Atelier Nord

Spaces shaped by northern light

Quiet architecture for homes, studios, and cultural spaces - material honesty, long sightlines, and rooms that hold the slow arc of a winter day.

Philosophy

Form follows climate

We design for latitude - where daylight is scarce, seasons are long, and buildings must earn their place in the landscape.

Every project begins with site, weather, and the way people move through a day. Thick thresholds, soft transitions between inside and out, and façades that respond to wind and snow load are not stylistic choices; they are the grammar of where we work.

We favour timber, stone, and cast concrete left visible. Colour stays in the register of snow, slate, and birch bark. The goal is not spectacle but permanence - architecture that feels calmer the longer you live with it.

18
Years in practice
47
Completed projects
3
Studios · Oslo, Bergen, Tromsø

Selected projects

Built and in progress

A cross-section of residential, cultural, and workspace commissions from the last five years.

Oslo · 2024

Fjell House

A family retreat on a forested slope - cross-laminated timber structure, deep eaves, and a single continuous window band that tracks the horizon from kitchen to study.

Residential · 340 m²

Bergen · 2025

Harbour Gallery

Adaptive reuse of a 1920s warehouse into a contemporary art space. New steel portal frames, preserved brick, and a lantern volume that brings diffused north light to the main hall.

Cultural · 2,100 m²

Tromsø · 2023

Aurora Studio

Workspace for a landscape photography collective - triangular roof plane, triple-glazed clerestory, and a darkroom core insulated against polar night temperatures.

Workspace · 180 m²

Stavanger · 2024

Coastal Library

Public reading rooms stepped down toward the fjord. Oak interiors, rammed-earth plinth, and a sheltered outdoor amphitheatre for summer programmes.

Public · 4,800 m²

Trondheim · In progress

Birch Row Townhouses

Six attached dwellings sharing a planted courtyard. Modular prefabricated units, green roofs, and shared bike storage oriented to a new tram stop.

Residential · 6 units

Lofoten · 2022

Fisherman's Rest

Small hotel annex on a working harbour - low profile, local stone base, and interiors finished in oiled pine with wool textiles from regional makers.

Hospitality · 12 keys

Approach

How we work with you

From first conversation to handover, our process is structured but never rigid - tuned to the scale and pace of each commission.

01

Discovery & masterplanning

Site analysis, programme workshops, and feasibility studies. We map light, wind, access, and local planning context before a single line is drawn.

02

Architecture & interiors

Concept through construction documentation - spatial planning, material palettes, custom joinery, and coordination with engineers and landscape architects.

03

Site & handover

Regular site visits, contractor liaison, and snagging. We stay involved until the building performs as intended in real weather.

Team

The people behind the work

A compact studio of architects and makers who share a commitment to quiet, durable places.

Elin Haugen

Founding partner

Trained at Oslo School of Architecture. Leads design on residential and cultural projects; teaches part-time on timber construction.

Jonas Berg

Partner · technical lead

Structural coordination, passive-house certification, and detail development. Former lead at a Bergen engineering-atelier collaboration.

Maren Solvik

Associate · interiors

Material research, FF&E, and client presentations. Background in set design informs her approach to light and proportion in lived spaces.


Contact

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New commissions, collaborations, and speaking enquiries - we read every message and respond within a few working days.

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