The new project for Glyvra School, presented by Henning Larsen, will feature outdoor art installations and dedicated teaching spaces, rehearsal rooms, and a concert hall, all designed to promote the well-being and sensory stimulation of preschool, secondary, extracurricular, and special education students. The proposal also includes landscaped courtyards with pathways to the beach and sauna and swimming pool facilities for student and community use.
The phased construction will integrate a new music school into the historic Heimistovufjósið barn, built in the 1950s by local architect Niels Pauli Hansen. The project will respect the building's architectural expression while incorporating contemporary facilities for music education, rehearsals, and performances.
Glyvra School by Henning Larsen. Rendering courtesy of Henning Larsen.
Project description by Henning Larsen
Nature's Classroom: Henning Larsen to Transform School into a Learning Village Inspired by the Faroese Landscape.
Nestled between fjords and mountains, the redesigned school in the Faroe Islands will place nature and active learning at the heart of the next generation's education.
The Danish design studio Henning Larsen won the competition to redesign and expand Glyvra School, creating a learning environment where architecture, landscape, and community merge seamlessly. The proposal redefines the school as a "learning village" inspired by the surrounding topography, ensuring sheltered outdoor spaces, abundant natural light, and fjord views from the classrooms.
Designed as a cluster of interconnected buildings that follow the natural slopes of the land, the new Glyvra School transforms the landscape into a driving force for community, play, and learning. Much of the existing site is preserved, while green spaces are integrated into the heart of the campus, and the buildings extend naturally into the landscape. This creates a seamless flow between indoors and outdoors, encouraging movement, curiosity, and creativity throughout the day.
"Here, education takes place both indoors and outdoors. Our design integrates exercise and play into daily learning to ensure that the surrounding nature is not only a scenic view but also a teacher. By preserving the existing school and Heimistovufjósið, the new campus will feel like an organic extension of Glyvrar, an extension that the entire community can enjoy."
Ósbjørn Jacobsen, Design Director, Henning Larsen, Faroe Islands.
Sheltered play areas, a variety of plants, and natural wind protection make the outdoor environment usable year-round, facilitating everything from hands-on exploration to social interaction. Art installations and activity areas promote well-being, sensory stimulation, and community bonding, making the school a vibrant learning ecosystem for students aged 5 to 12.
The outdoor facilities extend beyond the school grounds; The campus is a social and cultural hub for the Glyvrar community. Landscaped courtyards, pathways leading to the beach, and facilities for a sauna and seawater pool are interwoven into a network of recreational routes and activity areas designed for the daily use of both the school and the wider community. In this way, the school functions not only as a place of learning but also as the heart of village life, active far beyond school hours.
Dedicated teaching spaces, rehearsal rooms, and a concert hall aim to strengthen the links between education, culture, and the local community.
The school will have a surface area of 10,000 m² and will accommodate 500 students in preschool, secondary, after-school programs, and special education.
To support population growth, the municipality of Runavikar has awarded Henning Larsen and Ramboll the contract for the renovation and expansion of the existing Glyvra School and the construction of a new music school in the 75-year-old Heimistovufjósið barn on the same site.
Excerpt from the jury's statement:
“This project stands out and has exceptionally succeeded in transforming the project—our needs, desires, and dreams—into a building that we are delighted to have as our symbol. As a reflection of our soul, community, and history.”
Sigrid J. Dalsgaard, Jury Secretary and Project Leader
Construction will be carried out in several phases to ensure that the school remains fully operational throughout the project. The phased approach allows new facilities to be completed and occupied before existing structures are renovated or demolished.
