Bjørn Normann Sandaker

Bjørn Normann Sandaker is a structural engineer and Professor of Architectural Technology at The Oslo Scool of Architecture and Design (AHO), as well as Adjunct Professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway. His particular academic interest focuses on the borderline between architecture and structural engineering, both historically and contemporary.

Sandaker's PhD (AHO, 2000) investigated the conditions for architectural engineering in a time of new and increasing complexity of architectural concepts of space, where the ideals of structural efficiency might be seen to loose terrain, raising the question of on what grounds one could establish a crtiticism of structures that also takes architectural intentions for the space into full consideration. The thesis also resulted in a book titled "On Span and Space. Exploring Structures in Architecture" (Routledge 2008).

Bjørn Normann Sandaker is also co-author of "The Structural Basis of Architecture", a title that has been continuously in the market for over 30 years in several languages, now in its 3rd edition (Routledge 2019).

Sandaker has taught extensively at many universities in Scandinavia and abroad, and has published numerous articles and papers on subjects relating to architecture and structures. His teaching is currently focusing mainly on architectural and structural issues concerning multistory buildings (AHO), and on the influence of new materials and structural technologies on the development of Modernism in architecture (NTNU).

Publications - books: 

• Sandaker, Bjørn Normann; Eggen, Arne; Cruvellier, Mark R.;The Structural Basis of Architecture. Routledge. 2019. ISBN 978-1-138-65199-9.
• Cruvellier, Mark R.; Sandaker, Bjørn Normann; Dimcheff, Luben; Model Perspectives. Structure, Architecture & Culture. Routledge. 2017. ISBN 978-0-415-73194-2.
• Sandaker, Bjørn Normann; On span and space : exploring structures in architecture. Routledge. 2007. ISBN 9780415357876.
• Sandaker, Bjørn Normann; Sandvik, Malvin; Vik, Bjørn; Materialkunnskap. 2003. ISBN 8280210210.
• Eggen, Arne; Sandaker, Bjørn Normann; Steel Structure and Architecture. Whitney Library of Design. 1995. ISBN 0-8230-5020-3.

Publications - selected articles:

• Sandaker, Bjørn Normann; Kleven, Bente; Rohde Wang, Astrid; Structural typologies and the architectural space - studies of the relationship between structure and space by application of structural types to multistory buildings. Architecture, Structures and Construction. Springer 2022.
• Sandaker, Bjørn Normann; Talk, Theory & Tangibility. Teaching Structures in Architecture. Contemporary Architectural Education: Education on Practices. Tianjin University Magazine Press, 2020.
• Manum, Bendik; Sandaker, Bjørn Normann; Structural Design and Lessons to Learn from Architecture. Taller, longer, lighter. IABSE-IASS symposium 2011.
• Manum, Bendik; Sandaker, Bjørn Normann; To be or to do; a study of architects' and engineers' contributions to bridge design. Proceedings from Structures and Architecture, ICSA2010.
• Sandaker, Bjørn Normann; An Ontology of Structured Space. Proceedings from Structures and Architecture, ICSA2010.