With the perfect balance of serious and play, Snohetta always delivers on poetry-like execution.
Busan Opera House
Heaven, earth and water are very important elements in Korean philosophy. Snohetta physically responds to this by creating two contrasting curves where one relates to the sky and the other curve relates to the sea.
Sitting on a reclaimed land on the waterfront of Busan, this cultural center aims to make opera, an art form historically enjoyed only by the elites (in this country), more accessible and mainstream. The building is one story optimizing the circulation of the masses entering this space, where one can access the centralized auditorium easily from any entrance. The auditorium is treated as the "heart" of the center by being wrapped in warm solid cherry wood panels while the exterior contrasts the warmness, which is made up of glass and marble.
Hotel Belchenhaus Proposal
This new building as an annex to the existing hotel will be intentionally set apart from the existing hotel, so that it can have its own presence and stand on its own like a "giant fir cone". Another notable feature is that there will be no official frontage of the building and the entry will be at the base where all the structures will be connected. This move simultaneously will provide accessible platform. In order to respond to the changing weather, Snohetta chose copper sheet cladding that reacts and changes with the weather.
Tungestolen Tourist Cabin
Irregularly shaped cabins sit harmoniously on the plateau in a valley called Skyttarbudalen in Norway. The different shapes mimic its surroundings on a big scale as well as the interplay of the elements found in its surroundings such as how differently shaped rocks sit next to each other harmoniously.
Even though they are shaped differently, there is a communal courtyard that is framed by three of these buildings designed to create a relationship and/or dialogue between the guests. The courtyard also sits on the highest point of the plateau with the other buildings situated in the lower slopes where one gradually descends down to their cabin to create a distinct arrival and departure from one space to the other.
Lampshade (Light Installation)
During Singapore's light art festival, Snohetta created this sustainable structure made from bamboo that provides shade from direct sunlight during the hot days in Singapore and a lit space during the night. There is also an educational intent as well. By being able to control the intensity of the lights, a visitor can easily understand the connection and the sequence of first capturing sunlight, to the production of the electricity powered by the captured sunlight to the power of light itself.
Wild Reindeer Pavilion
Situated in a national park where wild reindeer live, this structure is built as a lookout space where one can take in the awesome panoramic view of the surroundings while trying to catch a glimpse of these magnificent creatures.
This pavilion was designed from a contrasting idea. The inside is "soft" made with an organic sculptural wooden core and the exterior envelope is made with raw steel frame and glass. The design intent was for the inside to mimic its surrounding stones and rocks that have eroded over time.
Guatemala City Benches
This urban installation project aimed to create more interactions between people. A series of these city benches were made from poured in concrete, textured with granite aggregate and local marble dust. The form itself was inspired by geometric forms of indigenous cultures in Guatemala. The local artisans that put them together also had the chance to socialize and interact with other artisans as well as the pedestrians.