In a town such as Mandal, Norway, with such a spirit of place and iconic/idyllic views, a new cultural centre for the inhabitants must walk a very thin line between heritage and future. The Danish firm 3XN seems to have done this fairly well in their centre titled ‘Buen’ (The Arch). The program includes a theater, cinema, concert hall, library, gallery and café and plans to offer activities for all ages of the town’s 15,000 inhabitants.
photography by © Adam Mõrk
Jan Ammundsen, Partner and Head of Design at 3XN explains ‘The Arch is a house of the people, so we designed a building that in an elegant and soft motion gathers the town’s cultural life, while the modern expression bears witness to a town in development’.
photography by © Adam Mõrk
The arched form of the centre is inspired by both the soft hills surrounding the town and by the fact that the building sits on the town’s old industrial centre. From the surrounding hills, people will be able to look down on The Arch, and in the future they will see a green roof. This is coming.Large, panoramic windows offer brilliant views in and out of the centre, linking the culture of the centre with the cultural of the town it serves.
photography by © Adam Mõrk
© Adam Mõrk
Matt Davis is a Virginia Tech graduate and one of the founding editors behind Arch2O. Launching the platform in mid‑2012 alongside fellow Hokies, he helped shape its identity as an international hub for design innovation and critical dialogue . With a foundation in architectural education and a passion for uncovering unconventional design approaches, Matt has contributed significantly—both editorially and strategically—to Arch2O’s growth, ensuring that emerging architects, academics, and creatives have a space to question, explore, and elevate the built environment.