Archives House embraces environmental design and creative thinking

Located in the Innovation Park (Ipark) in Ullandhaug, Stavanger, Norway, the House of Archives was designed by architects Lund + Slaatto to provide a cultural research center of 14,000 m2 that includes a café, a library , a meeting room and an exhibition space. Kebony wood has been selected for the exterior cladding to create an eye-catching "folded" geometric facade.

The building contains the most important historical sources in Rogaland County, Stavanger City and the Norwegian Mission Society, with more than 70 km of underground archives covering half of the site. The project was initiated by the Smedvig and Ipark property and built by Kruse Smith. The House of Archives has four floors above ground level and three below with a central atrium with a canopy to create an open and bright area for public functions. This is the first building to be completed as part of a large development project.

Innovation was an essential part of this design that incorporates environmentally friendly solutions and creative thinking. The combination of unusual angles, sloping lines and integrated window openings allows the building aesthetics to adapt to the time of day, weather and season. Bright, inviting spaces have used high-quality, robust materials to offer a number of visual and environmental benefits. Sustainability was a key element of this design and it is natural that Kebony wood was considered the best material in terms of cost and aesthetics to create the origami-inspired wooden facade.