This architectural installation interprets and transforms Færder’s “steinstua” building heritage into a contemporary, industrialized format
using emerging, sustainable materials.

Steinstua are a house typology specific to the Færder region made of stone and earth introduced by poor immigrants in the 19th century, with one protected cultural monument standing in Nøtterøy. The outer walls of the steinstua were often dug into a sloping hill. The walls were constructed as a double wall, stone on the outside and inside, with earth for insulation in between.

Using stones, re-used bricks, and rammed earth and bricks from waste
material, the installation exemplifies new, expressive futures for earth and
stone masonry architecture, two mineral materials that have dominated
Norwegian building norms for centuries.

Steinstua doesn’t explicitly imitate historic steinstua which were built
of stones and earth, but continues their essence: resourcefulness,
natural materials, mass, texture, human craftsmanship — but with today’s
technology and modern prefabricated construction methods.