Bringing together dynamic building and material experimentation with traditional methods of craft, Bergen-based Saunders Architecture has worked on cultural and residential projects right across Norway, as well as England, Denmark, Italy, Sweden and Canada.
Led by a strong contemporary design sensibility, the studio believes that architecture must play an important role in creating place, using form, materials and texture to help evoke and shape memory and human interaction. The office operates within existing natural as well as manmade contexts, with examples ranging from an award nominated dramatic viewpoint structure set amidst a rich protected landscape to several new-build houses within more traditional suburban settings.
Todd Saunders
Saunders Architecture was founded by the Canadian architect Todd Saunders in 1998. Saunders has lived and worked in Bergen since 1996, following his studies at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax and McGill University in Montreal. Saunders has lectured and taught at schools in Norway, Scandinavia and Canada and was a visiting professor at The University of Quebec in Montreal and Cornell University in the USA. He continues to combine teaching with practice.
LOCATION: Bergen, Norway
LEARN MORE: www.saunders.no
The proposed Fedje Hotel, designed by Todd Saunders, symbolizes this spirit of reinvention and community collaboration. It promises to be more than just a place to stay; it represents a catalyst for economic growth, cultural revitalization, and environmental stewardship.
The land for Villa Austevoll has familial roots, being owned by the family of Gundersen and Fagerbakke, a couple with backgrounds in engineering and civil engineering, respectively.
The Y house sits on a ridge, bordered by mature spruce and fir, and looks down towards Anna Lake and the Rocky Mountains beyond. The principal level of the house is arranged in a Y-shaped plan that maximises the potential of the site
This micro-house by Bergen-based practice Saunders Arkitektur addresses every contemporary obsessions head on. The XS Mikrohus is a finely detailed cabin designed to be manufactured off-site
The Røksunds and their two children had been living on one of the islands in the Bømlo district to the south of Bergen for many years when they discovered plans for a new road and bridge would have a significant impact on their existing home.
The Villa AT sits atop a small rocky outcrop in the coastal town of Søgne, along Norway’s southern coast. The design is precisely tailored for the requirements of the clients’ family, containing three bedrooms and a guesthouse, all arranged across a single level.
The setting for Villa Grieg could hardly be more seductive or enticing. The house sits upon the brow of a hill, overlooking the waters of Lake Nordås and its collection of small islands.
The design of Villa S evolved not only in response to the needs of Saunders himself and his family, but also the nature of the site and, in particular, the weather. It can rain in Bergen for as much as 250 days in a year …
