Proposal

ANNO MUSEUM, DOMKIRKEODDEN

Proposal by Hald & Ravnborg
Year - 2021

Proposal for a new museum at Domkirkeodden in Hamar, Norway. Domkirkeodden is a place that, for several centuries, has been the backdrop for the interaction between humans and the landscape. The distinctive landscape, with its gentle terrain and deeply rooted history, is already characterized by good modern architecture, exemplified by Sverre Fehn's "Storhamarlåven" from 1973. Therefore, incorporating a modern museum building at Domkirkeodden requires careful consideration of both the cultural and natural-historical significance and a high level of precision to integrate the new building in a way that is both distinctive and humble.

Taking inspiration from the local building tradition, Sverre Fehn's building, and the site's weighty ruins, we create a museum that nestles humbly yet characterfully in the landscape. "Poetry of Ruins" is a proposal that aims to engage with the spirit of the site while asserting itself as a modern museum building with its own identity.

The construction is executed as an extruded volume with several heavy cores made of rammed clay. The extruded volume, with its curved forms, evokes a textile expression that mimics the sail over an archaeological excavation. It is supported by a wooden structure, referencing both Storhamarlåven and the historical wooden houses at Hedmarkstunet. The heavy cores are constructed with rammed clay in formwork and contain vertical connections, technical rooms, and functions that do not require natural light. The technique of rammed clay leaves visible layers on the surface, reminiscent of the historical and archaeological layers at the site.