The building - the largest cultural centre built in Norway in 700 years - features a sloping roof made up of 36,000 fitted pieces rising up from a nearby fjord in a way which allows members of the public to walk over the structure, as well as 1000 rooms which feature crafted woodwork using the traditions of the country’s boat builders. Jury chair Francis Rambert remarked: “It is more than just a building. It is first an urban space, a gift to the city.”

The jury also awarded a special mention in the ‘emerging architect’ category to Croatian team Studio Up/ Lea Pelivan and Toma Plejic for Gymnasium in Koprivnica, Croatia.