Gaularfjellet lookout

The lookout marks the top of a steep hairpin ascent on the spectacular mountain road between ­Balestrand and Førde. It consists of a seemingly bent sheet of concrete, a conceptual picnic blanket spread for a roadside stop. The precise placement was determined after 1:1 wireframe mock-ups on site.

The reinforced concrete structure was a complicated endeavour with steep learning curves for all involved, and even though the materials and techniques are familiar, the location and geometry necessitated a great deal of on-site testing. The edges of the concrete are emphasised by the steel railings. Integrated solar PV panels provide electricity. Over time the different concrete surfaces will be covered in moss and lichen, and blend more with the hillside.