A couple hours north of Oslo is Hamar, a county seat of about 30,000 people.

As one of the 1994 Olympics host towns, the railroad station (1897, Paul Due, Architect) was extensively renovated. 

A mix-use mall and residential building (opened this year) was designed by Narud Stokke Wiig, Architects.

And their new county office building, by Snøhetta, was completed in 2000.

The two story entry connects the five story administrative office block on the left (with council chamber protruding off it) and the two-story office building the right.

The entry opens on both sides providing a pedestrian pathway across the site.

Materials, as wall as shapes, define the various parts of the building.

Interior of the council chambers.

Differerent window shading devices add variety to the exteriors, as well as maintenance challenges.

Lillehammer is another county seat of about 30,000 people, an hour north of Hamar. It welcomes visitors with a reminder of its famous event.

A casual town, it has kept its low, wooden architecture intact along its main (and pedestrian) street.

Snøhetta's addition to the rather stark 1963 concrete building was completed for the Olympics.

The inclined walls, with rounded edges and a very meticulously applied surface of strips of wood, soften the original building.

But then they add an element of disorientation to the usual museum gallery design.

Upon entry the typical guest functions of shop and cafe open out to the street.

The galleries are connected by stairs with many windows and light sources.

The inner courtyard is taking a beating during the latest Snøhetta addition's construction. It will be fully restored, they say, when the building is finished.