Explorations

Being explorers in the field of architecture means not knowing what is around the corner, atop of the next peak or even where the trail ultimately ends. Discovering what is genuine in – and about – places, is an explorative dialogue where we remain humble by the fact that we do not have all the answers, but rather find meaning and solutions through our search for them. The following explorations are our way of letting you know what’s behind and inside the minds of DRMA. It is what we talk about when we talk about architecture.

Everydaylab

The rhythm of where we are, affects our minds and the way we work. We live and work in Drammen and when our work takes us elsewhere, we bring Drammen with us as a complex template; a continuous source of inspirations, experiences and values that can be transferred. Our connection to place allows us to understand what it means to be local everywhere.

Cultivating circularity

Our approach to growth is as a long-term commitment that focuses on cultural change through practice and responsible action.

We are continuously exploring the notion of tactility as a way of promoting understanding of the world and the cities within it. The idea of the mixed city where residential areas co-exist alongside local urban production and industry, is a great example on how we can instill a sense of interconnectedness and real appreciation for how the world works – what it needs and the role we are all playing in it.

Forming dreams

Giving form to dreams is the essence of what we do.

When an idea is materialized through tactile, meaningful, and original solutions as well as perfectly adapted to its surroundings it is immensely rewarding. And we believe that it can only be achieved through a close relationship with our clients. We remain committed to understanding and finding joy in the intention, the narrative and desire behind the rarest, most ordinary, or even the strangest requests.

Future movement

How we work, live, move and how these three factors intersect are what will help us mitigate the sins of the past.

We believe that a new mobility landscape and experimental transport systems will become instrumental steps away from a car-based society - towards a human-based society – and create a truly democratic mobility future.

Rethinking the Rural

If true innovation addresses true needs, then rural areas where harsh climate and scarce resources are the norm must be considered among the most innovative places.

The rural has always adapted through innovation and transitioned from change and the potential for the kind of creativity and resilience the future calls for are huge if we rethink and reevaluate our approach to rural placemaking.

Retroactive vision

Our studio is humbly and proudly standing on the shoulders of the past in our quest to form the future.

We insist on a dialectical approach in our search for new meaningful solutions in every project we do. And we are always and actively aware of the value that interdisciplinary collaboration can bring to any project. It is simply deeply rooted in our exploratory nature to ask questions and seek answers from (other) great minds.

Cluster up

How can we improve the way we live and work together? How can architecture sustain and develop communities?

These are important questions that we seek the answers to through our work. We believe that it starts with seeing urban planning as the creation of collective clusters, multifunctional and with room for intersections between generations, activities, and functions.

We strive to design buildings that are as sheltering for the mind as they are for the body – that is in our opinion the all-important, yet elusive third dimension to anywhere people live and work.

Putting up shelters

Protection from the harsh Nordic climate is a need that is as old as human life itself.

Imagine walking in the city as hiking through nature, as sequences along a given path. When we imagine this, we see a range of climate adjusted public spaces, streets and zones dissolving the barriers between inside and outside and a variety of social spots that provide shelter from nature without shutting it out completely.

In the end it is a matter of pragmatism. In the Nordics we have little to no use for solely romantic spaces. We gather where there is warmth and shelter, as we have always done.

The regenerative city

In the end it is all about working with nature rather than trying to bend it to our will.

Understanding and integrating landscapes, biodiversity and ecosystems into urban development will give us cities that go beyond simply co-existing with nature but on to promoting and enhancing it.

Urban Ecology recognizes that the health and well-being of the urban environment is closely tied to the health and well-being of the natural world. It follows that habitats for a very wide variety of species must be created and maintained within the city – including humans.

Performative architecture

Our works true performance is determined by how and where it meets the ground. Like in acupuncture we must carefully consider what to put exactly where to trigger the desired change.

Our aim is to fulfill the obligation we have to develop meaningful structures in dialogue with its context. And although our aim is steady we know that you must take you time and consider all factors before you place the needle.

Social Ambitions

Our ambitions are in no way starting to fade. Social or otherwise.

Being a studio in and from Drammen comes with first-hand experience in social inequality and the challenges that follow. Our place needs to be made better and as natural born place-makers we have formed an intent of working strategically with socially challenged areas. And look for ways of scaling to society as a whole using Drammen as a framework.