The North Norwegian architecture prize

(Photo: Åse Pulk/NRK)

 The North Norwegian architecture prize was awarded yesterday (16. june.2012) in Tromsø at the annual meeting of the North Norwegian Architects Association 

The North Norwegian architecture prize was awarded yesterday (16. june.2012) in Tromsø at the annual meeting of the North Norwegian Architects Association 

The jury, which consisted of Kjerstin Uhre, Viggo Ditlevsen and Berit Steenstrup, was proud to award the North Norwegian Architecture Prize for 2012 to the Sami tent and hut. 

It is the first time in the history of the North Norwegian architecture prize that the prize is given to an entire building tradition and not to a specific building. 

(Photo: Michele Widerøe)

Jurys statement:

" The North Norwegian architecture prize for 2012 is given to a traditional and vibrant architectural concept. An architecture that is smart with respect to climate and energy, which has room for improvisation, which in its various forms can be both permanent and temporary. An architecture that is always in time, developed out of respect for the landscape through material optimization and ingenuity, with strong traditions and in constant transformation. An architecture that carries an important part of our land and is a part of our identity and history of the Sami "

(Photo: Michele Widerøe)

The North Norwegian Architecture Prize:

The North Norwegian Architecture Prize is awarded annually to projects with specific reference to, and of importance to the north Norwegian history, culture and environment.

It has been awarded 14 times, the  first time in 1974.

Some of the buildings that have received this prize are: Harald Mound camping Målselv (1974) Kautokeino Cultural Centre (1987), Sami Parliament building (2002), Hamsun Centre, Presteid in Hamarøy (2010), Lofoten Culture center and Thon Hotel, Svolvaer (2011)

Lecture

 (Photo: Michele Widerøe)

Every year the North Norwegian Architects Association´s invites an architect office to give a lecture at it´s annual meeting.  This year was Ecosistema Urbano from Madrid invited.

Ecosistema Urbano is an innovative spanish office that focuses on understanding the city as a complex phenomenon, from an interdisciplinary point of view between urbanism, architecture, engineering and sociology. The office defines his interest as "creative urban sustainability", which means that they try to respond to the current situation through innovation, creativity and comprehensive action.
Ecosistema urbano has received more than 30 awards since 2000, and teaches at the most prestigious institutions around the world. In 2010 they were invited to the World Expo in Shanghai (World Expo) with its project Air Tree is an experimental interactive public space. Currently they are working with an urban project to the Square in Hamar, where a broad participation and network design process has been completed in autumn 2011 called Dream Hamar. (taken from www.doga.no)