AUS holds prestigious exhibition of work by renowned Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta

A special exhibition comprising work done by one of the world's premier architecture firms was inaugurated yesterday, October 28, at the College of Architecture, Art and Design of American University of Sharjah (AUS). The exhibition, which features 20 selected projects by Snøhetta-the renowned Norwegian architecture, landscape architecture and interior design firm-will run until November 1 and is open to the public.

"It gives me great pleasure to welcome an exhibition of this stature to AUS," said Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, Acting Chancellor of AUS. "Snøhetta is renowned for its unique vision and this event will provide a great opportunity for our students to learn more about the design philosophy behind this eminent firm."

Snøhetta was established in Oslo in 1989 after winning the competition for the new Bibliotheca Alexandrina. It also won the competition for the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion. Snøhetta has received a number of awards, such the Aga Khan Award 2004 for Architecture, the World Architecture Award for Culture 2008, the Mies van der Rohe Award 2009 and the World Architecture Festival Award Category Winner in 2011.

"We at the College of Architecture, Art and Design are extremely pleased to welcome this exhibition on campus. It has always been our aim to bring industry leaders and those renowned for excellence to our campus and to have our students benefit from such experiences," said Peter Di Sabatino, Dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Design. "Over the past two decades, Snøhetta has won international acclaim for its work and I am delighted that our students and faculty can view and appreciate the inspirational and stimulating projects on display here," he added.

The College of Architecture, Art and Design is the only venue in the entire region to be hosting this distinctive exhibition.

The exhibition presents Snøhetta to a broader public around the world and has been commissioned by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and produced by Norway's National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in collaboration with Snøhetta, Askim/Lantto Architects and Bleed. A well-attended lecture on architecture in Norway and the theme behind the exhibition was held as part of the opening.

The event was attended by senior university officials, industry experts and members of the diplomatic corps.