Diplomprosjekt
Høst 2024
Institutt for arkitektur
Skar Leir: Repairing the past, building for the future is a transformation of Skar Leir, a former military camp in Maridalen, into a sustainable workshop and learning base for the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT). The site has been vacant for 17 years, and the project aims to address the pressing need for both the restoration of Skar Leir and the ongoing maintenance of DNT’s network of cabins.
The core concept revolves around utilizing existing resources—buildings, local materials, collective knowledge and craftmanship/community skills. Skar Leir will be restored using sustainable and locally available materials such as clay, straw, and wood, which are environmentally friendly and can be recycled, ensuring long-term durability.
The core concept revolves around utilizing existing resources—buildings, local materials, collective knowledge and craftmanship/community skills. Skar Leir will be restored using sustainable and locally available materials such as clay, straw, and wood, which are environmentally friendly and can be recycled, ensuring long-term durability.
DNT’s volunteers will be trained in traditional building techniques and sustainable practices to repair and restore vital components for DNT cabins. Through minimal interventions, the existing structures at Skar Leir will be preserved, with a focus on maintaining their architectural integrity. The project explores the potential of circular building practices and shows how existing buildings can be transformed to serve future needs, promoting a more sustainable approach to architecture and community-driven efforts.
The transformation of Skar Leir emphasizes that preserving and repurposing old buildings demands more than technical expertise—it calls for a fundamental shift in mindset. We must embrace maintenance and restoration as ongoing commitments, integral to the sustainable stewardship of our built heritage. Buildings are not static relics; they are living, evolving elements of our environment, rich with cultural and historical significance. Neglecting their care risks losing not just physical structures, but also the stories and values they embody. By fostering a culture of preservation, we ensure these spaces continue to serve and inspire for generations to come.
Christina Sund / Christinasund1@gmail.com
