Cities we love, cities we live in, cities that define our DNA. Two urban extremes searching for their identity: São Paulo, a world metropolis in an endless urban sprawl, and Oslo, a growing northern capital between its enclosing forests and fjord. This opposition and energy is what drives and defines us.
Locally we are embedded in the culture; at a distance we are able to be critical.
Our perspectives are shaped from these two vantage points. From the southern to the northern hemisphere, the distance and differences enables us to see and think relationally. Seeing things relative to; shifting perspectives in an ever changing act of positioning, is what defines our architectural process and aesthetics.
SPOL is an international architectural office, yet our approach is always locally anchored.
We add value through design.
We search for the unexpected, to provide more for the same; to create or to open up spaces where none was requested, to dare to imagine a greater potential of a project. Through an intelligent design process, we add social and economic value to every project.
We see architecture within an ecological dimension.
Our cities thrive on diversity, our lives enriched by surprises. We aim for our projects to transcend building categories, create and take part in the city, be places to meet, rooms to cherish, occasions to celebrate; spaces for an uncertain future. We work with all scales and building types to continuously allow ourselves to think wider; bridging function, culture and environment.
We create projects with conceptual clarity.
We turn complexity into assets and catalysts for creativity, finding answers resilient and strong enough that not only survives, but that moulds the process from imagination to completion.
We see every architectural project as part of its urban, economic and social context
Our method springs from a critical and curious design process with the aim to uncover the full potential of each brief. We are committed and engaged, working closely with our clients in developing unique solutions to each situation, in advancing social as well as economic plans into reality.
SPOL is led by architects Adam Kurdahl, Jens Noach and Raissa Bahia with offices in São Paulo and Oslo.
Adam Kurdahl has a broad experience from complex architectural and urban projects internationally. He has managed several large and small projects from competition to completion, focusing on marrying design intent and urban strategies with successful business cases. Adam has been responsible for several award winning projects and competitions like the Nedregate Culture District (Oslo City’s Architecture award) Clarion Hotel Trondheim (Choice of the Stars), Filipstad Masterplan and principle architect on the Award winning V-House (Houens Fund’s Diploma for outstanding architecture). Adam Kurdahl was the founding partner of Space Group Brasil and led the office to the reconfiguring to SPOL Architects in 2014.
Adam born in Copenhagen studied Architecture and Urbanism at Delft University in the Netherlands and at Aarhus School of Architecture in Denmark from where he received his master’s degree. In 2000 Adam Kurdahl won the first prize in the in the “ArchiPrix International” for his thesis project. Kurdahl has taught at The Royal Danish Art Academy in Copenhagen, Politecnico di Milano and Oslo School of Architecture.
Jens Noach founded SPOL with Adam Kurdahl in 2014. He has a diverse architectural experience from Norway and abroad, and is accustomed to handling large and complex architectural and urban projects. In Oslo, this includes the transformation of the former Aker’s Mechanical Workshops at Aker Brygge for Norwegian Property, the New Oslo Central Station for ROM Eiendom and BI Campus Nydalen for Avantor.
Jens Noach studied Architecture and Urbanism at NTNU in Trondheim, Norway, and at the Aarhus School of Architecture in Denmark, as well as the RIBA Part III at The Bartlett School of Architecture in London. Since taking his Master’s degree in 1993, he has lived and worked as an architect in Vienna, London and Oslo.
Raissa Bahia joined SPOL in 2014 and has become partner in 2019. Raissa manages the overall health and growth of the SP office, including sales, control of finance, operations and business development, and is responsible for optimizing cash flow, developing the organization and executing strategic priorities.
Raissa is brazilian, studied Architecture at UNICAMP and Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie from where she received her graduation and won the prize Opera Prima with her work “Multiuse Open Block”. Later she obtained a Postgraduate Degree in Business Administration at Insper.