Elverum Sets the Standard
What does it look like when a town dares to rethink how we live, build, and grow together? In the Norwegian city of Elverum, the answer is clear: it looks like wooden walls that breathe sustainability, schoolyards shaped by children’s hands, and churches that transform into concert halls.
A recent NEBA study visit to Elverum offered partners a firsthand look at how the city is blending sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics—not as separate checkboxes, but as a unified approach to urban development. The visit left participants with inspiration, ideas, and a renewed sense of what’s possible when values truly shape space.
A City Built from Trees
Walking through Elverum, one thing is immediately striking: wood. Not just in parks and forests, but in the very buildings that shape daily life. From kindergartens to schools, even a newly built church, Elverum embraces wooden architecture as a way to align construction with climate responsibility. This material choice isn’t always the cheapest, but in Elverum, long-term value trumps short-term savings. The goal is clear: reduce the CO₂ footprint while creating a natural environment that reflects the region's identity and future.
Designing With—and For—All Generations
One of the most compelling takeaways from the visit was the city’s commitment to inclusive planning. In Elverum, everyone has a say—from local associations to the youngest residents. Children are invited to contribute to maps and layout plans, ensuring that public spaces reflect the needs and imaginations of all age groups. The town sees engagement not just as consultation, but as co-creation.
This inclusive mindset continues long after the ribbon-cutting. Public spaces and buildings are designed to be multifunctional—spaces that adapt to the community’s changing needs. A church, for example, is also a concert hall. A classroom can become a meeting space. In Elverum, flexibility isn’t an afterthought—it’s part of the design.
Planning With Purpose
Perhaps the most powerful lesson from Elverum is in how the city plans. Instead of starting with funding and scrambling to design projects that fit narrow criteria, Elverum starts with a long-term vision. Strategic priorities are set, community needs are assessed, and then funding opportunities are pursued that support—not define—the vision. It’s a model that favors consistency, resilience, and integrity over speed and compromise.
A Model for Small Cities with Big Ambitions
Elverum proves that innovation isn’t limited to large capitals or tech hubs. With thoughtful design, a commitment to values, and deep community engagement, even small cities can lead the way in creating beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive environments.
The NEBA partners left Elverum with more than just ideas—they left with a renewed understanding of what it means to build for the future. Elverum’s example shows that when cities choose purpose over convenience, and people over plans, truly transformative places can take root.