Lipinski Lasovsky Johansson wins Museum of Forest Finn Culture competition in Norway

“Finnskogens Hus” by emerging Copenhagen practice Lipinski Lasovsky Johansson (LLJ) was the winner of the Museum of Forest Finn Culture competition in Svullrya, Norway. A total of 203 proposals were submitted, making it Norway's fourth largest architecture competition.

Reflecting its natural surroundings, Finnskogens Hus features a “forest” of columns that encourage visitors to interact with the building and landscape. LLJ shared more details about their winning proposal below.

Project description: “The new museum creates a new framework where to present and educate about the rich history of the Forest Finns. The museum is characterized by the large roof and the forest of columns; creating a symbiosis between the nature and the building, between inside and outside. The playful column facade gives the building an unique expression, especially during the dark hours of the day when the light from the inside will trickle through the column forest and light up the surrounding landscape.”

“When you approach the building the entrance will appear as a glade through the forest and lead you into the reception area, café and library. Once inside the museum the columns are still present and light is filtered through the ceiling, a reference to the Forest Finns building technique where smoke was ventilated out through a smoke hatch.”

“Finnskogens Hus is a simple building that in many ways are relating to the Forest Finn culture. Wood is present in both structural elements and interior spaces, where for example burnt wood is present to tell a story about the slash-and-burn cultivation in the Forest Finn Culture. It has a clear and simple plan layout to ensure flexibility between the museums different functions and to have the possibility to extend the building through a second building phase.”

Project details

Architects: LIPINSKI LASOVSKY JOHANSSON
Team members: Juráš Lasovský (Czech Republic), Filip Lipinski (Sweden), Hanna Johansson (Sweden), and Andrea Baresi (Italy)
Location:  Svullrya, Norway
Area: ca 2,000 sq.m.
Visualizations: Aesthetica Studio

More project images in the gallery below.