AHO WORKS STUDIES 2012-2013
Architectural Studies
Blasted Building
posed the structural and material qualities
of the building, removing all the removable
and non-original elements, turning it into an
abstract version of itself. Maybe this could
open for a flexible strategy for reusing
Høy-
blokken
, considering alternative facades,
additions, partition-wall-systems, surfaces,
infrastructure etc. The act of blasting, mim-
icking the blasting techniques of the architect,
but securely disassociated with the horrific
terrorist attack, can possibly act as a preser-
vation-device, exposing the primal qualities
of any building. The paradoxical relationship
between
destruction
and
preservation
revealed
is not as arbitrary as one might think. In her
book “The Fragile Monument, on Conserva-
tion and Modernity”
9
, Thordis Arrhenius has
proved how closely knit the modern notion of
conservation is to the destructive forces of The
French revolution.
Blasting
employed as a method for pres-
ervation challenges the common practice of
preservation based on visual properties rather
than physical realities. Maybe this new mode
of action can be instrumental when taking on
the complex task of preserving architecture of
“the recent past”.
Future architects will to a greater extent
than today have to work with existing struc-
tures, and therefore it is crucial to gain detailed
knowledge of structures and materials, but
equally important, to develop new strategies
of preservation and alteration. Education is
central in this endeavour, training students in
the challenging and exciting practice of archi-
tectural treasure hunting.
Notes
1 Conglo-concrete (Conglobetong) was a technique Viksjø de-
veloped for the Høyblokken project, prescribing the casting of
large stones with cement in a form, subsequently cutting the
congealed mass lengthwise, exposing the rock surface, and
used as floor- and wall tiles
2 The renovation is documented in the publication “Rokerings-
prosjektet I Regjeringskvartalet”, Ferdigmelding nr.554/1998,
prosjektnr.92912. Statsbygg 1998.
3 Mark Wigley, architect and Dean at Columbia University, Gra-
duate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, held
two lectures in Oslo in 2013: “Architecture in the Age of Radio”
at Litteraturhuset 12 October 2013 and “Pipeless dreams” at
the Architecture Museum, National Museum of Art, Architectu-
re and Design, 13 October 2013.
4 Erling Viksjø ”Det nye regjeringsbygget”, Byggekunst n 1, 1959
5 The method was developed and patented by Erling Viksjø and
Engineer Sverre Jystad in the 1950s. River-gravel with the dia-
meter of 20-40mm is put into the formwork, cement is poured
in under pressure binding the gravel, the formwork is removed
and the surface is being sandblasted after a short hardening
time, until the gravel is exposed.
6 Bente Solbakken: “Tekstur som ornament, Erling Viksjøs ekspe-
rimenter med sandblåst betong på 1950-tallet”, in the book
“Brytninger. Norsk arkitektur 1945-65”, The National Museum for
Art, Architecture and Design 2010, ISBN 978-82-8154-054-5
7 Erling Viksjø, “Fasadebetong” Byggekunst n3 1951
8 Ingrid Helsing Almaas, “Regjeringsbygningen I 1959”, Arkitektur
N 08/2011
9 Thordis Arrhenius «The Fragile Monument – on Conservation
and Modernity», 2012, Artifice, books on Architecture, ISBN
978-1-907317-47-7
