Rosebladet

Program: Visitor Centre / Café / Public Gathering Space

Location: Preikestolen, Norway

Status: Proposal

Year: 2024

A leaf from the archaic Six-Petal Rose generates the form, while the building program takes its point of departure in the archetype of the Norse longhouse, a structure that signals hospitality, generosity and shared life. At its centre, the hearth forms the heart of gathering and community, creating an atmosphere of warmth and safety before and after a pilgrimage into nature.

Rosebladet looks both to the ancient past and towards the future. In harmony with the spirit of the place, and shaped by the surrounding landscape, the centre offers visitors an insight into Norway’s natural and cultural heritage.

Architectural Concept

The longhouse was a meeting place for people of all backgrounds, both local residents and travellers. With the hearth as its central gathering point, the great hall expressed care and prosperity, bringing people together for meals and drink, both in everyday life and during ritual celebrations. It was a place for song and dance, administration, trade, food and ritual, as well as a forum for new ideas and visionary journeys.

A glazed façade opens towards the lake to the south, inviting daylight and views into the building. The ceiling is lowest at the entrance and rises gradually as one moves into the heart of the house.

Adaptation to Site and Context

Rosebladet is rooted in the local cultural and natural landscape. The building is carefully positioned to minimise its impact on the bedrock and is placed on previously developed land, reducing the need for intervention in the surrounding trees, flora and terrain. The plaza formed by the building integrates existing paths and supports visitors’ natural movement patterns to and from the route.

Following the contours of the site, the building relates to the surrounding architecture and landscape while maintaining a distinct identity that awakens curiosity.

Outdoor Spaces and Landscape

The centre creates a plaza, a natural gathering point for the village where travellers can meet before and after their journey. The steps of the plaza form a sunlit outdoor terrace between the Hikers’ Café and the visitor centre.

Generous roof overhangs create functional meeting places where visitors can find shelter from rain and wind, as well as receive information before and after their journey. South of the centre, a long ramp leads down to public facilities that remain open around the clock throughout the year. The flow of water in the nearby stream is preserved and strengthened through subtle additions such as footbridges and information signs.

Sustainability and Environmental Concept

The building is designed as a passive house using locally produced, recyclable and CO₂-binding materials, including slate and glue-free Holz100 timber. Lake-source heating and heat recovery systems ensure energy-efficient heating, while FOAMGLAS insulation and triple-glazed windows contribute to longevity and minimal environmental impact.

Social and economic sustainability are supported by strengthening local cultural heritage, creating new employment opportunities and offering an accessible place for all. The project balances ecological, social and economic considerations to ensure a long-term contribution to the local community.