A minimalist line drawing depicting a hill with a wooden structure, possibly a small house or hut, supported by stilts, situated on its slope.

Astruptunet Visitor Centre

Vassenden, Norway

2024

Buildings · Culture & Leisure · Conservation & Retrofit · Workplace

Nestled in the breathtaking landscape of western Norway, the Astruptunet Visitor Centre is a tribute to the life and work of artist Nikolai Astrup. Designed to harmonize with its natural surroundings, the architecture blends contemporary with traditional elements, creating a seamless dialogue between art, nature, and history. The centre offers an immersive experience, guiding visitors through Astrup’s world while framing the dramatic scenery that inspired his iconic paintings.

A modern multi-level wooden building nestled on a snowy hillside, surrounded by leafless trees, with warm interior lighting, architecture by MOXON Architects.

A series of four architectural section drawings illustrates a structure on a slope. They show a path from a parking area to a building at different elevation levels, highlighting changes in terrain and the buildings integration into the landscape.

The new museum is intended to replace the function of an existing visitor centre, sited on the original cottage where Astrup lived, conserving the future of the existing building.

To address the challenge of building on a slope, the structure is raised above ground. This minimises disturbance to the existing landscape and allows nature to retain ownership of the ground. Functions are distributed across three levels to provide optimal views of Jølstravatnet.

In response to the site’s slope and position between two roads, a key objective is to address the challenge of circulation. This is achieved by introducing a route through the building, as a vertical bridge between upper and lower roads. This route will be accessible all hours, functioning independently of the building, and connecting newly defined outdoor spaces.

Cross-sectional architectural drawing of a multi-level house on a hillside. The building has expansive windows, staircases, and a car parked outside. Trees and landscape are sketched in the background, illustrating the surrounding environment.

A wooden building with large windows sits on a snowy hillside, partially surrounded by trees. People are walking along a path leading to the structure. The scene is reflected in a calm body of water in the foreground.

In addition to the vertical bridge, an external path is introduced from upper to lower level. This pathway meanders between the contours of the site, weaving among the timber posts which support the building above to provide external stopping points for pause and reflection, further animating the building’s elevation