Landscape oriented design brings nature into school life

Tenderstream members Henning Larsen and Ramboll have won the competition for the new Hånes School and municipal district building in Kristiansand, Norway. Set on the eastern side of the scenic Toppdalsfjorden, the design for the new facility responds directly to the site’s sloping terrain, rich landscape, and existing forest, making the surrounding scenery an active and meaningful part of daily school life. The school will serve the same students as Lauvåsen Secondary School, also designed by Henning Larsen, which features a similar landscape design inspired by nature. 

Organized as a Y-shaped building, the school is structured around a central social heart with a shared gathering space, amphitheatre, and library. To the south, the woodland will serve as a playground and learning area, supporting movement, collaboration, and discovery. The school is oriented towards the forest, drawing it visually and spatially into the heart of the building. Paths are established with minimal intervention, complemented by information points describing the local flora and fauna. Rainwater from the school roof is integrated into the play landscape through canals and small pools, creating hands-on learning opportunities related to biology and nature. 

Karoline Igland, director at Henning Larsen, stated: “The project brings the forest into the heart of the building, opening toward an amphitheatre and ensuring that greenery is visible from all sides. The school is designed as both a place of learning and a local meeting point, with a strong connection between landscape, play, and education.”

Lucy Nordberg
Tenderstream Head of Research

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