Here are a few more sketches from our trip to Oslo. I was especially interested in the buildings with living rooftops. There are many varieties of these but this one jærhus especially caught my eye for its design. It sits low on a hillside, with one side protected by the hill it is set into. The side facing me had windows that looked out over the sea. Each end has a stone wall that protects a storage area for peat that can be burned for heat. This probably took a lot of work to build by hand, but it is mostly built of local material and it responds to the landscape. We can’t say that about many modern buildings.

I also sketched the Nobel Peace Center because it’s an important part of the waterfront landscape and obviously the Nobel prizes have been important historically. But I was not particularly impressed by the center itself, and I admit that I often wonder about the value of the prize it is associated with. I always hope for peace, and there are laureates whose work has impressed me, but I look elsewhere for my hope.

🕊️🎨🇳🇴

A page from a sketchbook shows illustrations of a turf-roofed house with descriptions, the Nobel Peace Prize Center in Oslo, and artistic notes.A collection of art supplies and a sketchbook showcasing various architectural drawings and sketches are displayed on a tabletop.