Čoarvemátta receives the DOGA Award for Design and Architecture

Čoarvemátta receives the DOGA Award for Design and Architecture

DOGA is Design and Architecture Norway, a national foundation that promotes the value of design and architecture in society and business. The DOGA Award for Design and Architecture is awarded every year to Norwegian businesses and practitioners who demonstrate outstanding use of design and architecture.

 This year, DOGA received a total of 87 applications. Thirteen of these projects or products will receive the DOGA Award at the ceremony at Sentralen in Oslo on January 29.

The strengthening of Sámi culture and building traditions, the low climate footprint, and the efficient use of resources resulting from co‑location are the qualities highlighted by DOGA in its decision to award the cultural and educational center Čoarvemátta this prestigious recognition.

 

The jury also emphasize that Čoarvemátta stands out with a respectful, site‑sensitive and understated architecture that allows the landscape, the materials and the Sámi references to speak quietly, yet powerfully.

 

Solenergi i nord – BIPV prototypes

With support from SNN Samfunnsløftet and Tromsø kommunes Fremtids- og næringsfond we have the last two years been working with the project ‘Solenergi i nord’ – developing new solutions for building integrated photovoltaics.  

 

With background in the research project ‘Northern Homes’ managed by UiT the Arctic University of Norway – focusing on the sustainable upgrading of the many 'reconstruction houses' (gjenreisningshus) built in Northern Norway after World War II – we have developed solar panels adapted to existing and historical buildings. 

The aim has been to produce prototypes combining visual and technical qualities, with the ambition to develop good solutions that preserve the character of both the buildings and the settlements where these are an important part of the cultural heritage.

 

Several important collaborators have been part of the process:

First the very inspiring workshops with Glasshytta Blåst in Tromsø to investigate how to achieve different textures and expressions in glass slates.

With these results we worked further with the glass workshop of Kolektiv Ateliers, Czech Republic, producing samples with a great range in structures and prints.

The samples were tested by Clara Good, Associate Professor at the Department of Technology and Safety, UiT, to select which ones to develop further.

Kolektiv Ateliers produced the glass slates for the prototypes, and Solskifer, Elverum, mounted them into solar panels – ready to be installed on a test rig at the university campus. 

 

Now we are just waiting for the sun to come back to see the prototypes functioning in real life!

Tromsø Waterfront Laboratory in “Landscape Architecture Europe #7 - Full of Life”

Excited and honoured that our participative art and urban space work Tromsø sjøfrontlab – in collaboration with Berit Steenstrup & Statex – is one of the selected projects for “Landscape Architecture Europe #7 - Full of Life”. 

In addition to the project presentation, the essay «Transitory Beauties – Debunk & Design» by Anaïs Leger-Smith beautifully contextualizes our approaches and explorations through Tromsø Waterfront Laboratory together with other «projects that are in between design and research, reflection and prospection, thinking and doing, performative projects, experiments, tactics – addressing the dynamic and the unstable, the heterogenic and the contradictory”:

About «Landscape Architecture Europe #7»:

“This seventh edition of the triennial book series Landscape Architecture Europe presents landscape architecture as an activity in support of life and its inherent beauty. Despite these times of social and ecological stress, this volume demonstrates how spatial design and beauty can communicate and enact concern, commitment, collaboration and change.

 

Landscape Architecture Europe #7 features 42 projects full of life, built or drawn, long-term or temporary, selected from entries submitted from all over Europe. Together with thought-provoking essays and inspiring portraits, this richly illustrated publication shows how to design for diversity and how to work with surprise and uncertainty.»

Available at:

https://www.scapemagazine.com/lae/

Photo by: Ingun Alette Mæhlum

Čoarvemátta nominated

Čoarvemátta is one of five nominees for the Norwegian Building of the Year Prize, which will be awarded on April 3rd.

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This ambitious project was developed in collaboration between Joar Nango, Snøhetta and 70°N arkitektur together with the entrepreneur Econor, for Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš & Sámi High School and Reindeer Herding School, Statsbygg and KORO.

Čoarvemátta opening day

Reminiscing the extraordinary experience it was being part of the opening of Čoarvemátta – the building housing the Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš & Sámi High School and Reindeer Herding School / Beaivváš Sámi Našunála Teáhter & Sami joatkkaskuvla ja boazodoalloskuvla.

From its very first day Čoarvemátta proved to be truly “the house of magic and knowledge” as expressed by the theatre director Rolf Degerlund.

We have still barely landed after the opening ceremony back in August:
The ambience, the strong and touching speeches, the fantastic concert-performance, the food by the arctic gastronomy students, the truly amazing art and duodji – and of course the people, many of whom have worked for years for the realization of this building.

Some highlights from the day:
Welcoming by Sara Ellen Anne Eira representing the school and Rolf Degerlund the theatre.
Official opening by Silje Karine Muotka, President of the Sámi Parliament
Compères: Marte Fjellheim Sarre & Inger Marie Nilut
Symphony performance “Beaivi áhčážan. Eanni eadnážan / The Sun, my Father. The Earth, my Mother.” by Arktisk Filharmoni & Beaivváš theatre based on poems by Áillohaš, Nils-Aslak Valkeapää
Composer and music supervision: Frode Fjellheim
Conductor: Anna F. Hartmann
Director: Rolf Degerlund
Choreography: Marte Fjellheim Sarre
Text selection and translation: Rawdna Carita Eira
Soloists: Ulla Pirttijärvi Länsman & Adrian Angelico
Actors / yoikers: Egil Keskitalo, Mary Sarre, Iŋgor Ántte Áilu Gaup, Nils Henrik Buljo
Light: Øystein Heitmann
Sound: David Solheim
Grand drape: Máret Anne Sara
Sámi anthem Sámi eatnan duoddariid by Áillohaš sung in unison summed up the heartwarming and soul lifting experience Ollu giitu!
Architecture team: Snøhetta, Joar Nango & 70°N arkitektur
Photo: 70°N arkitektur

The art project for Čoarvemátta

The art project for Čoarvemátta – the Sámi High School and the Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš in Guovdageaidnu / Kautokeino, takes as its point of departure art which is deeply rooted in the Sámi world perspective and in traditional knowledge.

The Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš presents stories and theatre performances from a Sámi world perspective, while the Sámi High School and Reindeer Husbandry School provides tuition in traditional knowledge, culture and language to Sámi youth. The overarching curatorial approach for the art project is based on two concepts or values that are both fundamental and deeply rooted in Sámi cultural understanding: vuoiŋŋalašvuohta, Sámi spirituality, and árbemáhttu, traditional knowledge.
Particular emphasis is placed on the representation of different geographical areas within Sápmi and selected artists that work with diverse approaches to traditional knowledge and spirituality - and to demonstrate the range and boundary-breaking aspects of Sámi art, from traditional duodji (Sámi handicrafts) to conceptual contemporary art.
 
It has been an honour and pleasure to work with the curators, the artists and duojárat and KORO / Public Art Norway – thanks for a great collaboration and congratulations to you all!

Artists and duojárat:
Rámavuol Elle Bigge - Sáráhkká, Juoksáhkká ja Uksáhkká - in collaboration with Merethe Ella Márjá Kuhmunen 
Fredrik Prost - Máttaráddjá, Meantaš and Beaivvi nieida / The bear, the reindeer stag and the daughter of the sun 
Britta Marakatt-Labba - Miin Duoddarat / Our plains
Elle Valkeapää - Šiella
Máret Ánne Sara - Gapmu
Laila Mari Brandsfjell (coming in 2025)
Iver Jåks - Beaivi ja biegga / Sun and Wind (1996)
Aage Gaup - Girdinoaiddi loddi / Bird of the Flying Shaman (1988)

Curators:
Monica Milch Gebhardt with Anniina Turunen and Joar Nango 
 
Production of the grand drape: Big Image 

Čoarvemátta – the new Sámi National Theatre & the Sámi High School and Reindeer Herding School

Čoarvemátta – the building housing the Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš & Sámi High School and Reindeer Herding School / Beaivváš Sámi Našunála Teáhter & Sami joatkkaskuvla ja boazodoalloskuvla / opened in Guovdageaidnu / Kautokeino, Sápmi / Northern Norway on August 21.

The project is developed in collaboration between the artist Joar Nango, the architectural firms Snøhetta and 70°N arkitektur, and is built by the entrepreneur Econor, for the client Statsbygg. 

Photo: 70°N arkitektur