The Mandal resort in the very south of Norway is the quintessence of idealistic ideas about Scandinavia: wooden houses, narrow streets, a river flowing in the very center, untouched forests and green hills around.
The cultural center with white walls and large panoramic windows overlooking the river is as much inscribed as possible in the historical urban landscape. It seems to be hidden under a raised green "cover" - a turf-covered roof that rises smoothly from the ground level.
All the cultural activities of Mandala are concentrated here: theater and cinema, concert hall and gallery, library and cafe - any of the townspeople and vacationers will be interested. Thanks to the abundant glazing, the hall and what is happening inside the building are visible from the outside. The architects found it important not only to effectively use natural light, but also to open the building to the outside world as much as possible. Even the roof is used as an additional space where you can sit down with a cup of coffee or a book and feel like a part of a cozy city.
The total area of the building is 4,500 m2, its budget was 33 million euros.
In addition to the cultural center itself, the large-scale project 3XN, which received the Norwegian name Buen ("arch" or "vault"), also provides for the urban planning solution of the adjacent territory. The bridge connecting the center with the opposite bank of the river will receive soft organic forms (it is currently under construction). Small houses, in their stylistic and volumetric solution echoing the wooden buildings typical for Norway, will house shops and private housing.
