Finn Norkjaer came onto the scene back in 2001, when Bjarke Ingels and Julien De Smedt had just won their first competition, for the Aquatic Center in Aalborg, Denmark. Norkjaer was working for the practice that came second in the competition – after reading through PLOT’s winning entry, he became so fascinated by the scheme he gave Ingels a call.
It turned out that he lived just around the corner, so he went immediately to Ingels’ house. “We talked until three o’clock in the morning,” says Ingels. Shortly afterwards, Norkjaer left his job and went to work with Ingels and De Smedt.
Norkjaer is extremely detail-orientated, and has been in charge of the construction of most of BIG’s projects. Recent projects include Lego House, Gammel Hellerup Gymnasium, and the Tirptiz Museum, which opened in June in western Denmark next to an old WWII bunker.
“The Tirpitz Museum is very special,” says Norkjaer, of the project. “We have created a very clean and simple building, and we’ve been very honest with the materials.”
Norkjaer has a love for music, and started the BIG Band, a group of musicians that plays for fun and at BIG parties and events. “BIG is more than just a place to work; we’re like family,” says Norkjaer. “We’re connected, but you can’t be connected if you only talk about architecture. BIG Band is another way to communicate. It’s very open hearted.”
Bjarke Ingels on Finn Norkjaer
“We have great mutual respect. When he joined, he respected my ideas and sensibilities, and I admired his skill, ability to maintain an overview and experience.”