scarcity and creativity studio constructs pocket farm on the outskirts of oslo

made up of a group of students from the oslo school of architecture and design (AHO), the scarcity and creativity studio (SCS) has shared its ‘småbruk – a pocket farm in nes’ project — a timber construction that focuses on the norwegian municipality of nes i akershus. the rural area is one of the principal agricultural producers of grain in the country, and scs’s project explores alternative modes of accommodating people and additional population moving away from oslo, while not losing its rural character.

all images © the scarcity and creativity studio (SCS)

the entire project is designed and built by a group of AHO students during an intensive four week construction phase. the form of the barn house is an extension of the undulating topography, which the building picks up and extends, generating the volume required to house the functions of the barn. in order not to disturb the continuity of the landscape, the entrance doors are located at the back. the blending between the built scheme and nature will be most prominently seen in the autumn, when the color of the barley matches the cladding of the barn, and in the winter when fields and roof is covered in snow.

 the form of the barn is an extension of the undulating topography, which the building picks up and extends

in addition to the design of four farm houses, SCS has built the agricultural barn that will be divided amongst the four residents and facilitate in storing agricultural produce, machinery, and animals. the building envelope is neutral and consists of 23 x 36 mm treated softwood battens with 23 mm spaces in-between. the interior is defined by the OSB sheets, with the dimensions of the structural members reflecting the fact that OSB is not a commonly used structural material. in total, the project consists of four eco-houses, an agricultural barn, and land where families can grow food and tend animals. ultimately, it will cater to residents who would favor living in a rural setting, without heaving farming but at the same time be close enough to commute to oslo.

in order not to disturb the continuity of the topography, the entrance doors are placed at the back

the OSB bracing and structural members can be seen in the interior

the choice of OSB sheets as the main structural material was due to economic constraints and ease of building

corrugated metal sheets are used in the roof and walls, covered outside by treated, spaced, softwood battens

project info:

client: elisabeth and terje maarud and nes kommune
size: 225 m2 (9m x 25m)
materials: concrete slab, composite OSB and softwood structural frames and diagonal bracing, corrugated steel roofing sheets, and impregnated softwood cladding.
construction period: 6 weeks, may and june 2016.
location: dystlandhaugen farm, nes i akershus, norway.
client: elisabeth and terje maarud
students: alberto ballesteros barea, jon erik dybedal brekken, sara cais soler, hiu yeung amos chan, raphael fournier, ingri heggebø, jørgen joacim høy, silje loe,
bao trung mai, alexandra niedermayr, sigurd strøm nørsterud, johann sigurd ruud, marc sanchez olivares, johan by sørheim, marine vincentz, vjera sleutel
staff: christian hermansen and marcin wojcik
structural eng.: felice allievi, dof engineers

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save