AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.12.2003, Qupperneq 72

Arkitektastofa / architecturalpractice of Guðmundur Jónsson in Osló. GuðmUndlir JÓnSSOfl ArChitSCt
Verkefnisstjóri / project manager: Guðmundur Jónsson; samræmingar-
aðili / coordinator: Þórður Bryngeirsson; collaborators:Alf Ingar
Svinterud, Peter Pompino, Einar Lohne, Ane Forfang.
„THE SISTERSHIP11 IN
R0RVIK, NORWAY
In the centre of Rorvik, a Norwegian fishing village
wishíng to emphasise further development, sits „The
Sistership." Numerous central and important sites
were not being used in the town. It was therefore
important that each new building would help create
the foundation for such an expansion and vital to
create a building which could encourage improved
future growth. My being commissioned to create this
foundation resulted in the publication of an „aesthet-
ic guide," which the technical department of Rorvik
can use in assessing future developmental actions.
In designing the „Sistership," the most important
premise was to showcase a financial and operational
benefit, used in conjunction with the nautical muse-
um, Norveg. Also designed by the author of this arti-
cle, Norveg is now being built on an adjoining site.
Another important consideration was to advertise
the buildings together, promoting the town as a
viable location for conferences or firms. One could
say that with the preliminary drawings of Norveg, the
foundation was laid for the development of Rorvik.
The buildíng has caused a kind of „Bilbao-effect,“ in
that it has drawn new companies there and created
an optimism of employment. A former village is now
developing into a town.
Location
I realised that the nautical museum Norveg and the
Sistership together could become the seed for posi-
tive side effects and hopefully act as a model. The
nautical museum Norveg and the Sistership are on
Strandgata, the main street of Rorvik and the main
access road to the village centre. This results in an
important aesthetic, both when entering the village
and from sea, as the buildings are located at the
end of the pier. Norveg actually stands on its own
pier above the sea.
Architecture and Symbolism
Companies in Norway are gradually realising the
value of architecture and design as symbols and
adverts for their enterprises. In the Sistership, the
strong and easily-recognisable character of the
architecture is emphasised with a modern appear-
ance with reference to the history of this fishing vil-
lage, which had its golden age around 1900. These
aspects were important in the design of the
Norweg-building and it was therefore only natural
that this cultural past would factor in the design of
the „Sistership," which received its name because of
its relationship to Norveg. The goal was to strength-
en the cultural and historical symbols of Rorvik,
combining old traditions and modern architecture.
Structure and Materials
The support system of the building consists of
columns and slabs. Concrete units for services,
stairs and lift brace the building. The support system
is planned for flexible office use. The form of the
building has reference to a ship,s body and a clear
difference is made between the bow and the stern.
Horizontal timber cladding is chosen as a reference
to the sides of boats. The choice of materials and
form also has reference to the stern of the Norveg-
museum. There is also a connection in the choice of
materials to the timber-clad houses of the village,
now in the process of becomíng a town. ■
70 avs