Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter (RRA) is a

Norwegian architecture Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe *Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway *Demographics of Norway *Norwegian language, including the two ...

landscape architecture Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor areas, landmarks, and structures to achieve environmental, social-behavioural, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic design and general engineering of various structures for constructio ...

, and design firm based in

Oslo Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...

. Founded by Reiulf Ramstad, the firm has a permanent staff of 16. Reiulf Ramstad is internationally known for their work in

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

, with clients like Husbanken and

Oslo Sporveier AS Oslo Sporveier is a defunct municipal owned company responsible for public transport in Oslo, Norway. It was created in 1924 to take over the city's two private tram companies. In 1927 its started with bus transport, including from 1940 to 1 ...

. RRA’s designs range from private residential to large civic works, such as schools, restaurants, public transit stations, museums, and tourist routes. Using

biomimetic Biomimetics or biomimicry is the emulation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems. The terms "biomimetics" and "biomimicry" are derived from (''bios''), life, and μίμησις ('' mīm ...

and

natural materials * A ″ natural material a substance that comes from plants, animals, or the earth, and has not been made by humans.. Minerals and the metals that can be extracted from them (without further modification) are also considered to belong into this ...

, the firm's main goal is to create unique buildings derived from logical thinking and decision-making. RRA is affiliated with the Association of Norwegian Architects.

History

In 1995, Reiulf Ramstad graduated from the Venice School of Architecture and founded Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter AS firm. In its first 15 years, RRA participated in some 35 open

architectural design competition An architectural competition is a type of design competition, in which an entity that intends to build new work, or is just seeking ideas, invites architects to submit design proposals. The winning scheme is usually chosen by an independent panel ...

s, often placing first prize. Competition designs included hotels, shopping centers, museums, colleges, and other civic centers. Among constructed prize works are the firm’s 2004 proposal for the Metro Oslo Carl Berner, and the 1998 Customs Administration and Office Building at the Gardermoen National Airport. RRA has also worked on small-scale housing projects, such as the 2002 Villa Drammen. Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter has gained considerable attention after the 2012 completion of the Trollstigen National Tourist Route project, now one of Norway’s most visited tourist destinations. Since then, RRA has won numerous awards and recognitions, including the 2012 Norwegian Concrete Award and two nominations for the Mies van der Rohe Award. Currently, the firm has 27 employees, including a permanent staff of graduate architects, one managing director, 2 administrative staff, and 2–4 permanent openings for architectural students. Reiulf Ramstad is RRA founder and Design Director, since January 2017 he his accompanied by 3 Associated Partners.

Practice

Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter sets out to create

contemporary architecture Contemporary architecture is the architecture of the 21st century. No single style is dominant. Contemporary architects work in several different styles, from postmodernism, high-tech architecture and new references and interpretations of tradit ...

based on careful analysis and planning, taking account of the location of each project while combining research with an innovative approach. Rather than employing typical problem-solving methods, the firm frequently develops its own solutions.

Style

Influenced by architects like

Carlo Scarpa Carlo Scarpa (2 June 1906 – 28 November 1978) was an Italian architect and designer. He was influenced by the materials, landscape, and history of Venetian culture, as well as those of Japan. Scarpa translated his interests in history, regiona ...

and

Sverre Fehn Sverre Fehn (14 August 1924 – 23 February 2009) was a Norwegian architect. Life Fehn was born at Kongsberg in Buskerud, Norway. He was the son of John Tryggve Fehn (1894–1981) and Sigrid Johnsen (1895–1985). He received his architect ...

, Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter style has been classified as revitalized

Nordic Nordic most commonly refers to: * Nordic countries, the northern European countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and their North Atlantic territories * Scandinavia, a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern ...

. In order to break away from traditional Nordic architecture, RRA draws on natural materials to create different views of nature for users. The firm seeks to establish a new style of Nordic architecture and new ways of experiencing natural areas in their projects.

Design integration

Taking a

multidisciplinary An academic discipline or academic field is a subdivision of knowledge that is taught and researched at the college or university level. Disciplines are defined (in part) and recognized by the academic journals in which research is published, ...

approach centred on architecture, the firm also undertakes landscaping work, such as their 2012 cemetery grounds proposal for the Trondheim Church Council, and interior design including

furniture Furniture refers to objects intended to support various human activities such as seating (e.g., Stool (seat), stools, chairs, and sofas), eating (table (furniture), tables), storing items, working, and sleeping (e.g., beds and hammocks). Furnitur ...

. In 2002, the firm won the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design’s competition for the permanent exhibition, "Design and Craft 1905–2005", covering the history of arts and crafts in Norway. RRA’s furniture designs, such as their wooden chairs, have been displayed in national and international exhibitions.

Projects

Trollstigen National Tourist Route

One of Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekters better known projects rests on the

Trollstigen Trollstigen (or trollstigvegen; ) is a Hairpin turn, serpentine mountain road and pass in Rauma Municipality, Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of Norwegian County Road 63 that connects the town of Åndalsnes in Rauma and the villag ...

plateau and is part of the National Tourist Route. Completed in 2012, the project was the winner of a 2004 competition held by the

Norwegian Public Roads Administration The Norwegian Public Roads Administration () is a Norwegian government agency responsible for national and county public roads in Norway. This includes planning, construction and operation of the national and county road networks, driver trainin ...

. The structures take up approximately 20,000 square feet on their 2 million square foot landscape, also designed by RRA. They are composed mainly of treated, cast-in-place

concrete Concrete is a composite material composed of aggregate bound together with a fluid cement that cures to a solid over time. It is the second-most-used substance (after water), the most–widely used building material, and the most-manufactur ...

and

corten steel Weathering steel, often referred to by the genericised trademark COR-TEN steel and sometimes written without the hyphen as corten steel, is a group of steel alloys that form a stable external layer of rust that eliminates the need for painti ...

. Although the area can accumulate up to 23 feet of snow, the structures are highly

stress Stress may refer to: Science and medicine * Stress (biology), an organism's response to a stressor such as an environmental condition * Stress (linguistics), relative emphasis or prominence given to a syllable in a word, or to a word in a phra ...

-resistant, yet slender. The Tourist Route has been recognized for its

environmental design Environmental design is the process of addressing surrounding environmental parameters when devising plans, programs, policies, buildings, or products. It seeks to create spaces that will enhance the natural, social, cultural and physical environm ...

, using durable,

sustainable Sustainability is a social goal for people to co-exist on Earth over a long period of time. Definitions of this term are disputed and have varied with literature, context, and time. Sustainability usually has three dimensions (or pillars): env ...

, and locally-sourced materials. The project is now one of Norway’s most popular attractions.

Other notable works

* 2020 : Breitenbach Landscape Hote (48°Nord) - Breitenbach, France *2020 : Kornets Hus - House of Grain - Hjørring, Denmark *2020 : Pilestredet 77-79 - Oslo, Norway *2019 : Chemin des Carrières - Rosheim, France *2019 : Villa Ask - Oslo, Norway *2019 : Bygdøynesveien 15 - Oslo, Norway *2017 : Miami Sweet Bird South – Miami, USA * 2017 : Gjøvik University College - Gjøvik, Norway * 2016 : Romsdal Folk Museum – Molde, Norway * 2016 : Norwegian Mountaineering Center – Åndalsnes, Norway * 2015 : V10 Apartments – Oslo, Norway * 2015 : Cultural Center Stjørdal (Kimen) – Stjørdal, Nord-Trondelag, Norway * 2014 : Knarvik Community Church – Knarvik, Hordaland, Norway * 2013 : Split View Mountain Lodge – Havsdalen,

Buskerud Buskerud () is a Counties of Norway, county and a current electoral district in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Innlandet, Vestland, Telemark and Vestfold. The region extends from the Oslofjord and Drammensfjorden in the southeast to Hardanger ...

, Norway * 2012 : Recycling Plant ISI – Baerum, Oslo,

* 2012 : Trollstigen Visitor Center – Møre og Romsdal, Norway * 2012 : Selvika National Tourist Route – Finnmark, Norway * 2011 : Trollwall Restaurant and Service –

Trollveggen The or is part of the mountain massif Trolltindene () in the Romsdalen valley in Rauma Municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located to the south of the towns of Åndalsnes and Molde inside the Reinheimen National Park. The ...

Møre og Romsdal Møre og Romsdal (; ) is a Counties of Norway, county in the northernmost part of Western Norway, Western Norway. It borders the counties of Trøndelag, Innlandet, and Vestland. The county administration is located in the Molde (town), town of M ...

, Norway * 2011 : Summer House – Fuglevik, Norway * 2010 : Havøysund National Tourist Route –

Havøysund or is the administrative centre of the Måsøy Municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The village is located on the small island of Havøya, but is connected to the mainland by the Havøysund Bridge. The village has a population (2023) of 915 ...

Finnmark Finnmark (; ; ; ; ) is a counties of Norway, county in northern Norway. By land, it borders Troms county to the west, Finland's Lapland (Finland), Lapland region to the south, and Russia's Murmansk Oblast to the east, and by water, the Norweg ...

, Norway * 2010 : Fagerbørg Kindergarten – Fagerbørg, Oslo, Norway * 2010 : Korsgata 5 Urban Apartments –

Grünerløkka Grünerløkka () is a borough but also a neighborhood of the city of Oslo, Norway. Grünerløkka became part of the city of Oslo (then Christiania) in 1858. Grünerløkka was traditionally a working class district; since the late 20th century t ...

, Norway * 2008 : Villa Heshtagen Asker – Oslo, Norway * 2006 :

Østfold University College Østfold University College (, HiØ) is a University college (Scandinavia), university college in Østfold, Østfold county, Norway. It has campuses in Fredrikstad and Halden, and has around 7000 students (as of 2017) and 550 employees (as of 20 ...

–

Østfold Østfold () is a county in Eastern Norway, which from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2023 was part of Viken. Østfold borders Akershus and southwestern Sweden (Västra Götaland County and Värmland), while Buskerud and Vestfold are on the other ...

, Norway * 2006 : Inside-Out Cabin – Papper, Hvaler Islands * 2004 : Villa on a Slope – Oslo, Norway * 2003 : Villa Holmenkollen –

Holmenkollen Holmenkollen () is a mountain and a neighbourhood in the Vestre Aker borough of Oslo, Norway. It goes up to above sea level and is well known for its international skiing competitions. Etymology The name is a compound of the farm name and the ...

, Oslo, Norway

Reception

Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter has frequently received positive reviews for its work on many different types of buildings and has been mentioned in national and global magazines. The firm has also collaborated with several authors on books about the firm. Reiulf Ramstad has collaborated with Boris Jensen and Hatje Cantz on his biography.

Awards

* 2013: Norwegian Steel Award – Trollstigen National Tourist Route * 2013: European Steel Construction Award – Trollstigen National Tourist Route * 2012: Norwegian Concrete Award – Trollstigen National Tourist Route * 2009: ArchDaily Building of the Year – Trollstigen National Tourist Route

References

External links

* {{authority control Architecture firms of Norway Design companies established in 1995 1995 establishments in Norway