selected works, condensed and compiled
Following is a selection of architectural works I have made.
Please feel free to contact me at:
+47 46954465
benjaminfagernes@gmail.com
Sekvens
s. 4 - 10
Rammed earth housing
s. 11 - 20
Circlular pathway
s. 21 - 23
Ekestad vingård
s. 24 - 36
Acknowledgements
s. 37
Workshop: Measuring the mountain Partner: Tarald Mosdøl Supervisors: Ole Flatebø & Elias Mølnvik
Over the course of five days, 57 students from universities in Belgium, Italy, and Norway were assigned the task of exploring and documenting the surroundings of the Aosta Valley. Without access to mobile coverage or the internet, the students could immerse themselves in the surroundings and develop an intimate relationship with nature. As the technical aspect of measuring mountains can be challenging, the main goal of the workshop was precisely to avoid this and instead experience the surroundings in a sensory manner. Through this process, We became aware that architecture is as much a sensory experience as it is a technical discipline.
Being in the mountains involves a series of sequences. The sense of scale of a place can vary from one moment to another, and the constant changes in weather amplify and diminish the sense of scale at any given time. Fog shortens the line of sight and deprives the place of depth, while in the clearing, the place is incomprehensible in its spatial extent. The result is a place that perpetually fluctuates in its spatial definition. The purpose of the project is to reflect this.
Situational plan
From a human perspective, mountains seem immovable, but seen in a longer time frame, they are in constant change. They are molded by tectonic shifts and broken down by the ongoing wear of the weather. This is reflected in the materiality of the monolith, which over time will be worn down by the climate, something that will be made visible in their patination.
Architecture 3: Housing
Partner: Thea Omland
Supervisor: Elias Mølnvik
The project aims to create quality urban housing with sustainability as its core value. The project looks to the extremes of sustainable architecture, and we have therefore utilized rammed earth as a structural element.
The project’s design adapts to the dominant building typology in the area but on the terms of the material. The load-bearing structure consists of a framework of rammed earth, while we envision the internal partitioning to consist of thinner walls made of rammed earth and wood. These are intended to be demountable, allowing for various interior solutions.
Based on the new environmental plans for the transformation of Innherredsveien, from a trafficked fourlane roadway to a calm and pleasant environmental street, we have tried to bring the public street level into the project’s first floor. Here, one finds flexible commercial spaces suitable for use as, for example, cafes, shops, and offices.
Designing a square in the zone between Bakke Church and the existing buildings elevating the dialogue between the church, the park on the south side of the plot, and the environmental street. This is an attempt to activate this place, which we believe has great, but poorly utilized potential.
Pulling the street into the project’s first floor, we make the existing workshop accessible, and create a connection between the workshop and the square. Thus, an arena arises which we envision both the church community and the public at large can greatly enjoy.
The housing program itself consists of the row house typology. The motivation behind this design is the desire to reach an underrepresented demographic in an area largely inhabited by students. The project consists of five row houses, each with a different character.
This ensures variation also among the building’s own residents. The project consists of both smaller homes suitable for singles or couples, and larger homes with space for families with children.
The construction consists of load bearing rammed-earth walls with cross laminated timber beams for floor separation. In areas with increased fenestration there are wooden columns for support. The beams are used as post and lintel constructions at the ground floor, both for structural aspects as well as for defining and weighing down the bottom of the facade. The dimensions of the wooden beams are the same throughout all of the building, making for a uniform expression.
In order to tackle the unique structural challenges that arise from using rammedearth we designed several conceptual solutions. In order to tackle the erosion from precipitation we designed a replaceable cassette with a sacrificial layer. These are thought to be mounted on steel rails casted into the walls during ramming and to be replaceable whenever needed.
Constructional principles
When using rammed earth as a load bearing material, there arises some interesting and unique interior qualities. Rammed earth is proven to have excellent acoustic, hygroscopic and thermal qualities. Another unique aspect is the depth of walls needed in buildings made with rammed earth. The deep walls make for unique fenestration with deep, comfortable niches. The deep walls direct the light in a way that harkens back to the thick castle wall of antique architecture.
Workshop: Crafting Circularity
Partner: Petter Grønlie
Supervisors: Mario Rinke
During nine days in Amsterdam, 40 students from schools in the Netherlands, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Greece and Norway worked together to understand the process of making architecture with a radical approach to circularity. throughout the workshop the students were divided into teams and given a set of materials to design their project with. The materials were recycled objects from around Amsterdam. The task was to use the materials in new and creative ways and to use them in such a manner that they can be dismantled without any damage. The site for the design was the historic polder landscape
With our designated materials being steel grates and traffic poles, we envisioned a pathway going through a swamp on the site. We designed a clamp that was used to fasten the materials together in a non-intrusive manner, resulting in an entirely circular use of materials.
Comission
Partners: Petter Grønlie, Tarald Mosdøl
A young couple are moving away from a larger city, to a farm that has been in their family for years. The farm is showing signs of decay and needs to be transformed to fit the needs of a new generation. The couple is planning to produce wine and host events at the property at some point.
The comission is seperated into two parts. One regarding the main farmhouse and the other the barn, outhouse and the outside areas between them.
The property is located 9 km from the center of Ulefoss. The farmstead is situated on a rise with a view towards the Nordsjø. The farmstead faces northwest. The property is lush and planted with a variety of tree species.
In addition to by car, the property can be accessed by boat via the Telemark Canal. Upon arrival, you reach the property via an entrance northwest of the farmstead. The farmstead is surrounded by the property’s cultivated land. Despite its elevated location, the property is shielded from the wind by its vegetation.
Due to the limited nearby development and the property’s height, it enjoys excellent sun exposure. The property receives morning sun from the east and uninterrupted sunlight throughout the day, with the evening sun landing on the west façade of the house.
Despite its hints of functionalism, the home reflects traditional values, evident, for example, in the use of a ‘formal entrance’ for guests.
During the work to transform the home, we aimed to preserve the essence of this blend of tradition and functionalism, so characteristic of the 1960s. The home’s zoned layout, the concept of a dedicated entrance, and having an unfinished basement suitable for heavier work are among the principles we’ve retained from the original structure.
Cross-section
We transformed the barn and the outhouse to better fit the use of the new program. The barn is kept largely unclimatized, with the exception of strategic space such as the industrial kitchen and areas used for wine production and storage.
The outhouse has been transformed to function as a guesthouse for visitors of the owners, or clientel staying at the property as a part of an event. The outhouse has gotten an addition of an orangerie for the suite, as well as a bathroom with two restrooms and a shower.
During a week-long site visit, we carefully observed the existing materials on-site. We measured, categorized, and 3D-scanned materials with potential for reuse. With this material catalog, we could incorporate existing materials from the site into our CAD models of the project and actively design around them.
Under prosjekteringen skal vi kunne ha digitale og fysiske replikaer av faktiske materialer fra stedet slik at vi kan benytte oss av disse under arbeidet.
På slikt sett kan vi på en paraktisk og presis måte benytte oss av kvalitetsmaterialer som finnes på tomten, uten å måtte være fysisk tilstede eller å gi slipp på presisjonen som ellers ønskes under prosjektering.
De 3D-skannede modellene skaleres til de korrekte målene tatt på stedet. Slik skapes en digital tvilling til objektet.
Awards received during my time as an architect student.
2. Place AFAG PRISEN, 2022
2. Place
Nasjonal studenkonkurranse i stedsutvikling, 2023
Thank you for your consideration.