Haugen/Zohar Arkitekter (HZA) is an Oslo based practice founded in 2007 by architects Marit Justine Haugen and Dan Zohar.
The practice has established itself in the overlap between architecture, function and art, with a portfolio of national and international projects.
HZA was initiated on the common perception that architecture is by its nature, earthbound, drawn by and for people. In our work we seek the very basic relationship between space and body.
The practice first project was our own living space, drawn and built with our bare hands. The act of building from the very beginning raised our interest in how to build, parallel with the interest in what to build. The practice second project was a self-initiated, long venture for our neighbourhood in Oslo. An electrical supplier was transformed into a community house with shared space for all. The practice third project was an art project for Oslo Sculpture Biennale, introducing a familiar, but a faraway scenario in which 500 empty tents occupied the park surrounding the Vigeland Museum. That installation laid out the most economic type of shelter, on probably the most expansive piece of land in Norway.
These three firstborn projects resonate the main objectives of the practice: The commitment of drawing versatile structures, enhancing social sustainability and create affordable architecture.
We are concerned with political, social and environmental urgencies of contemporary society, and our work aim to translate such urgencies into action in different scales, ranging from; housing, public buildings, parks, meeting places, installations, urban environments and art projects.
Our work has to do with social engagement and participation, it has to do with the environment concerns and the fact that “there is a tomorrow“. Above all, the work has to do with empathy.
HZA has received several architectural awards, among others, The Norwegian Form Award for young architects (2007), The Architectural Review Awards for Emerging Architecture (2009 and 2011), the World Architecture News award 21 for the 21th century (2015) and most recently the Norwegian Architecture Prize 2017.
