Sverre Fehn: A Scandinavian Inspiration

BY THE JAG

"When I build on a site in nature that is totally unspoiled, it is a fight, an attack by our culture on nature. In this confrontation, I strive to make a building that will make people more aware of the beauty of the setting, and when looking at the building in the setting, a hope for a new consciousness to see the beauty there, as well."

Born in 1924 in Kongsbery, Normay, Sverre Fehn, was always a man born “before his time”, the Pritzker Architecture Prize star considers Jean Prouvé, Marocan primitive architecture and Le Corbusier his true influences; in spite of being called a modernist, his architecture remains intact to the true Scandinavian tradition of primitive shapes and integration to with the natural world. Most of his works can be seen in Norway, although several other works can be found elsewhere.

The simplicity and cleanliness of his works are what made him a true “starchitect”, his ability to create harmony even within the noisiest ambience is truly a visionary’s virtue. There is something almost poetic when seen with the correct light and subtlety of form. His architecture has not only an impressive aesthetic, but also a strong message, as a post-war architect, he jumped on the Modern Movement, but expressed it with provincial forms and resources, keeping the human eminence within his buildings.