Henning Larsen: University buildings on the Faroe Islands

Danish architecture studio Henning Larsen has unveiled plans for a large new wooden building as part of the university in Torshavn on the Faroe Islands. The special feature: The architecture refers to the archipelago’s ancient building methods. More about the project here.

In July 2023, Danish architecture firm Henning Larsen Archite cts presented its plans for a solid timber university building on the Faroe Islands. The old North Atlantic construction method has met with much approval. The campus in Torshavn will cover a total of 8,000 square meters. The capital of the archipelago will be home to this campus, which will consist of a series of solid timber buildings with gabled roofs. It is set around a series of existing school and educational buildings to create the impression of a group of houses “Our vision is inspired by the historic Faroese building styles and solid timber buildings of the past, while providing the University of the Faroe Islands with a modern campus that blends seamlessly into the landscape and its diverse context,” says Ósbjørn Jacobsen, Henning Larsen Partner and Design Director of the project.

The design by Henning Larsen Architects was selected as the winner in a competition in which BIG, Cobe and local architecture firms also took part. The design impresses with solid wood and microclimatic design – typical of the office, which has also designed a ferry terminal made of wood and concrete on the Faroe Islands and the Volvo Experience Center made of solid wood. The architects at Henning Larsen like to refer to ancient building methods.

The old building techniques include an inner courtyard at the heart of the new building, which will become the centerpiece of the campus. The campus also takes its cue from the topography of the site. The central street will feature amphitheater-like steps to mimic the profile of the adjacent grassy hills. Instead of a traditional floor system, the architects are planning suspended mezzanines and gabled interiors. These will overlook the inner courtyard and the street. This allows the entire height of the new university building to be used for many of the communal spaces. The exterior walls will have large areas of glazing to create a connection to the outside world. Where there is no glazing, Henning Larsen Architects are also planning modular, self-sustaining biophilic systems as façades.

The design proposal by Henning Larsen has a similar gable shape to the surrounding houses. The planned building materials are glulam and cross-laminated timber. In addition, the new building is to have a green roof that matches the landscape of Torshavn and forms a connection to the surrounding buildings. Natural protection from the weather is to be created at various points on the campus. This is based on old methods of sheltering from the North Atlantic weather on the windy islands. In this way, 150 additional days of comfortable outdoor campus use should be possible. Some areas of a parking lot will become a new green common area, protected from the strong north-westerly winds of Torshavn and providing the best possible conditions for outdoor living in a harsh location. Wind and sun simulations make the optimal positioning possible.

With this design, Henning Larsen Architects show how the Faroese custom of “reading the landscape” can be translated into architecture. To this day, some of the oldest wooden buildings in the world dating back to the 11th century still exist on the islands. In addition to the wind-protected outdoor areas, a library, informal study areas, a canteen, a café, research and administration rooms, classrooms and a flexible large auditorium are also planned.

Also by Henning Larsen: Ørestad Church in Copenhagen is due to be completed in 2026. Read more about the design, which reflects the nature of the open landscape, here.