Global transdisciplinary architecture and design practice Snøhetta has designed a new entrance and outdoor extension for the Norwegian Skimuseet, the world’s oldest ski museum. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023, the new addition provides the Skimuseet (Ski Museum) in Holmenkollen, Oslo, with its own distinct identity, one that offers a pleasing contrast to the impressive Holmenkollen Ski Jump.
The Holmenkollen Ski Jump underwent a major upgrade in time for the 2011 Nordic World Ski Championships. Overshadowed by this upgrade, both figuratively and literally, “the Ski Museum has undergone a transformative process to be brought back into the light,” says Snøhetta. One third of the building beneath the ski jump was dismantled and replaced with a distinguishing new extension and entrance, helping it to stand out from the existing construction and improving accessibility. “Since the jump itself and associated buildings are characterized by hard surfaces such as concrete, steel, stone, and dark colors, it was natural to contrast it with elements of softer and warmer surfaces,” says the studio.
Holmenkollen with visitors centre pictured in 2011:
Reclaiming the museum’s prominence in the ski arena was central to Snøhetta’s design ethos for the project. A new facade mixes glass and Norwegian pinewood planks, reminiscent of traditional wooden skis. The five-meter-tall (approx. 16 feet) glass wall is partially covered with 1,207 wooden battens, each one meticulously placed and running lengthwise — the effect is similar to Norway’s iconic skigard fences (where logs are split into rails and stacked horizontally to create a rustic fence). The wooden battens are cut to minimize waste — different lengths vary from 2.5 to 5 meters (6 to 16 feet), adding depth and texture to the facade. “In total, the cladding consists of 4,000 running meters [13,123 feet] of pinewood,” says Snøhetta. The facade is designed to guide visitors towards the entrance: “Before the entrance, the cladding is pulled aside, revealing the front door,” says the studio. “The organic shape lets light in and out, giving the building a unique identity and creating a visual filter between the interior and the exterior.”
The massive concrete pillars supporting the ski jump are visible inside the new extension. Glued laminated timber (glulam) beams and columns support the structure — the natural wood complements the hard concrete and slate floors. At the building’s northern end, Snøhetta increased the density of the wooden battens to help in filtering sunlight (northern sunlight is typically brighter in Norway due to its proximity to the Arctic Circle).
The Ski Museum’s interior pays homage to the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo: bar tables built from pine plywood have red linoleum surfaces; chairs and a long sofa are upholstered in Norwegian wool textiles; cubic pinewood tables are handmade by the client — Skiforeningen (Association for the Promotion of Skiing) — using timber from Holmenkollen. The color scheme in a new cafe space that sits directly beneath the ski jump is inspired by the blue-turquoise color palette found on old posters from the Olympics.
Size: 525 square meters (5,651 square feet)
