The GLØDE Project: Redefining Shelter and Integration with the Natural Environment
The Concept of Inner Glow in Architecture
The word GLØDE, a Norwegian verb, conveys the idea of “glowing from within with a warm and soft light.” This concept reflects an architectural approach focused on creating spaces that feel alive and intimate, where the materials themselves seem to radiate an inner presence.
Designing Small Spaces as a Shelter
The project was designed as a small shelter, blending comfort, gathering, and warmth, serving as a place that provides a sense of reassurance and refuge. Covering an area of 24 square meters (6 × 4 m), it exemplifies how small spaces can be maximized without compromising functionality or the overall atmosphere of the space.
Development and Construction Process
The project’s development underwent an exploratory journey across Europe lasting three weeks, with ten full days dedicated to the actual construction phase. This experimental approach highlights the importance of field experience and gradual planning in transforming an architectural idea into tangible reality.
Geographical Location and Contextual Importance
The structure is located in Bjørn, Nordland, in northern Norway, near the Svartisen Glacier River. This location allows the structure to become part of the polar landscape, harmonizing with the natural terrain of the area while taking advantage of the surrounding light and environment.
The Structure’s Role in the Local Community
The structure sits at the bottom of a valley inhabited by approximately 1,100 residents, serving as a center for rest and gathering for both pedestrians and skiers. From this perspective, the structure can be seen as a model for integrating architecture with the social and natural environment, providing practical functions while enhancing users’ experiences in the area without impacting the natural landscape.
Adapting to the Environment and Local Resources
Implementing the project in a remote environment required an approach based on close interaction with the climatic conditions and local resources. This underscores the importance of considering the natural environment and sustainability when designing and constructing structures in hard-to-reach areas.
Revitalizing Abandoned Sites
The project presented an opportunity to reuse a site that had been abandoned for about twenty years, highlighting the role of architecture in revitalizing existing sites and reintegrating them into the life of the local community.
Collaboration with the Local Community
The project was developed in collaboration with four local farmers, who took responsibility for maintaining the surrounding landscape. This cooperation reflects the integration of architecture with the local community, where residents contribute to environmental preservation and enhance the long-term sustainability of the project.
Sustainability and Use of Recycled Materials
The project was constructed with a focus on utilizing recycled materials, which accounted for approximately 90% of the building elements. This approach reflects the importance of sustainability and waste reduction by reusing locally available resources.
Integration with the Surrounding Environment
In addition to recycled materials, the construction was complemented using components collected directly from the surrounding environment. This approach highlights how architecture can adapt to available natural resources and seamlessly integrate the project into its environmental context without harming the site.
Experimental and Adaptive Approach in Construction
The project relied on experimentation and autonomy, with the design evolving during the construction phase through practical decision-making and adaptation to real conditions, rather than following a predetermined fixed plan.
Reusing Materials as a Means to Interact with the Environment
The use of recycled materials was not limited to environmental considerations; it also served as a tool to engage with the resources already available. This approach demonstrates how existing elements can be transformed into architecture based on necessity, care for the site, and collaboration among participants, reflecting the integration of sustainability with the design process in a practical and tangible way.
Architecture as a Beacon and Educational Experience
The project goes beyond being a standalone structure, functioning as a small beacon at the foot of the glacier river, with a design that aligns with the edge of the forest and a fireplace rooted in the valley. This arrangement provides a warm and simple refuge, highlighting the relationship between the place, its users, and the surrounding environment.
Learning Through Hands-On Experience
The project serves as a model for full-scale experiential learning, where construction becomes a means of learning and learning becomes a means of building. This approach illustrates how architectural projects can transform into tangible educational experiences, enhancing the ability to adapt and innovate when facing the real challenges of site conditions, materials, and climate.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
The GLØDE project can be seen as an experimental model for sustainability and adaptation to the natural environment, highlighting positive aspects such as the use of recycled materials and interaction with local resources. This provides lessons on making the most of existing assets before introducing new components. The project also underscores the importance of hands-on learning during construction as a means to test architectural ideas at full scale.
However, the project remains limited in its broader applicability. Its small size and the remoteness of its location reduce its capacity to address complex urban requirements or multi-functional uses. Furthermore, the heavy reliance on experimentation and real-time adaptation may pose challenges for replication or scaling, limiting the feasibility of applying the same approach in urban environments or larger projects. Additionally, the focus on experimental aspects might reduce attention to long-term functional performance, such as seasonal climate impacts or ongoing user needs.
Nonetheless, the project provides a valuable knowledge framework for understanding the relationship between materials, environment, and direct architectural experience. Architects and students can draw inspiration from this approach, experimenting within more structured constraints and analyzing how sustainability and engagement with local resources can be integrated into more practical projects with a broader scope.
