By the mid-1980s the neighbourhood of Svartlamoen in Trondheim, Norway had become a slum of just 50 houses. Punks appropriated one of the remaining buildings and soon the area was transformed into a massive cultural squat, teeming with 200 artists, writers and hippy types. Eventually the squatters won the right not only to stay, but to be involved in Svartlamoen’s development.

As architect Geir Brendeland says, ‘In Norway, this is a unique model for urban development.’ The two buildings he and Olva Kristoffersen have built are the first manifestation of this new harmony.

Brendeland & Kristoffersen Arkitekter wanted low-cost housing that was sustainable, flexible in its layout and used lots of wood.

The result is contemporary buildings, deliberately left rough around the edges. The roof cladding and façades are made from slow-growing pine that can be left untreated and unpainted for centuries.

As stipulated by the squatters, these buildings are more about the public spaces than the private. The bedrooms have been kept small, but there are plenty of group rooms, including communal kitchens. The taller building has 22 bedrooms and the lower contains six studio flats. In the spirit of openness, the staircases are on the outside of the building and act as balconies connected to the walkways.

Via Wallpaper.