Karmøy Pilot Homes
Housing for people who live under challenging circumstances
2020–2024
Introduction
On the island of Karmøy on the west coast of Norway, Snøhetta has designed three adapted homes for residents with serious substance abuse and psychiatric diagnoses. The homes are based on results from a research project that looks at different shapes, materials and colours, as well as solutions for housing technology and fire safety, to increase the quality of living for residents, strengthen HSE and safety for employees, as well as reduce the municipality's costs.
Technical details
Karmøy Municipality
The three houses are similar in layout and volume, but differ in the use of materials. While one is made of solid wood, with exposed wood in the interiors, the other two are designed as a semi-detached house with one unit in brick and one in concrete. All homes have diagonal saddle roofs that provide a good and interesting dynamic inside the rooms.
Photo: Haakon Nordvik
The material choices are based on studies on durability, washability and robustness. In this way, you test the extent to which materials affect the resident, and what consequences this has for maintenance. It is also important that the homes are placed in a natural living situation and that the residents feel pride and ownership of their home.
Vision Zero for Homelessness
Karmøy municipality has vision zero for homelessness in the municipality, and wants to be able to offer adapted housing for all residents with substance abuse and psychiatric diagnoses, as well as for the need to be clarified in close dialogue with the resident. Behavioural and social challenges and frequent relocation lead to great difficulties in finding suitable housing, and very high maintenance costs. Although the importance of involving residents with substance abuse and psychiatric diagnoses has been duly highlighted in several research reports, Norwegian municipalities rarely facilitate participation in the development of new housing services.
On this basis, the Karmøy pilot housing research project was initiated in 2020. The purpose is to adapt the physical housing elements in collaboration with residents, municipal employees and user and next of kin organisations. The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway and the municipalities of Karmøy and Stavanger, and carried out by the Norwegian Research Centre (Norce) in collaboration with the University of Stavanger, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, the Norwegian State Housing Bank, A-larm and Snøhetta.
Not to be dismantled
Based on the needs of three actual residents, the homes on Karmøy have been developed with three different profiles. Behaviours such as extensive collection of objects, use of open flames indoors and dismantling interiors have been taken into account, and have affected the floor plan, housing technical solutions, screening, ventilation, heating and fire safety.
All three main materials, solid wood, concrete and brick, have scored well on physical tests where their resistance to, for example, impact, fire and tagging has been examined. They also have a slightly rough "look", and can thus withstand some wear and tear without appearing particularly worn.
Photo: Haakon Nordvik
Photo: Haakon Nordvik
In addition to robustness, it is emphasized that the materials are of good quality and make sense in the interiors. Where materials that can be dismantled for reuse are usually chosen, dismantling is not facilitated in this project. To safeguard the environment and reduce operating costs, robust materials have been used where damage can be repaired, rather than materials that are easy to replace. In the same way, durable, fixed furniture has been chosen rather than loose furniture.
Everything that's normally taken into account when we are designing homes is also looked after here - light and air, a view of the green, natural and tradition-bearing materials, and flexible solutions which allow for expression and creativity. The sense of security, belonging and pride. That you are treated with respect and dignity. The special adaptations have been made in addition to this, not at the expense of it.
Elin Vatn Senior Interior Architect and Project Lead
User interaction
User participation has been carried out at various stages, including the use of VR tools to be able to "see" the homes and assess the different choices of roof shape, materials and colours. All three houses have an architecturally intriguing wooden ceiling, adding warmth to the interior, but out of reach in terms of harmful behaviour.
In one of the homes, the access to the bedroom is from the outside, and thus located as a freestanding room without direct connection to the rest of the home. With the help of this separate entrance, employees have the opportunity to wash and clean independently of the resident.
Photo: Haakon Nordvik
Tinkering and carpentry is a common interest, and priority has therefore been given to outdoor spaces with roof canopies and large storage rooms with double, high doors outside each home. Equipment and tools can be taken out on the deck and easily cleared back in, so that it will not be necessary to use the living areas of the homes for this.
"We hope that we have created homes that users want to take care of so that they have a longer lifespan than such homes generally have today," says Elin Vatn, Senior Interior Architect and Project Lead.
The way forward
By developing three housing concepts for three different profiles, knowledge is acquired about a variety of different needs and wishes. When the municipalities gain experience with the various housing solutions over a longer period of time, they can be further developed or adapted. Scaling to other Norwegian municipalities will be important in order to carry out scientifically sound measurements of whether the three housing pilots have the intended effects.
Ideally, the experience gained with the three homes on Karmøy can form the basis for further development of the prototype.
Photo: Haakon Nordvik
Photo: Haakon Nordvik
Photo: Haakon Nordvik
Photo: Haakon Nordvik