Martin Gran grew up in Bergen, sometimes referred to as the Atlantic coast capital of Norway, a city surrounded by seven mountains in Norway. He has also been influenced by living both in Mzumbe in Tanzania and in New York. Three distinct differently places, and wonderful cultural experiences in themselves.
He graduated from the University of Bergen, the Sociology, Psychology, Organization and Managament Section, as well as the University of Oslo, Psychology, Brand Managment within the Norwegian School of Management.
Martin is Managing Director and Partner of Snøhetta. Before that, he was Scandinavian Design Group’s New Business Director and Strategic Advisor with responsibility for major brands in Europe and the Nordic region. In 2006 he worked at McCann Erickson New York with clients like Master Card and Air Canada.From 2000 to 2003, Martin was an Account Director at Leo Burnett Advertising Agency.
Snøhetta is an award-winning international Oslo- and New York-based architecture firm, which has become one of the most discussed and sought-after practices today, due to the self-defined trans-disciplinary process in which different professionals – from architects to visual artists, philosophers to sociologists – exchange roles in order to explore differing perspectives without the prejudice of convention. Within their office, Snøhetta emphasizes an open exchange between roles and disciplines – architects, landscape architects, interior architects, and graphic designers collaborate in an integrated process, ensuring multiple voices are represented from the onset of the project.
Formed in 1989 in Oslo, Norway, a corner-stone in Snøhetta’s philosophy is a deep-seated respect for diverse backgrounds and cultures and it is reflected by the fact that the practice is composed of designers, architects and landscape architects from around the world. Currently they are employing approximately 130 staff members working on projects in Europe, Asia, the United States and Canada.
Snøhetta Design is a award winning, transdisciplinary brand design agency incorporated within the Snøhetta offices in Oslo and New York. Their work, regardless of graphic design, interior, landscape or architecture, are projects where they nurture concepts.
Among the many acknowledgements, the firm has received was the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2004 and the Mies van der Rohe Award in 2009.
National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion, presented in GIS Warsaw 2015
Among the projects presented in GIS Warsaw 2015 is the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion, in New York. On May 15, 2014, President Obama has been present for the dedication of the National September 11 Memorial Museum & Pavilion at the World Trade Center site. The Pavilion and Museum has opened to the public for the first time on May 21, 2014.
In 2004, SNØHETTA was commissioned to design the only building on the memorial plaza. In the years since, the program has changed several times, however it has remained a cultural facility dedicated to visitor comfort and orientation. The design for the building embodies a careful reaction to the horizontal character of the memorial plaza’s design, while also providing the area with a lively organic form that allows the visitor to imagine the site and city in a broader sense. According to Founding Partner Craig Dykers, “Our desire is to allow visitors to find a place that is a naturally occurring threshold between the everyday life of the city and the uniquely spiritual quality of the Memorial. It is important that people physically engage with the building and feel that it helps lead them on to other areas of the site and other thoughts about their experiences there.”
The Pavilion follows the Memorial’s Sustainability Design Guidelines. As a result, the Pavilion is on target to receive a LEED rating of Gold. The Pavilion features a number of sustainable features including optimized minimal energy performance, daylight and views, water efficiency, wastewater re-use, low emitting and locally sources materials and fabricators wherever possible.
More about Martin Gran and Snøhetta on the official website snohetta.com as well as specialised magazines such as Archdaily, Dezeen, Arcspace, Behance, e-architect, Designboom.
