SNØHETTA

Snøhetta’s work strives to enhance our sense of surroundings, identity and relationship to others and the physical spaces we inhabit. Snøhetta is a transdisciplinary, dialogue-driven practice including architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, art, product design, graphic and digital design, often integrating a combination of interests across our projects. The name Snøhetta is shared with a beautiful, remote, and historically important mountain in central Norway. Snøhetta is a place nobody is from, but anyone can experience. Creating places for societies to connect with each other and with the world around them is a primary motivation in our work. Dialogue and diversity empower this approach. 

ABOUT THE LECTURE

Their lecture during the symposium Arctic Nordic Alpine is dedicated to contemporary architecture in vulnerable landscapes focusing on the influence interventions could have on regions with extreme climatic conditions. It presents pioneering projects by Snøhetta, including New Tungestølen Tourist Cabin in Luster; the concept for the energy-efficient Hotel Svart in Svartisen; Čoarvemátta the Sámi Theater, High School and Reindeer Herding School; the Arctic World Archive Visitor Center in Svalbard Island, and the Path of Perspectives on Innsbruck’s Nordkette Range. These projects demonstrate that architecture can promote a more sustainable use of nature – one that is in dialogue with landscape.  

As the biggest future challenges for planners and architects are to be found in our cities and urban areas, it might appear less essential to focus on architectural interventions in less populated areas. We do, however, foresee more and more human pressure on areas outside of our cities. To many, the periphery has become the new center of interest and nature has become a carrier of meaningfulness. However, as contradictory as this might seem, some remote areas are becoming especially attractive to the ever-increasing desire of people to be part of something authentic. To secure the diverse sustainability offered in these places also in the future, it will in many cases be correct to do nothing. For the places already under pressure, it will be vital to provide facilities preventing further destruction. We acknowledge the fact that every new construction changes the existing condition of a place. 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Growing up multilingual with Norwegian, German and Danish, Jette Cathrin Hopp studied Architecture in the masterclass of Prof. Peter Cook and Prof. Enric Miralles at the Städelschule – Academy of Fine Arts and is Snøhetta`s director for acquisition and new projects in Europe and UK. Jette is part of the executive management of Snøhetta Oslo.  

She has extensive experience in complex both Norwegian and international projects, leading major international project developments and competitions. She regularly lectures at architectural symposia, conferences , international institutions and universities, sharing Snøhetta´s philosophy and design ideas. She is also a jury chair for several architecture competitions and prizes. Jette Hopp is a member of the board of trustees of the Schelling Architecture Foundation and appointed president of the jury for the Italian Architecture Prize in 2021. As a critic, Jette Cathrin Hopp is regularly invited to architecture universities worldwide, and she holds a teaching position at the University of Technology and Design, Wismar. Jette is appointed Member of the Oslo City Architecture Council, Oslo Kommune, Norway and Chair of the Advisory Council on Urban Planning of Kiel Municipality, Germany.  

Examples of her experience are her role as team leader for the museum project at the King Abdul Aziz Center for Knowledge and Culture in Dharhan, Saudi Arabia, for the Norwegian State Opera and State Ballet in Oslo, Project Director for the Elbtower in Hamburg; Operntower Düsseldorf, Centre Monnaie “OXY” in Brussels, the Roshen Concert Hall in Kiev, as well as piloting sustainability projects in Norway such as Powerhouse One in Trondheim and the concept phase of Powerhouse Kjørbo in Sandvika, the world’s first refurbished positive energy building. 

Do you want to hear more from Jette after her lecture? Jette will also be part of the panel discussion later during the day together with Jakob Lange, Jacob Voorthuis, Mick Eekhout & Dirk Visser.