A Dialogue with Nature: Two rest areas in Hardangervidda
Immersed in the vastness of Hardangervidda, where geological processes and the relentless forces of water, ice, and wind have sculpted the land for over 500 million years, this intervention stands as a quiet gesture—an invitation to pause, to listen, and to belong. Rather than imposing, it exists in balance with nature, attuned to the rhythms of a landscape shared by humans, plants, and countless animal species.
In Norway’s largest national park, where wilderness stretches beyond the horizon, we explore the delicate balance between human presence and the untamed—between intervention and restraint.
The project offers a profound reflection on Hardangervidda’s landscape and the deep connection to nature, art and its cultural heritage that has maintained a strong resonance with the natural environment. It draws inspiration from the evocative paintings of Johan Christian Dahl (1788–1857), a pioneer of the Norwegian Romanticism and the first great interpreter of Norwegian landscapes, as well as the beautiful writings of Olav H. Hauge (1908–1994), a celebrated poet from Ulvik in Hardanger whose poetry, deeply rooted in the Norwegian landscape, reflects on nature as a mirror of human emotions and experiences.
The project proposes a philosophical discourse between humans and nature, acting as a symbol—a poetic metaphor urging us to reflect on the responsibility we bear for the protection and conservation of our landscapes, as a crucial foundation for life on the planet. At the heart of our proposal lies the concept in Norwegian of “La Være,” which translates to “Leave it Be.” Inspired by a diligent respect for nature, this approach advocates for a minimalist gesture. In its essence, lays the idea of restraint, prioritizing the needs of all forms of life that are dependent on the resources of Hardangervidda´s National Park, proposing instead a modest but meaningful intervention, in dialogue with nature.
The main goal is to minimize human impact, creating a new rest area within the footprint of the existing parking and simultaneously minimizing the disorderly movement of humans through the landscape, aiming to heal the scars left by past human presence.
The design proposes a new interface—an organic element that seamlessly blends human-made infrastructure with the untamed wilderness, creating a careful and respectful new threshold. An element inspired by the organic forms of nature, such as the meandric flow of river streams, the fascinating morphology of the territory, or the countless unique shapes of the lakes in the high mountain plateau. It lays gently over the terrain, preserving the natural topography and creating an edge, slight lifted from the ground, that respects the character of the place. It simultaneously provides a comfortable resting area, inviting visitors to sit in close connection to the landscape, as well as shelter for plants and animals.
This delicate gesture pays respect to Hardangervidda, both its cultural heritage and its natural environment, fostering a deeper connection to the landscape.
The mountain demands a humble gaze. It calls for reverence.
It invites us to listen, to pause, and to care.
And perhaps, in the serenity of Hardangervidda, it reminds us that we, too, are a part of nature.
Project Data
Landscape architect: Bjørbekk & Lindheim Landscape architects
Project name: Rest areas along the Norwegian National Route No. 7 in Hardangervidda: Vardestopp and Ørteren
Location: Hol Municipality – Buskerud Region
Consulting engineer: Dipl.-Ing. Florian Kosche AS – Florian Kosche and Brian Perktold
Consulting engineer for road: Sunniva Birkeland (SVV)
Contractor: GTS AS og Flaget AS
Client: Norwegian Scenic Routes – Silje Myhre Amundsen, Per Finborud and Roger Thorstad
Project area: Vardestopp – 930m2 / Ørteren – 1340m2
Construction costs – 10 million NOK
Design years: Competition 2021 / Design process 2022-2024
Construction years: 2024/2025
Photographs: Terje Heggelien, Frid-Jorunn Stabell, Harald Christian Eiken, Dag Otto Ellingsen, Bjørbekk & Lindheim
Drawings and Illustrations: Bjørbekk & Lindheim
