Swiss architect Peter Zumthor revives Norway's old mining region, Allmannajuvet, with new three modest buildings functioned as a museum facility for communicating the history of the mines, a café and a service building near the main road in Suada in the Ryfylke region. 

The zinc mines at Allmannajuvet are an old mining facility in Sauda in the Ryfylke region. The mines were in operation from 1881 until 1899. The mining operations were vital to the local community, with up to 168 employees and shipments of ore to overseas destinations. The operations were a precursor of the later development of hydropower and establishment of manufacturing industries in Sauda in the Ryfylke region. This era is an important part of the history of Sauda. 

Allmannajuvet cafe is made up of black box and erected on timber gridal-frame structure. Image © Lars Grimsby

Zumthor were commissioned to transform this old industrial history and make the old mines more accessible to visitors. Zumthor's buildings are made up of three basic materials; a simple black box, wooden structural frame raised up black-winged stilts and a corrugated zinc canopy roof, which presents all these minimalist buildings in the same architectural manner, dispersed in some points of the mining area.

Peter Zumthor's museum is raised up timber skeleton on mountainy landscape of Norway. Image © Per Berntsen

Allmannajuvet with its characteristic landscape and rich cultural history, is one of the tourist route initiative’s particular attractions. In 2002, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration commissioned Peter Zumthor to design an installation in Allmannajuvet for the purpose of welcoming visitors and bringing the old mining history back to life. Zumthor’s buildings are inspired by the mining operation, the drudgery and the workers’ strenuous everyday lives.  

Allmannajuvet cafe can be percepted from the road for travellers. Image © Lars Grimsby

The installations in Allmannajuvet officially open to the visitors, travellers on 8 September 2016, with a museum building, a café building, toilet and parking facilities, paths and stairs. The construction started in 2010. Through a challenging process, architects, engineers, electricians, painters, carpenters and other professionals have contributed to a unique architectural artwork with non-traditional solutions and uncompromising standards of accuracy.

Allmannajuvet toilet facilities. Image © Lars Grimsby

With his spectacular buildings in Allmannajuvet, Peter Zumthor once more erects a historical monument in Norway to the people who faced terrible hardship and cruel fate. In the summer of 2011, Her Majesty the Queen opened Steilneset Memorial in Vardø; the first of Zumthor’s installations commissioned by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. 

Closer view to Allmannajuvet's structure. Image © Fredrik Fløgstad

While Allmannajuvet emerges as a monument of the mining operation and the workers’ life of hardship in the late 1800s, Steilneset in Vardø was raised in memory of the people in Finnmark who fell victim to the government’s witchcraft persecutions in the 1600s.

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration develops the National Tourist Routes attraction, which started as a pilot project in 1993. In 1998, the Norwegian Storting and Government gave the all-clear to pursue the project. 

Image © Fredrik Fløgstad

In 2004, 18 routes from Jæren in the south to Varanger in the north were selected from more than 50 candidates. At the same time, the first rest areas were opened for road travellers to visit. Small gems such as Askvågen and Ersfjordstranda and large architecturally designed attractions such as Trollstigen and Steilneset have since emerged in the landscape. 

Image © Fredrik Fløgstad

So, Allmannajuvet is not Peter Zumthor's first project in Norwegian historic region. The architect designed 'The Steilneset Memorial' in Vardø, the easternmost point in Norway, in collaboration with artist Louise Bourgeois, to commemorate the victims of the witch-hunts who were burned at the stake in Vardø. Between 1600 and 1692, a total of 135 individuals were accused of sorcery in Finnmark County. Of these, 91 were convicted, the majority in Vardø. 

The Steilneset Memorial in Vardø. Image © Bjarne Riesto

As part of the establishment of the Millennium Site in 2000, Vardø Municipality took the initiative to erect a memorial to commemorate the victims of the witch-hunts. The project was implemented under the auspices of a committee comprising representatives of Vardø Municipality, Finnmark County, Varanger Museum and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration.

The Steilneset Memorial in Vardø. Image © Jarle Wæhler

The Steilneset Memorial is located adjacent to the assumed execution site, with a view of the old church and the fortress. The historical events are communicated through art and architecture at an international level, in the form of a unique cooperation between the artist Louise Bourgeois and the architect Peter Zumthor. The first sketches for the project were completed in the autumn of 2006.

Image © Bjarne Riesto 

The artist Louise Bourgeois has stated her message in the form of a chair which is reflected in seven encircling oval mirrors. Gas flames emerge from the seat of the chair. The artwork is placed in a separate glass and steel construction designed by the architect Peter Zumthor. 

Image © Bjarne Riesto 

His contribution also comprises a building 125 metres in length erected on piles, with one illuminated window for each of the victims who were burnt at the stake in Vardø. Their destinies are conveyed through posters, leaflets and books. The original monument has changed in character, and currently appears as a complete installation in an international format.

Image © Bjarne Riesto 

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration accentuates the significance of this project as a major point of interest along the Varanger National Tourist Route, as well as its importance for Vardø as a tourist destination. As the main funding agency, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration believes that this work complies with the preconditions defined by the original plans for a memorial and has given it priority in its plans for the National Tourist Routes for the period until 2011. 

Image © Bjarne Riesto 

The erection of the Steilneset Memorial meets the objectives of the National Tourist Routes, which includes contributing to increased settlement and industrial development, not least in the rural areas.

All of the drives were marked as National Tourist Routes in 2012. The routes have not yet been fully completed. From 2015 onwards, more than 100 new viewing points and rest areas will be implemented, and the 18 National Tourist Routes will be complete in 2023.

Image © Bjarne Riesto 

The National Tourist Routes are designed to entice tourists from Norway and abroad to choose Nor- way as their holiday destination. This requires targeted efforts from a number of collaborators: The Norwegian Public Roads Administration is planning and building the attraction, and we operate and maintain rest areas and viewing points to make sure that the expectations of the travellers are met. 

Image © Bjarne Riesto 

The tourism industries are tasked with providing food, accommodation, experiences and activities of high quality. The objective is to give the tourists positive experiences and contribute to local business development.

Top image: Allmannajuvet Cafe at night. Image © Arne Espeland

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