Made in Norway: Norwegian Architecture Today (paperback) 144 pages, ISBN: 978-3-0346-0559-5. Language: English. Published by Birkhauser on behalf of the NAL. Price: 285Kr. By mail order at anp@arkitektur.no, or from amazon.com

More info on the National Tourist Roads Project at http://www.elusivemoose.eu/2010/04/27/

More info on the Inside Out Summerhouse on Hvaler at http://www.elusivemoose.eu/2009/11/20/

This being Norway, the focus has all along been on quality, and many of the 200 or so buildings and structures (most of them information centres, rest areas or observation platforms) have already won awards in their field. The jaw-dropping Stegastein viewpoint at Aurlandsvegen, a wood and glass platform jutting out 650m high over the green waters of the Aurlandsfjord, might be the most photographed, but there are many other equally interesting structures.

This visionary project, which was the brainchild of the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, will have been 20 years in the making when completed in 2015. It focuses on 18 roads covering 1.850km nationwide. It’s financed for the most part by the Norwegian government, and the final bill is expected to come in at around 2.3 milliard crowns. A big, but clever investment that is already giving a real boost to Norwegian architecture.

Read more about the project, and see some great pix here (article in Norwegian only) http://www.dn.no/d2/arkitektur/article1695413.ece

- Rød Herregård, Halden: One of the best preserved manors in Norway, with carefully restored buildings, a baroque garden and an English landscaped park. The interior has retained its original style, with furniture dating back to the 18th century.

- Alby Gård, Jeløya: The main building houses Galleri F15, one of Norway’s foremost contemporary art galleries, while the stabburet (granary) is home to Jeløy Naturhus, where you can learn about the area’s fauna and flora.

- Elingård, Onsøy (Fredrikstad municipality): One of Norway’s oldest manors, dating back to the late Middle Ages. Once the home of Jens Bjelke, in his days Norway’s richest man. The manor is today part of Fredrikstad Museum.

- Hafslund, Sarpsborg: Located by Sarpsfossen, Norway’s most powerful waterfall, and owned by a big industrial company that bears its name. The main building dates back to 1761 (the earlier baroque building burnt down 1757). The pleasant park, with its long tree-lined alleys, is often used for concerts and special events in summer.

- Borregård, Sarpsborg: Another manor with ties to the local industry, Borregård once stood opposite Hafslund, but most of the buildings were lost in a mudslide in 1702, and disappeared in the Glomma river. The main building was moved to Kulås, where it stands to this day.

Model ship Oscar

Many worshipers came to the church by boat from the archipelago’s outer islands. Hanging in the nave is the three-masted sailing vessel Oscar dating from the 1880s. Model ships are common in Norwegian churches, often given by sailors in gratitude for rescue at sea.

Music in the church

The two-manual, 11-rank pipe organ was installed in late 1955. Because of limited space, not all 945 sounding pipes could fit in the organ casework, but this problem was solved by installing the upper manual pipes and the swell shades in the attic. The grand piano is a gift from Berit S Martinsen, the church’s organist for 29 years, from 1969-1998, while the harpsichord is on indefinite loan to the church.

Altar and baptismal font

The Rococo style altar is from around 1750. Featured on the altar piece, itself from 1759, is Eggert Munch’s oil painting of the crucifixion (he was a distant relation of the famous Edvard Munch, in case you were wondering about the name). The limestone baptismal font dates from between 1250 and 1300. It is likely to have come from Gotland, Sweden. The font is deep because babies were previously baptized by full immersion.

Bell

Dating from about 1200, the Romanesque-style bell, which is 54cm high, 61cm in diameter, and weighs about 120kg, originates from Holland. Because of cracks, it is seldom rung – an electrically operated bell is used instead on most occasions.

An Englishman in Hvaler

Kjølbo farm was once the home of the Englishman John William LeGassicke Goodchild. There he ran a general store, an inn, and for a few years, a bar. Worshipers could freshen up and change clothes there before attending mass in the church. Goodchild also served as Hvaler’s fourth mayor from 1845 to 1847. You can see his grave right outside the church’s main entrance.

Want to find out more?

You will find an exhibition of objects, photographs and text depicting Hvaler and Spjærøy churches history, with a special focus on Hvaler Church’s restoration in 1953-1956, in the building across the road from the church (Drengestua).

Hvaler Church, Storveien 12, Skjærhallen. Tel: 69 37 90 37, www.hvaler.kirken.no