Sagveien 23C, 0459 Oslo
Nýlendugata 6, 101 Reykjavík
APRIL architects is an award winning design practice founded on enthusiasm and dedication - based in Oslo, with a satellite office in Reykjavík.
Winning two open competitions in 2003 laid the foundations for establishing APRIL architects. The office has accumulated long and in-depth experience from all the phases of the design process and has realized works on all scales, from furniture, to buildings and urban plans. APRIL takes on big and small projects. The office has had the opportunity to be selected and invited to many closed competitions for proposing urban improvement in small towns all over Norway. Many years of exploratory, and sometimes prize winning participation in competitions has facilitated innovative approach in urbanism and housing.
APRIL architect's work has been published internationally, and their housing projects are presented in supervisory brochures of public offices displaying exemplary practice in Norway. APRIL's partners have been involved in teaching and research across borders, and they have contributed in the public discourse through active participation in Norway and Iceland.
The architect is a specialist in getting as much value as possible out of the resources at disposal. Our eyes are trained to see potentials where others don't see them. Our mind is trained to zoom into and forming the smallest details while always making sure that the well founded whole is becoming even sounder.
In our view identifying the existing qualities and structures, and assessing the added value by framing, reusing and recycling, is a natural and ever more necessary part of the first phase of the design process. Independent of scale, this principle touches upon environment, economy and cultural history.
We have all the required licenses for architectural work and master planning in Norway and in Iceland.
Kathrine Lagethon Lunøe
Simon Scharnweber
Siyin Pang
Lene Marie Grennes
Gunnar Aasen Rogne
Giambattista Zaccariotto
Laufey Sigurðardóttir
Kristin Pedersen
Hans Kristian Moen
Olav Fergus Kvalnes
Borghildur Indriðadóttir
Leena Marjamaa
Astrid Haram
Arne Vidar Hegni
Wenche Andreassen
Daniel Ferdman
Christa Hellesøe-Jensen
Sagveien 23C, 0459 Oslo
Nýlendugata 6, 101 Reykjavík
Norway: +47 922 88 546 / +47 97531 794 /
Iceland: +354 6807077
post@aprilarkitekter.no
910 279 009
Bok skrevet av Kjersti Hembre og Hanne Sophie Claussen. Grafisk design: Saralinn Hembre Singstad. Utgitt på Frekk forlag
An article in an Icelandic newspaper Vísir about the home as a human right.
The Return to the Village. An article in SÍBS-blaðið in Iceland, in an issue on health in the built environment.
An article by Hanne Sophie Claussen and Kjersti Hembre. Text and ill.: 'The Public Against Demolishing the Y-block', visuals by Donatas Grinius, MAD
An article about the connection between shocks and the design of the built environment. https://stundin.is/grein/10925/samhengi-afalla-og-honnunar-hins-manngerda-umhverfis/
APRIL was invited by the curators Hyungmin Pai and Alejandro Zaera-Polo to the Seoul Biennale for Architecture and Urbanism, and contributed in the Cities Exhibition with the installation "The Hot Pot"in in spring 2017. The hot pot has an important place in Icelandic debate culture. The installation was at the heart of the exhibition functioning as a meeting place. http://www.seoulbiennale.org/2019/index.html
APRIL's selv-builder housing project in Stavanger used as a role model in the catalogue by the Norwegian Architecture Association
APRIL's Jåtten Øst is represented in a collection of good examples for liveable urban housing environments in a public catalogue from the county governor.
A commissioned article by Arna Mathiesen in an issue on Icelandic architecture: 'I wish you were there' p. 9-14.
Arna Mathiesen peer reviewed article on Housing in Iceland in the light of an economic meltdown presented in a conference Boundaries|Encounters|Connections inKøbenhavn and is published in the conference publication, p. 6-17.
'Design as a tool to make a better world', a commissioned article by Arna Mathiesen p. 40
A radio interview on National Radio on the formation of the built environment and climate change
A 250 page book published for the international marked: Scarcity in Excess - The Built Environment and the Economic Crisis in Iceland. Initiated by APRIL. Editor was Arna Mathiesen with Thomas Forget and Giambattista Zaccariotto. Publisher is Actar.
An article in an Icelandic newspaper on the relationship between urban environments driven by free market capitalism and the role of a soccer mum
'Tending your own garden' an interview with APRIL architects
La Y stå _ Om kampen for å bevare Y-blokka
Forfattere: Kjersti Hembre og Hanne Sophie Claussen
Samfélagsmiðað húsnæði
Arna gives a lecture in a conference in Reykjavík on co-housing and socially enhancing architecture and planning
Building permit
APRIL is the responsible applicant and designer for the conversion of a housing unit at Bøler, Oslo
Akranes, Iceland
APRIL is prequalified for design competition for a masterplan of a large recreational area in the largest town in west Iceland - in cooperation with Svavarsson Design Lab.
A part of APRIL stuck in Iceland!
Arna is stuck in Iceland because the borders more or less closed due to the Corona crisis. Hopefully her presence on the island will be useful in some respect
Let it be!
Kjersti Hembre and Hanne Sophie Claussen, write in Morgenbladet - featuring illustrations of a Y-block with a different content - project by APRIL.
An new newspaper article
This article in an Icelandic paper was trigged by the covid-19 crisis. As it turned out that the financial meltdown in Iceland was not the last crisis. April architect's reflections and take-away's are extrapolated in this piece.
New government quarters - to which prize tag?
As leaders for the initiative 'Campaign to save the Y-block' Kjersti Hembre writes an article in Dagsavisen with Hanne Sophie Claussen
Save the Y-block prime minister!
An open letter published in the news paper Aftenposten, signed Elton, Claussen and Hembre
A protest march for the Y-block
By 'Campaign to save the Y-block' . APRILs Kjersti Hembre is instrumental in the leadership committee
A new cabin in Iceland
Our first commission in Iceland was just put in use.
Interview about the conservation of the Y-block
APRIL's Kjersti Hembre interviewed in the culture magazine Harvest.
Pecha Kucha at DogA
Pecha Kucha on the Y-block action by Kjersti Hembre and Hanne Sopie Claussen. DOGA is a driving force behind sustainable value creation through design and architecture.
Permission to start building
Now construction of the 5th part of the Gamle Drammens vei project can start - interior work.
Permission to start building
Now construction of the 4th part of the Gamle Drammens vei project can start - closing the exterior envelope
Release the creativity?
An article in Dagsavisen news paper by APRIL's Kjersti Hembre with Hanne Sopie Claussen
The Y-bench on auction
An auction by the 'Campaign to save the Y-block'
A call
Din våte Drøm in a concert for the Y-block. A call by Kjersti Hembre
The Y-bench on auction
The Y-bench designed by APRIL and implanted in public space.
An action for saving the Y-block
Organized by the 'Campaign to save the Y-block'
Nomination for the Oslo architecture prize
Spikerverket is a candidate for the prize! : "In the Norwegian context Spikerverket in Nydalen is rare, where mixed use shares outdoors space. This is a good example on mixed-use in architecture and urbanism". (a loose translation from Norwegian)
We got permission
The 1st phase of the building of Gamle Drammensvei can start now, thanks to Bærum Municipality.
A BIG building permission
APRIL's application for transforming a commercial building from the 60ties into mixed use with 30 housing units is now permitted by Bærum Municipality. The building includes 4300m2, including 500m2 commercial space.
A Honorary Mention
APRIL got a honorary mention for a proposal in an open competition on the harbour area in Hafnarfjörður, Island.
A building permission arrived
Oslo municipality just gave permission for the transformation of a single family house we have re-designed in Frognerseterveien 11B
The HOT POT arrives in Oslo
APRIL's installation for the Seoul Biennale has arrived the office after a long trip by boat, and can now be experienced in Sagveien 23c, Oslo.
Presentation in Oz
I dag presenterte Arna Mathiesen APRIL's forslag for Steinneset i Os med full sal av publikum til stede
HOT POT
APRIL's Hot Pot on display at the Seoul Biennale
Building permissions
APRIL's design for three buildings in Bjerkeveien, Oppegaard got accepted by the building committee today
Steinneset
Os municipality invites APRIL along with Cubus and Fragment architects to make a proposal for Steinneset town center
A commission for the Seoul Biennale
Hyungmin Pai has invited APRIL to make an installation on the city of Reykjavik, Iceland at the Seoul biennale in September 2017. "In the Cities Exhibition, about 50 cities in the world will participate. Focusing on the common values that world cities and the specific themes of the Seoul Biennale, the Cities Exhibition showcases key projects and policy initiatives of each city."
A public event for saving the Y-block
A concert, a protest march and calls for action, initiated by the 'Campaign to save the Y-block'
A competition proposal ready
APRIL delivered a competition proposal for the Gufunes area in Reykjavík Iceland APRIL was a prequalified to do.
A triology presentation
APRIL delivered 3 projects sketch phase (two single family houses and one two family house) + one study for their neighbourhood!
Nordic Built Cities Challenge
APRIL congratulates Dagný Bjarnadóttir, Anders Egbjerg Terp and Gunnlaugur Johnson for the winning entry in Nordic Built Cities Challenge. APRIL was a nordic collaborator and a consultant on the team
An 'Onion for the Neigborhood' stunt
'Onion for the Neighborhood' (a project for urban agriculture) will be present at 'åpen gård' happening at Geitmyra food culture center for children at 12-15.
A competition
APRIL is shortlisted for a competition in Gufunes, Iceland.
A presentation in Alta
APRILS study for Bossekop presented in Alta, Northern Norway
Spikerverket
Spikerverket housing sold out a year before completion!
Jåtten Øst - an example to follow
APRIL's Jåtten Øst is represented in a collection of good examples for liveable urban housing environments in a public catalogue from the county governor.
Shortlisting
APRIL shortlisted for a study for Bossekop in Alta
APRIL travels to Italy, including a lecture in Rome
A lecture at Sapienza University in , in to the book. Thanks for the invitation Barbara Pizzo. Followed by the whole gang of APRIL architects olive picking in Toscana with colleague Caroline Tarling!
Launch: 'Onion for the neighboorhood'
Løk for Strøk 'Onion for the Neighborhood' project launched in Oslo
Re-designing the Gap
APRIL conceptualizes and organizes a conference at the house of literature - Re-designing the Gap: Urbanization between Formal Institutions and Informal Dynamics, in cooperation with the Oslo school of architecture and design and Oslo University. Thanks to Professor Christel Fricke from the Centre for the Study of Mind in Nature (CSMN)
A lecture in Seoul
APRIL's Arna Mathiesen gives a lecture at the architecture program at Seoul University, in relation to the new book + introducing APRIL's work
A protest march for the Y-block
Organised by 'Campaign to save the Y-block' . APRILs Kjersti Hembre is a founding member and instrumental in the leadership committee
A lecture at the Manchester University School of Architecture
A lecture at the Manchester University School of Architecture, in relation to the book. Thanks for the invitation Deljaana Iossifova!
APRIL got 'green resources'
APRIL receives 'green resources' from the local municipality to launch the Onion Project.
A Book launch in Iceland!
Glad to be finally launching the book:'Scarcity in Excess' at the scene - Mengi in Reykjavík. Looking forward to finally meet so many of the contributors involved. Welcome all!
APRIL travels to Copenhagen
Looking forward to combining a presentation at the Urban Laboratory and exploring Copenhagen by bike.
Presentation at Doga (Oslo)
Presentation and exhibition on the Vippetangen project we were shortlisted to do; at DOGa
A big presentation at Oslo Municipality
The final report for Vippetangen delivered
Future built
Bykubesong and other projects on climate friendly housing in the competition by the FutureBuilt program in an exhibition
A Nomination for a prestigious prize!
Spikerverket housing nominated for the Oslo architecture prize in 2013
APRIL found a publisher
Actar will publish our book!
We love permaculture
APRIL's Arna Mathiesen just received a permaculture design certificate. Thanks Jan Bang!
A milestone at Spikerverket
1st phase of Spikerverket is finished and people are moving in
Innflytting første byggetrinn Spikerverket boliger
De første 40 leilighetene klare for innflytting. Bygg F og G er de første to bygninger av totalt fem som skal romme tilsammen 156 boliger
A talk and guest critique
APRIL's Arna Mathiesen gives an informal talk at the Illinois Institute of technology and is included in a panel for guest critique. Thanks to Zoka Scorup.
A Sabbatical coming up
APRIL's Arna Mathiesen is to spend 4 months in Chicago, exploring town and concluding the SCIBE study.
APRIL moves!
APRIL moves the office to lovely quarters at Sagveien 23c, just by Akerselva river.
Coming up, an article in AD Magazine (London)
APRIL's Arna Mathiesen just sent off her article to AD magazine, zooming up the findings in the SCIBE project. This will be a special Issue: Scarcity: Architecture in an Age of Depleting Resources
Drammen - the city of canals.
APRIL joined forces with PLM architecture and delivers a competition proposal in an open competition in Drammen, Norway.
Village People in Fornebu
APRIL joined forces with Leena Marjamaa and Helinco architecture and was prequalified for a closed competition in Fornebu, now delivering the proposal
Parallell assignment delivered
One more charette is over and we have finished our proposal for development of Skei village in Surnadal
A Grant from HERA!
Today we got huge news. Since last year we have, together with a great team led by Jeremy Till, been working on a research grant application. This is a collaboration between three universities: Westminster University, The Technical University in Vienna and The Oslo School of Architecture, for who APRIL is working on this project. To get to the point, today HERA (Humanities in the European Research Area) announced that the team will get the grant. The name of the project is SCIBE; Scarcity and Creativity in the Built Environment.
How to make a square beyond the Arctic cycle?
APRIL tried to come up with an appropriate solution for the assignment in their proposal in a closed competition
A new model for small scale flexible housing
APRIL proposes a module system that is flexible and has general qualities that are designed for an economic model
Building permission accomplished!
APRIL received permissions for HOT HOUSE Stavanger.
As far North we have ever been
Spring in Norway but retty cool up north literally. Fantastic experiencing the crisp light of Båtsfjord
APRIL takes an important role for the Oslo School of Architecture
APRIL´s Arna Mathiesen selected as a committee member for selecting an associate professor in sustainability for the Oslo School of Architecture (AHO)
APRIL receives a visit
Today a group of students from AHO visited APRIL architects as a part of their course "Professional Practise"
A huge milestone in Stavanger
Finally 73 housing units in Stavanger are finished and all the papers are in house. We hope the inhabitants will thrive forever!
The Kitchen Garden returns home
Our installation has entered the office after a round trip to diverse venues in Norway.
Brainstorm for a new development in Hamar
APRIL delivered a proposal for Lund and Vold - a collaboration with Dronninga Landskap
A proposal for Namsos
The fruit of the collaboration with Leena Marjamaa and Fantastic Norway delivered
Out and about.
APRIL´s Arna travels to Namsos with landscape architect Leena Marjamaa for inspecting a new site for a competition proposal. This time it will be a harbour promenade and facilities for "rock city". This project is a collaboration with Fantastic Norway
A new masterplan
APRIL delivered and the plan got accepted. Now HOT HOUSE is one step closer to being realised
A new proposal for the Tourist Routes
In an invited competition with Norwegian "Starchitects" ;)
A building permission granted
A hut- extension is accepted near Risør, Norway. A small project but of course very important!
Competition delivery
APRIL made a proposition for a Design Museum in an open competition in Iceland
A competition proposal in Iceland
APRIL delivered a proposal for an open competition - a plan for a mixed use development in Kirkjusandur, Reykjavik.
We are moving!
Now the office is a little further from the city center of Oslo. Still close to the river and the views are stunning. Welcome in Sandakerveien 35
A new plan for Jåtten Øst
APRIL delivered a masterplan for a new housing development
Plan and housing in Hamar Norway
A closed competition proposal for a residential d
Plan and housing in Hamar Norway
In collaboration with Dronninga Landskap, APRIL developed a proposal for a new housing development close to the town center
Finished with our first building commission!
APRIL receives final documentation for an extension for a house in Røa. Hurray!
Ensjø, here we come!
We literally breath new life into Ensjø, Oslo in collaboration with MAD architects. If we don´t win this competition something is wrong!
The Green and the Blue in Akureyri
APRIL proposed a new plan for Akureyri, Iceland in an open competiton. Let´s keep our fingers crossed!
Participation in Norwegian tourist routes project
APRIL has just delivered their competition proposal for a road stop for a picnic in Selvika a few hours drive from Havøysund
A preliminary sketch for Jåtten Øst
An important mile stone for a masterplan including two areas; B7 and B8
A summer installation
Arna og Kjersti had a stopover in Vigeland on their way from Stavanger. Wonderful local artists had made their beds in temporary greenhouses that were a part of a temporary installation in the center of town.
Travel to the North
APRIL is out travelling to experience a site for a new project far, far north in Norway. More later...
APRIL on display
APRIL is selected to show their work in an exhibition called 20under40 showcasing the young generation of architects; 20 constellations of architects under 40. APRIL is also one of three practises that are invited to make installations that express their practise
The Europan conference in Athens
Arna and Kjersti travel to Athens for participating as Europan winners.
Public Workshop in Vigeland
In the spirit of "World Cafee" APRIL in cooperation with NABU (Norwegian Architects for Sustainable Development) organised workshops for the general public and politicians in Vigeland village.
APRIL at the crit´s
APRIL was happy to function as guest critics at AHO at student crits.
The Kitchen Garden in Berlin
Arna and Kjersti travel to Berlin to overlook the construction of the Kitchen Garden which now plays a role in launching the 2nd time Norway participates in Europan. The Norwegian Europan8 launch is in Galleri 0047
A new competition proposal
APRIL delivers a proposal for a new housing development in Bragernes, Drammen. APRIL was handpicked as one of three teams.
A new publication!
APRIL delivers a larg(ish!) document outlining the development for the center of Vigeland; (Re)vitalizing Vigeland. This will be an important instrument in further development of the Master plan.
1.st prize!
Kjersti Hembre receives 1. prize in an open competition proposing a Central Park in in in the center of Vigeland
Europan 1.st prize
Kjersti Hembre and Arna Mathiesen win Europan7 in Stavanger with HOT HOUSE
An Italian interview
Arna and Kjersti interviewed for an issue of Italian magazine Paramettro dedicated to female architects
The first competition proposal
Arna and Kjersti deliver a proposal for an open competition for Austurhöfn in Reykajvík, Iceland
A cabin by Þingvellir lake in Iceland
A cabin by Þingvellir lake in Iceland
The summer cottage by Thingvellir lake easily houses the extended family on 80m2 (3 bedrooms) + 20m2 loft. The building opens up to spectacular views and outdoor areas are shelterd against the various and ever changing local winds.
The summer cottage by Thingvellir lake easily houses the extended family on 80m2 (3 bedrooms) + 20m2 loft. The building opens up to spectacular views and outdoor areas are shelterd against the various and ever changing local winds.