Henning Larsen‘s winning proposal for the University of the Faroe Islands in Tórshavn excels in mass timber and microclimate design, extending the comfortable outdoor season by 150 days each year. Integrated green facades create ideal conditions for students to learn and socialize on the new community campus. The design for the 8000m2 campus draws inspiration from the historic Faroese settlements and ancient methods of adapting buildings to the weather conditions of the North Atlantic islands. Embracing the local Faroese custom of ‘reading the landscape’, the design envisions a cluster of buildings placed to create natural shelter. The new campus features an interior square that serves as the heart. A central ‘street’ and a large stair are designed to foster everyday interactions, as well as a library, informal study spaces, a canteen, a café, space for research and administration staff, classrooms, and a large flexible auditorium.
Home to some of the world’s oldest functioning timber buildings, dating as far back as the 11th century, the Faroe Islands’ enduring historic structures, traditional craftmanship and characteristic architecture have been a distinct inspiration for the design of the university extension. The buildings will be constructed using mass timber (glulam and CLT), and covered with a turfed roof to seamlessly blend the buildings with the iconic landscape of Tórshavn. “Our vision draws inspiration from historic Faroese construction methods and the mass timber buildings of the past while offering the University of the Faroe Islands a modern campus that blends seamlessly into the landscape and its varied context,” said Ósbjørn Jacobsen, Design Director, Partner, Henning Larsen Faroe Islands
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