Generosity in Architecture: people, space and materia

At Snøhetta, architecture is understood as a generous act: one that creates value beyond the building itself. Generosity means giving space back to the public, opening buildings to unexpected uses, responding carefully to landscape and culture, or choosing materials for their beauty, durability and ability to age with dignity. Across scales and disciplines, Snøhetta’s work explores how architecture can contribute positively to people and place.

In the first part of the lecture, architect Martina Maier will introduce Snøhetta and the transdisciplinary approach that has shaped the practice since its inception, bringing together architecture, landscape architecture, interior and product design, graphic design and art. Through selected projects, she will explore generosity as a design principle and the relationship between people, space and materials. Sustainability is an integral part of this approach, influencing design decisions, the use of resources and the way materials are selected and valued over time.

The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet in Oslo offers a powerful example of this philosophy. Its marble-clad roof rises from the Oslofjord and extends the city onto the building, transforming architecture into an accessible public landscape and stone into an integral part of the spatial experience.

From Oslo, architect Angelo Pezzotta will take the conversation to the soon-to-be-completed Shanghai Grand Opera House, exploring another interpretation of the relationship between cultural architecture, public space and materiality. He will then turn to Snøhetta’s ongoing work in Italy, including the transformation of the Manifattura Tabacchi in Verona into a lively urban quarter connecting the city centre with Veronafiere and the regeneration of the Ex Macello site in Milan.

Together, the projects offer different perspectives on generosity in architecture – through space, material, longevity and shared experience