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Situated on the Finnmarksvidda Plateau, Norway, a project with fluid, organic forms inspired by local building traditions
Situated in Kautokeino, in the heart of Norway’s Finnmarksvidda Plateau, Čoarvemátta was the work of Snøhetta, which collaborated with 70°N Arkitektur and artist Joar Nango on the project. The structure comprises a theater and a school dedicated to Sámi culture, the indigenous people who inhabit the northern reaches of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia.
The name Čoarvemátta derives from the Sámi words for horn and root, referring to the innermost and strongest part of reindeer antlers, a local symbol of strength and union. And the building does unite different institutions: the Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš, the Sámi High School, and the Reindeer Husbandry School.
Čoarvemátta blends perfectly into the natural landscape of the Finnmarksvidda, with its fluid, organic forms reflecting the shapes of the surrounding hills. Its façades draw their inspiration from the features of the local landscape, while the roof slopes on two sides to soften the building’s visual impact. The main entrance is off a circular forecourt with a social function. An arrán, or firepit, made with local stone, forms a meeting point for both the students and theater audiences.
The building has three separate wings that branch out from the center, where the entrance is located. One wing houses the theatre, another houses workrooms and classrooms, while the third hosts the school’s administrative offices. Its flexible design not only means that its spaces are functional, but also encourage interaction between the different cultural and educational activities.
Outside are extensive reindeer pens built by local tradesmen, which connect to the husbandry department inside the building.
The choice of materials reflects a firm commitment to sustainability and the use of local resources, with the façade featuring vertical ore pine board cladding, and the roof, which covers an area of 4,930 m², made up of 34,000 m of Kebony timber. Alta slate salvaged from a now-demolished primary school in the village was used for the theater walls, creating a link with the history of the place. The curved lines and exposed timber inside recall the shapes of traditional Sámi constructions, such as the lávvu, the traditional conical tent of the nomadic Sámi people used when herding reindeer.
The interior color palette subtly transitions from warm shades of red, around the atrium and theater in the center of the building, to blue tones, closer to the outside. This contrasting use of warm and cold shades is a reference to the symbolism of colors in Sámi culture.
With 40 geothermal wells reaching a depth of 250 m, the Čoarvemátta building consumes very little energy. This system makes the building 90% self-sufficient for its heating and cooling needs. Heat pumps use geothermal energy to air condition the building, while a heat exchange system manages surplus energy. An electric boiler is only needed on the coldest winter days.
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Location: Kautokeino, Norway
Gross Floor Area: 7200 sq. m
Architecture and Interior Designer: Snøhetta in collaboration with 70°N Arkitektur and Joar Nango
Client: Statsbygg
Consultants
Acoustics: Brekke & Strand
Electrical: Rambøll
Fire Protection: Norconsult
HVAC: Afry
Plumbing: SWECO
Prefabrication: AB consult
Art: Monica Milch Gebhardt
Photography by Lars Petter Pettersen, courtesy of Snøhetta
