ABOUT STUDIO VATN
Working within the discipline of architecture Studio Vatn aims to develop precise and structurally articulated civic projects.
Projects begins with a clear geometric form that is articulated with fundamental architectural elements that define structure, organization and proportion. The studio is interesting in developing an architectural language that allows for both rational and intuitive work, operating with the measurable and immeasurable.
Studio Vatn has recently completed a 1000-square-meter interior refurbishment for Storyline Camera (i.c.w. Andrea Pinochet) department in Oslo.
The studio (i.c.w. Jørgen Tandberg) was recently included in National Tourist Routes pool of architects as one of 8 teams selected from 176 entries. In the first competition for a viewpoint in the North of Norway the studio was awarded 1st prize. The project is scheduled for construction 2016-17 and will be exhibited at the Travel Museum in Balestrand alongside Peter Zumthor, C.V. Hølmebakk and others.
Studio Vatn has participated in several invited and open competitions.
ABOUT ESPEN VATN
Espen Vatn MNAL is an architect practicing in Oslo. He is the founder of Studio Vatn.
Espen Vatn studied architecture at The Cooper Union in New York. Upon graduation from the Cooper Union in New York he was awarded the Alumni Association Award for five-year dedication to the School of Architecture, as well the Abraham E. Kazan Award. In 2009 he was the recipient of the KPF Traveling Fellowship to study urban gathering spaces in Rome. The same year, with support from the Cooper Union Menschel Fellowship, he produced a film and exhibition from the Nevada desert focusing on the relation of science, myth and nature.
Espen Vatn has previously worked for Jarmund & Vigsnæs in Oslo and Office for Metropolitan Architecture in Rotterdam, where he participated in projects in China, Russia, North Africa and Scandinavia.
Espen Vatn’s work has been included in the book ‘Open City’ published by the Charta Press and the Cooper Union in 2015, his drawings has been published in Conditions Magazine and in the book Space, Time, Existence by the organization Global Art Affairs in conjunction with the Venice Biennale.
Most recently, Espen Vatn has lectured for the AA Visiting School, been visiting critic at the Cooper Union and participated in a symposium about the future of the Baltic Region. He received an Honorable Mention in Princeton Architectural Press competition to produce the Pamphlet Architecture 35 and exhibited at the 14th Venice Architecture Biennale. Espen Vatn was appointed by the Norwegian Association of Architects to be in the jury of a competition for the new Graphic Museum in Stavanger and for his artistic work he has received funding from the Norwegian Council of Arts.
TEACHING
In tandem with his practice, Vatn has been Assistant Professor at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design from 2011 to 2014. Espen has taught in First Year, the 3rd year Urban Studio and several Master studios. He has also led elective courses on the topic of literature and architecture.
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CURRICULUM VITAE
2005-2010
Bachelor of Architecture (5 Year Professional Degree)
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.
Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture, New York, USA
2004-2005
One year of Master of Architecture Program
Oslo School of Architecture and Design, Oslo, Norway
2003-2004
Foundation Degree in Philosophy and Social Sciences
Nansenskolen - The Norwegian Humanistic Academy, Lillehammer, Norway
WORK EXPERIENCE
2011-present
STUDIO VATN. Principal
Borgarfjordur Harbor. 200 m2 harbor and tourism facility in Iceland. Open competition.
Reykjavik Mosque. 700 m2 mosque in Reykjavik. Open competition.
Bauhaus Museum Dessau. 5500 m2 museum in Dessau. Open competition.
Sandnes City Hall. 11000 m2 City Hall in Norway. Open competition.
Bamiyan Cultural Centre. 2200 m2 cultural center in Afghanistan. Open competition.
Storyline Studios. 1000 m2 interior refurbishment. Private Commission.
Senja Viewing Platform. For National Tourist Routes.
Tana Bru Church. 1000 m2 church and community center. Open competition.
14th Venice Biennale. Exhibiton at Palazzo Mora
Blå. Study of transformation of an industrial area in central Oslo. Private Commission.
Addition in Oslo block. 300 m2 extension. Private Commission.
ROM Galleri addition. Invited Competition,
Hus i Hovetveien. 150 m2 new house. Private Commission.
First of all you didn’t hear it from me. Publication in Conditions Magazine.
New Church for Våler. 700 m2 church and community center. Open competition.
Visitor Center for Røldal’s Stave Church. 500 m2. Open competition.
Study of Housing for the Elderly in Nessoden. Private Commission.
2011-2015
Oslo School of Architecture and Design. Assistant Professor.
Teaching 1st year studio
Advising master of Architecture diplomas
Teaching 3rd year Urbanism studio. Responsible for a 15 student unit.
Teaching Re-Store studio with Andreas Angelidakis
Teaching Housing studio with Håkon Vigsnæs
Teaching the seminar ‘Critical Fiction’. Course responsible.
Teaching the seminar 'Fiction in Architectural Production and Discourse'. Course responsible.
2010-2011
OMA – Office for Metropolitan Architecture, Rotterdam, Netherlands. Junior Architect.
Orgelpipan. Hotel and office tower, Stockholm, Sweden. Winner in international competition.
Skolkovo Science City. International competition for a new urban plan for Skolkovo, Russia.
New National Museum of China, Beijing. International competition entry.
Passila 1. Office, housing and hotel development in Helsinki, Finland. International competition.
University City, Marocco. International competition for a new university City in Marocco.
National Museum Syria. International competition for a new museum in Aleppo, Syria.
2008-07
Jarmund & Vigsnaes Architects. Oslo, Norway.
Two Summer Architectural Internship
2006
Cooper Union Archive, New York. Archive Assistant.
Documentation of student work of the Cooper Union School of Architecture
AWARDS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
2014
Honorable Mention in Princeton Architectural Press competition for the Pamphlet 35. Jury consisted of Steven Holl, Paul Lewis, Kevin Lippert, Charles Waldheim and Marion Weiss.
2014
Scholarship from the Norwegian Council of Arts.
2010
Alumni Association Award for 5 Year service to the Cooper Union as Student Representative.
Abraham E. Kazan Award for excellence in Design.
2009
Kohn Pedersen Fox Travelling Fellowship (10'000 USD) to study civic space for three
months in Rome.
The Benjamin Menschel Fellowship from the Cooper Union to go to the Nevada Desert in California to make a film and exhibition at Cooper Union.
PUBLICATIONS AND EXHIBITION
2015
Open City. Publication on student work at Cooper Union. Charta Press.
2014
Venice Biennale, exhibiton at Palazzo Mora
2012
Article and drawings "First Of All, You Didn't Hear This From Me" published in Conditions Magazine, edition 'Gossip.'
2012
Project “Flow My Tears, The Commissioner Said” exhibited at the City Museum of New York in the exhibition “The Greatest Grid”. (With Ghilardi Hellsten Architects.
2009
Benjamin Menschel Fellowship Exhibition at the 6th Floor of The Cooper
Union Foundation Building.