Snohetta

Craig Edward Dykers was co-founder of Snohetta. The architecture, landscape and interior design firm has offices in Oslo, Norway and New York City. He visited LaTech as part of an architecture lecture series. This is my 5th year attending these lectures and I found this lecture to be one of the most motivating, inspiring, fundamentally grounded, interesting, and forward thinking quests we've had. His lecture was very informative while also humorous. I found it interesting to hear his views on the work environment created within his office. And even more interesting that what would seem to distract people from work actually promotes productivity. The U.S. has a workday which is far different from typical workdays within other countries. I am pleased to see that variation from the norm is being investigated more within our country. I would love to work at such a place that seems to have bustling creativity within a more laid-back environment. Without all the pretension, salary envy, and "all work, no play" labor standards, I believe that it would be easy to see why productivity is in high yield.

Petter Dass Museum

Norwegian National Opera and Ballet
Dykers said that it was the living extension of the architecture which made it complete. He said that "there is something really nice about putting on a dirty pair of shoes and going to something high-brow like the opera." This shows that the people express ownership of the building. This project was very successful because it did exactly what it was intended to do. Peoples ownership resounds throughout it entirely. For example, the construction of the acoustic wood panels was done by children because "kids do random well". Even fish and bird life returned because Snohetta removed 60,000 tons of pollutants from the fjord, which were a result of centuries of factory work there.

Karmoy Fishing Museum
The men who commissioned the fishing museum were not completely happy with the design. They said it did not seem to fit well, as a concrete object, within its context and for its purpose. The idea to make indigenous lichen grow on the concrete arose. Then, like the rocks surrounding the museum, it might seem to more naturally exist. After failing at their efforts, due to lengthy growth phases, they learned a trick. A little old lady, in her garden, told them to pour sour milk on the building sides. She assured them it would promote fast growth so that the retired fishermen could enjoy it before they kicked the bucket. If hope seems lost, consult the elders!
Alexandria Library
National September 11 Memorial and Museum

Conclusively, Snohetta is inspiring because they provide creative architecture which responds to the human element without arrogance. They seem to produce smart and reasonable solutions to design intent while also engaging the inhabitants of the architecture and feeding the need for enduring interest.