Wedge-shaped Urnes' World Heritage Center subtly cuts into Norwegian landscape

‘Urneskilen’ is the winning proposal for the new World Heritage Center as part of Urnes Stave Church in Norway. Located between the harbor and the millennium-old church, the project follows the shape of its steep triangular site. By lifting up one corner of the sloping site, the design sees the result of a wedge-shaped wooden building appearing as if it cuts into the topography.

With this gesture, an accessible roof is formed that subtly blends into the surroundings, all the while respecting and comprehending Urnes’ characteristic landscape and cultural heritage. Meanwhile, the triangular shape of the construction is oriented in a way that optimizes breathtaking views toward the fjord to the west and the apple grove to the south.

The World Heritage Center rises up from the ground as a welcoming gesture to the visitors

All images by Aesthetica Studio and Aleksandre and Ghuladze 

the landscape and the cultural heritage

Among 124 competitors, the winning proposal for the new museum and visitor center for Urnes Stave Church stood out by the design team of Christian Brink (A.C.B.), Lipinski Architects, Tobias Laukenmann. Integrated into the steep slope, the architects sought to give great respect to the cultural heritage and nature. With this in mind, they opted for a horizontal silhouette that delivers an excellent counterpoint to the vertical expression of the Stave Church without overshadowing it. Construction-wise, they also pushed in the facade to give a clear entrance point, enabling the overhanging roof to provide a covering for the restaurant’s outdoor serving area.

For the ‘Urneskilen’, the design team selected timber to complete the inside and outside, forming a strong visual connection with the traditional stave churches. The museum is intended to be built with locally harvested wood and resources which will give it a very low carbon footprint.

The World Heritage Center emerges as a subtle horizontal cut in the landscape and subordinates to the old Stave Church on top of the hill

Discreetly placed in the landscape to not overshadow the Stave Church

Siteplan showing the arrival situation

1/6

the plan layout was optimized to make a clear division between public and back-of-house functions

elevation of the west facade

located on a sloping hill among the crossing of two roads and an apple grove

by lifting up the corner we are taking advantage of the sloping site and creating a building that naturally blends into the surrounding landscape

by pushing the façade in, a clear entrance was formed, providing also covering for the outdoor seating area and reducing the solar radiation

the wedge shape provides another experience on the roof which is accessible to everyone

project info:

Project Title: Urneskilen
Architecture: Christian Brink (founder of A.C.B.), Lipinski Architects and Tobias Laukenmann

Location: Urnes, Norway

Size: Approx. 900 square-meters

Client: Fortidsminneforeningen

Photography: Aesthetica Studio and Aleksandre and Ghuladze 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. See more project submissions from our readers here.

Edited by: Christina Petridou | designboom