Dønning Community Center

The old building for the Dønning Youth Society, an independent and local community organization, burnt down December 13th 2004. The new building combines rest facilities and a café for tourists in the tourist season with a community building for the rest of the year. The site slopes towards the water. Vegetation is low, indicating the harsh local climatic conditions. The building stands on its own, not unlike the big rocks you find scattering the Norwegian landscapes left from glacial activities, and is relatively closed, with the central communal space surrounded by supporting functions. The entrance is made visible almost as a big mouth which reveals the interior. The large glass opening also gives contact with the midnight sun. The building is completed within a very limited budget defined by a preliminary design by a local builder. Both design and construction was done within one year, and the building was completed as a cooperative effort among the members of the youth society.