project

Past and Present Paths

by Helga Steen-Johnsen
tutors
Sverre Sondresen
Eva Kun
location
Kaupang in Larvik, Norway
years
2021
Introduction
– Experiencing history where it happened A wandering path and development of the historical Kaupang area.
Making the invisible traces left by history visible; The gravemounds, the old waterline and the old Viking village
Making the invisible traces left by history visible; The gravemounds, the old waterline and the old Viking village

Past and Present Paths has been an exploration of the role of architecture in preserving and promoting Norwegian cultural heritage sites away from the centralized museums. Kaupang is the site of one of the greatest Viking finds in Norwegian history. My diploma has resulted in a wandering path with one of the stops being a new museum for the area. This project is just an example of how one can activate a historical node. The architecture is being used to help visualize and experience both the landscape and the history of the place. Thus, making the visitors experience history where it happened, and walk in the Vikings footsteps instead of looking at glass boxes in a centralized museums. This could also be a start of a new national route that could tie together more of these historical nodes.