the knut hamsun center in hamaroey, norway
courtesy steven holl architects

crown princess mette-marit has opened norway's first museum dedicated to nobel laureate
knut hamsun who won the nobel prize in literature in 1920, and died in 1952.
his works include 'hunger' and 'mysteries.'

over 5,000 visitors attended the ceremony at hamaroey, 320 kilometers north of the arctic
circle on tuesday, the 150th anniversary of hamsun's birth. guests who attended included
american architect steven holl, whose design of the museum won the progressive
architecture award in 1996.

initially the 142 million kroner (23.5 million USD) project was delayed by arguments over
hamsun's nazi sympathies during 15 years of planning. the government eventually allocated
the funds in 2007.


the knut hamsun center
courtesy steven holl architects

the museum includes exhibition areas, a library and reading room, a cafe and an auditorium.
the concept for the museum is 'building as a body,' creating a battleground of invisible forces.
the tarred black wood exterior skin is characteristic of the great wooden stave norse churches.
the spine of the building body is the central elevator, providing handicapped and freight access
to all parts of the building. at the roof garden the long grass reflects the traditional norwegian
sod roofs in a different way.


location of the knut hamsun center
courtesy steven holl architects


model of the knut hamsun center
courtesy steven holl architects



rendering of the interior
courtesy steven holl architects


early sketches of the knut hamsun center
courtesy steven holl architects


early sketches of the knut hamsun center
courtesy steven holl architects