Skakkeringen | 2024

How can public school plays a greater civic role in rural places? Skakkeringen is part of Vestland County’s pilot program to create innovative activity facilities that transforms the role of public school in rural municipalities. LOCAL and PIR2 won the project to develop and build a 2000m2 activity park adjacent to the Skakke Cultural Center in Etne, Norway.

A Place for Everyone
Skakkeringen transforms the outdoor space around Skakke Cultural Center into a dynamic public square for Etne’s residents. Once a fenced 2000m² asphalted area with little to offer, it is now designed to bring people together. The central activity ring is a flexible space for ball games, concerts, outdoor cinema, and community events like the Etne Cup. Around it, green spaces, gardens, and quiet zones invite relaxation and informal gatherings. The stage roof adds year-round opportunities for cultural activities, making Skakkeringen a vibrant space for both play and connection.

Shaped by Local Voices
At the heart of Skakkeringen is community involvement. Through interviews, workshops and surveys, young people shared their ideas for a space where they could feel welcome and take ownership. They envisioned places for climbing, ball games, hanging out, and relaxing in nature. Their input directly shaped the design, creating a square that meets their needs while also welcoming seniors and families. This multi-generational approach brings together people of all ages, fostering a stronger sense of belonging and pride in their community. It represents a positive negotiation of ownership that allows the local sport club, the school, the retirement home and the farmers’ association to co-organise and utilise the space with the support of the cultural centre next door.

Active, Inclusive, and Sustainable
Skakkeringen is built for activity and connection while keeping sustainability in focus. The project serves as an act of rewilding and renaturing, transforming an asphalted area and challenging the prevailing trend of overly asphalted schoolyards today. Using recycled aluminium from HYDRO, 100% CLT timber construction, and green roofs, the design prioritizes environmentally friendly materials and practices. Designing an informal ring and shaping such multi-purpose pavilion introduces new spatial forms that embody ideas of social innovation and community connection. The place encourages movement, play, and interaction while supporting cultural and civic life year-round. More than just a schoolyard, it has become a centerpiece of Etne’s community, creating opportunities for everyone to gather, share, and grow together.

Skakkeringen is more than a transformation, it’s a statement about how school shared spaces can strengthen rural communities and create new opportunities for meaningful connection.

Category:Public SpaceLocation:Etne, NorwayArchitect: Jérôme Picard, NorwayArchitecture Office:LOCAL, PIR2Lead Architects:Jérôme PicardAssociate Architects:PIR2, Christine Gjermo, Ellen ReitanDesign Team: Jérôme Picard, Elida Mosquera, Miriam Sharp Pierson, Kjartan Neckelman, Silje LockertContractor:Vaglid ASClient: Etne MunicipalityPhotographer: Artishot/Arkitekturfoto, LOCAL/JEP