By Roberto Lucchese
During 25.9.-3.10.2009 the students of NABA, Politecnico di Milano and Fredrikstad Scenography School designed and constructed three structures around the lake Seljord in Telemark county South Norway. The structures had three main reasons to be built, firstly to be used as stopping places for travelers and tourists, secondly to serve as meeting points for the local inhabitants, and thirdly to comment on the local stories of a sea serpent, a continuing myth with frequent observations spanning over a hundred years of time.
At the same time, this workshop is also part of larger activity, a project called Seljord and Sågene, coordinated by Springer Kulturstudio, organized to revitalize the local economy and to invite more people to move to the area which today suffers of desertification and aging processes. The workshop was lead by Rintala Eggertsson Architects.
Viewpoint is situated on the Northern side of the lake on a hillside, offering a scenic view over most of the lake and valley. The project is a group of six spaces or rooms forming a circle in the edge of the forest and the bare bedrock.
Smoke sauna was built in a bay on the Southern side of the lake by the road. It is standing on pillars due to flooding, consists of sauna room with smoke fireplace and a terrace. The building acts as a wall creating more private situation on the lake side, turning a more closed side to the road. Owing to a ramp from the road, It is possible to enter the sauna also with wheelchair.
Fishing camp is to be found in the tip of Tellnes peninsula, roughly in the center of the lake. This installation is carefully located in a bedrock crack in order to maintain the open landscape as it was. It offers a bridge for easier communication, a roofed shelter and a fireplace.
Main material is wood, with natural stone fundament. These three installations will also support the largest project, a viewing tower to be built later closer to Seljord center by the lake shore.
