Architecture+Design Scotland

Show navigation

Transforming Landscapes

The University of Strathclyde is set to host the only Scottish showing of an exhibition of unique work by influential architectural practice Reiulf Ramstad Architects (RRA).

The show, featuring key works by the independent Oslo based practice, opens to the public on 6th February and continues until early March as part of the University’s commitment to exchanging knowledge with leading international organisations.

The exhibition aims to reflect RRA’s desire to create "an innovative, contemporary and timeless architecture, with landscape as the contextual raw material is reflected in the exhibition. The meaning of the term landscape refers to both the physical, definable area and to the cultural framework."

The show highlights actual and soon to be completed projects located in a variety of urban, river, park and uncultivated landscapes and illustrates the transformation of these environments. Exhibits range from a university college, a city hall, private villas and apartments to a mountainous national tourist route project.

According to organisers: "These images will reveal the practice’s contemporary solutions to the challenges of commissions situated in landscapes ranging from wild magnificent scenery to cultivated land, graphically Illustrating the transformation of these environments."

World Architecture News have described the practice as creators of: "meaningful architecture that is both challenging and demanding. They are in our top five in the world: demonstrating originality, innovation, form and special quality, sustainability and context. Their directional ideas are helping to shape the future of architecture, whilst keeping within the boundaries of commercial viability and sustainability”.

The exhibition will be opened by Norwegian Ambassador to the UK, Mr Kim Traavik, and will be followed by a lecture, Transforming Landscapes, presented by Mr Reiulf Ramstad. The exhibition preview will take place at the University of Strathclyde’s Department of Architecture on Friday 3 February, with the lecture getting underway at 6pm.

Above Images: Kindergarten in Fagerborg © Reiulf Ramstad Architects

Above Images and Main Image: National Tourist Route, Trollstigen © Reiulf Ramstad Architects

ABOUT REIULF RAMSTAD ARCHITECTS (RRA)

RRA are an independent firm which play a leading role in the architectural field in Norway and have a strong conceptual approach combined with extensive and varied practical experience. The practice has designed a wide range of award-winning ground-breaking projects, from the first concept phase to completion.

The practice of 17 currently are currently working on a wide range of assignments and commissions, with projects that are geographically spread and situated in many different contexts, from compact urban locations to wide open landscapes.

RRA define architecture as: "a fine art discipline concerning purpose and space and also as an academic subject, covering topics from pure engineering and physics to design."  Many of RRA’s commissions have been won by participating in open or invited competitions, winning awards in two thirds of the competitions entered.

The practice philosophy centres around the idea that: "A place is not simply an aggregate of physical elements and conditions. It is not an object, however complex, to be viewed as raw material for the architect’s creative will. A place is indivisible, it is unique and it has a distinct expressivity of its own."

Above Images: Tourist Centre in Trollveggen © Reiulf Ramstad Architects

Staff at Reiulf Ramstad Architects (RRA)