo-punk anarchists, squat-land hippy greens, and students who held out in Svartlamoen. As a result, the project is a symbol of innovation and possibility, and its legacy continues to influence the way that architects and designers approach timber construction.
