Snøhetta’s Homes

Snøhetta’s Pilot Homes for Vulnerable Residents

On the west coast of Norway, in Karmøy, Snøhetta has designed three homes to support residents facing significant living challenges. Commissioned by the Karmøy municipality, this initiative seeks to improve living standards, enhance health and safety, and reduce municipal costs.

The project aligns with Karmøy’s “Vision Zero” goal to eliminate homelessness by providing tailored and considered housing for individuals with substance abuse or psychiatric diagnoses. These residences are designed to blend seamlessly into the community while offering a supportive environment that respects individual needs and fosters well-being.

The three homes share a similar design layout but differ in their primary materials. One house is built from solid wood with exposed interiors, while the other two combine brick and concrete. These materials were chosen for their durability and robustness, ensuring the homes remain resilient yet welcoming.

Snøhetta’s design process was highly collaborative, involving input from residents, municipal staff, and user organizations. This cooperation shaped features such as floor plans, technical solutions, ventilation, heating, and fire safety, ensuring the homes address specific challenges while providing a sense of security and belonging.

The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway and the municipalities of Karmøy and Stavanger, and carried out by the Norwegian Research Centre (Norce) in collaboration with the University of Stavanger, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, the Norwegian State Housing Bank, A-larm and Snøhetta.