Observation platform (Aurland, Nerwegian)/ Norway Publish Roads Administration/ Planning : Saunders Arkitekter og Wilhelmsen Ariktekter / Under construction

As to the National policy of architecture and design, the Ministry of Culture made it clear in the Government White Paper on Culture that the built environment in political terms is important for three main reasons - that it have considerable influence of the well-being of people, that architecture is a significant expression of the culture of the nation and the identity of communities, and that the buildings erected by the government is a forceful expression of the quality of government service and represents an important teaching example to the whole country. Based on this suggestion, the independent but government financed institution Norsk Form was established in 1992. In 1995, the Guidelines for Aesthetic Quality in State Buildings and Works were published. In 1997, there was also a change in the national planning and building law, strengthening the requirements for aesthetic quality and giving as a clear mandate to local council politicians to make judgements on quality in order to reject those projects that do not heighten the quality of the environment. Together with Statsbygg(The State Building Authority) that emphasizes architectonic equality and influence the development of the public room, The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) has been devoted to road building in Norway. The agency demands with regards to planning and construction include the preservation of the landscape as well as road design.

To make the field of design better known, the Government made 2005 a national design year. Together with the Norwegian Design Council and Innovation Norway, Norsk Form was in charge of carrying through the campaign. It is a wish to continue the design campaign. An ambition now on a national level is to increase the focus on architecture and design policy by suggesting an architectural and design committee closely connected to the ministries. Hopefully this will be a tool to develop and implement strategies. Royal Norwegian Embassy, Information Section

Contact line mast (Gardermoen airport railway line, Norway)/1996/Gardembanen as / Design : Odd Thorsen Design & Arkitektur as / Photo: Trond Isaksen