Not long ago voices began to be heard in certain presidential residences to the effect that the press was the ‘enemy of the people’: an accusation paradoxically alluding to the play through which Ibsen wanted to uphold, among other things, the vital role of media in a democracy. Norway prides itself on having been one since times preceding its most illustrious playwright, and a sign of this good health of liberalism is the recent opening of the Norwegian Press House, a hub for journalist’s associations and other media organizations that also offers venues where citizens can take part in current debates and discussions.

For this purpose two 1880s buildings were reorganized around two new covered courtyards. One is an entrance atrium, which is like a funnel in section, with bridges hanging from beams of laminated timber that hold up the glass roof, while for the auditorium atrium all the old warehouse’s decks were removed to create a space of structure and light, with a new glass roof that appears to grow out of the old structure, creating a layered wooden frame that filters light...[+]