Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design Special – Norway
Pilot Arkitekter won the competition for the reconstruction of one of Norway’s biggest banks.
Taking architecture to new heights With the ambition to take their clients to new heights and land them safely afterwards, Pilot Arkitekter find gold where one thought there was nothing but rubble and have been offering unique and innovative architecture of all scales since 2000. By Synne Johnsson | Photos: Pilot Arkitekter
The name Pilot plays on the idea of pilot projects – being the first to uncover new grounds while leading the way for their clients. “We all started out straight after graduating so we were courageous and ambitious, thinking that the world really needed our help and that, as long as we created great architecture, people would like to work with us. We quickly realised that it was a bit more complex than that,” says Andreas Haukeland, architect and general manager. “Our starting point was that we felt we had something to offer in the world of architecture.”
and, regardless of the size, there will always be a team of several architects on the case to ensure creative interaction and the power of more than one brain.
Teamwork
Pilot only hires architects, but the firm values strong collaboration with interior designers, landscape architects and engineers to ensure the highest quality
Pilot Arkitekter are a team of 12 architects with different experience and expertise. They take on projects of all scales 90 | Issue 105 | October 2017
“We work analytically in the beginning to reveal the potential as early on as possible. Then we start developing concepts, making sure that all the cards are on the table to avoid any surprises down the line,” says Haukeland. “We want to work with the clients to create value through innovative solutions and architectural quality.”
at all levels. “It is very important for us to see every building as unique and to emphasise the distinct characteristics of every project we work on. We want all our work to have that one thing that makes it stand out,” says Haukeland. “While remaining professional and realistic, we make sure that we are as creative and experimental as possible.”
New buildings in existing structures Pilot not only works on new builds but also takes on a number of regeneration projects, which they interpret as new spaces created in existing structures. “We think that it’s interesting to deal with many parameters at once. We want to meet a little resistance when working on projects, to be forced to use our brain and to make use of our knowledge,” Haukeland explains. An important aspect for the firm is for their work to always give something back to the city, either in a function-