In the valley of Numedal immersed in the Norvegian Landscape, between the rural settlements ‘Nore’ and ‘Uvdal’, lies Rødberg, a small town very much defined by its significant hydropower plant. In the remote countryside of southern Norway, Rødberg grew out from a settlement of two farms into an industrial community and is now the administrative and commercial centre of the municipality ‘Nore og Uvdal’.
Despite its central position, Rødberg is facing a huge problem in developing strategies to attract visitors and inhabitants. This raises complex issues about the interaction between the rural and the urban, the regional demographic trend in the urban areas are growing, while the more rural areas such as Rødberg are degrowth in the population.
Space Travellers Architects developed a strong strategy centered on a new civic building, a new landmark for the valley of Numedal. The new building has a stout and plucky position. It is placed inside the small lake of Rødberg. This decision has not been taken by chance. The water is historically the most important natural element for the settlement. By building new construction in deep contact with it, it is possible to create a symbolical connection to the roots of Rødberg itself. The main façade of this new architecture looks directly towards the majestic main building of the old hydropower plant. This visual relationship represents a subtle bond between two buildings that inevitably has shaped and will shape the image of the village.
The New Era Wharf is a three-storied building in which each floor deals with a different program,where the first level acts as connective tissue. A long pier links the shore to the building but moreover, it hosts a new flux of cycling mobility that connects the main street of Rødberg with the bike path coming from Nore, passing through the lake. When it reaches the building, the pier becomes a public terrace that offers a unique spot from which the tourists can enjoy the water, the view towards the historic buildings of the hydropower plant and a 360-degree panorama on the surrounding mountain and forests. It is also a temporary exhibition space, where art, water, and landscape create a unique atmosphere.
Then, it was important to find an interesting function that could join together Nore og Uvdal and, of course, Rødberg. The valley has a strong relationship with its ancient traditions, especially with the agricultural one. A traditional and local food hub could offer a great experience to all the tourists that periodically visit this place to feel more connected to it, to feel proud to be part of such a vibrant reality. This hub is meant to be a place where it will be possible both to taste and buy the local foodstuffs. Moreover, to give a 360° experience to the visitors, it also will be possible to learn the traditional techniques by being in contact with the farmers. Finally, the second floor hosts a breath-taking multipurpose arena where both formal and informal events can take place. The New Era Wharf is strong and elegant social condenser where every floor can adapt to every function needed even really different ones such as town hall, meeting rooms, fab-labs or venue, its spaces are 100% flexibles in order to allow municipalities and private investors in defining new functions based on their needs.
Each floor posses different materiality too. The ground floor it’s all about water and tends to disappear to give to the end-user a better contact with this natural element. The three sides facing the center of the lake are made by thin and movable glazed panels that open up to the terrace and make the whole floor fluctuating, creating a deep connection with nature. The first floor founds itself at the very same height as the old bridge of Rødberg. To preserve an ideal connection between the bridge and the hydropower plant the first floor has again a transparent glass contour that let the eyes of the people passing the bridge to still perceive the plant, the history of Rødberg, but through the new building, which represents the future of the village itself. Finally, the second and last story is covered by the same wood the paves the pier. It is dark wood, coming from the forests that surround this valley and that contributes giving to it its unique landscape.
“This building and its connections across the lake alter the scale and center of gravity of Rødberg, providing a new focus. The New Era Wharf presents a radical reimagining of Rødberg centerd on a new civic building erected on a new wharf at the western end of the lake… The project connected with the heroic past of Rødberg as defined by its power station, to which The New Era Wharf is a contemporary counterpart. As brave and decisive as the original, it marks a new phase for Rødberg”, Europan Norway Jury Remarks
Project Credit
Design Team: Space Travellers Architects, Matteo Arietti and Andrea Bullon
Landscape Design: POOL Landscape
