Harstad samfunnshus og svømmehall (Harstad Community Centre and Swimming Pool (Gallery Northern Norway))
Description
Normannsgate 1, Harstad
The complex that was erected as the Harstad swimming pool and community centre, designed by the architect Jan Inge Hovig (1920-1977), is centrally located in the town centre. In 1999 the A3 Arkitektkontor was contracted to convert the swimming pool into a gallery for Harstad Gallery of Contemporary Art, and the construction was completed in 2001. This building is one of the most characteristic structures in the town and is included in the so-called community district. Here one will also find the Harstad cinema - also designed by Jan Inge Hovig.
The building is dominated by the vigorous concrete slabs which function both as floor slabs and as a demarcation of the roof. Situated between the slabs are large planes of glass which are divided with vertical glazing bars. The relationship between the light planes of glass which are divided with heavy vertical glazing bars gives the illusion that the roof hovers. This is a motif that is characteristic of many of Hovig's buildings from the 1950s.
The building is dominated by the vigorous concrete slabs which function both as floor slabs and as a demarcation of the roof. Situated between the slabs are large planes of glass which are divided with vertical glazing bars. The relationship between the light planes of glass which are divided with heavy vertical glazing bars gives the illusion that the roof hovers. This is a motif that is characteristic of many of Hovig's buildings from the 1950s.
Year of construction
1958, rebuilt to incorporate a gallery and cultural school in 2001
Architect
Jan Inge Hovig MNAL
Client
Harstad Municipality
Building Type
Community centre
swimming pool
gallery
Construction System / Materials
Concrete
glass
Keywords
community centre
swimming pool
concrete
glass
functionalism
gallery
Literature
Bruun, Ola and Jim Myrstad, "Kvartal i endring - Bylandskap Harstad 100 år 2004" in Harstad Tidene 13.09.03 pp. 28-29.
Jakhelln, Gisle, "Hovig i nord", Byggekunst 7/1990, pp. 382-385.
Jakhelln, Gisle, "Hovig i nord", Byggekunst 7/1990, pp. 382-385.
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