In founding the Snøhetta Foundation, our intent was to craft a vessel for action—a space where design and creativity address the pressing needs of society and the environment. This statement of purpose is not only a declaration of mission but also a guidepost for future custodians of the Foundation’s work. It is rooted in the values of social and environmental sustainability, an ethos long connected to the principles found in on-going UN and international reports such as those articulated in the Brundtland Commission’s Our Common Future (United Nations, 1987).

Architecture professions, design, and public art serve here as tools, not ends, to promote equity, resilience, and understanding.

Key Semantic Breakdown of the Purpose

“An independent, non-profit foundation”

◦ Independence: The term asserts autonomy, free from undue influence, aligning the Foundation with principles of integrity and trust. This is a foundation unshackled by commercial or political agendas, making its work a pure pursuit of the common good.

◦ Non-profit: The focus is firmly on impact rather than profit. This aligns with global understandings of social enterprise, ensuring that resources are directed to achieving the Foundation’s goals.

◦ Foundation: Connotes permanence and a legacy-oriented structure. It invites others—partners, funders, and contributors—to think long-term about collaboration and shared responsibility.

“Dedicated to addressing significant societal and environmental challenges globally”

◦ Dedicated: A word of commitment, emphasizing a focused, intentional mission. It conveys a long-term pledge to action, rather than a passing initiative.

◦ Significant societal and environmental challenges: Highlights the scope and urgency of the Foundation’s focus areas. These are not marginal issues but the defining crises of our time—inequality, climate change, and community fragmentation.

◦ Globally: This term expands the scope beyond Norway or the Western world, reflecting international presence and multicultural practices. It connects the Foundation to diverse contexts, ensuring inclusivity in its approach.

“Promote knowledge and innovative practice”

◦ Promote: Implies not only active engagement but also advocacy. The Foundation seeks to champion ideas, practices, and principles, creating ripple effects in the sectors it touches.

◦ Knowledge: Emphasizes the intellectual and educational dimension of the Foundation’s work. It is about creating, sharing, and sustaining a repository of wisdom that others can build upon.

◦ Innovative practice: A direct recognition of Snøhetta’s legacy of creativity, transdisciplinary collaboration, and partnerships with like-minded organizations. This phrase suggests not only groundbreaking methods but also the practical application of ideas in real-world contexts.

“In architecture, design, and public art as catalysts for positive change”

◦ Architecture professions, design, and public art: These are the pillars of Snøhetta’s identity and expertise. Each field is uniquely positioned to shape environments, perceptions, and communities. The inclusion of public art underscores a commitment to accessibility and cultural engagement. Additionally, we aim to invite other like-minded actors in the fields of architecture, design, and public art to collaborate and contribute to these shared goals.

◦ Catalysts: The idea that these fields are not static but dynamic, with the power to spark transformation. This word aligns with the Foundation’s proactive and forward-looking ethos.

◦ Positive change: An ethical grounding for the Foundation’s work. It emphasizes improvement, growth, and the betterment of conditions for people and the planet.

“Strengthen education in these fields”

◦ Strengthen: Conveys the idea of reinforcement and capacity-building. It suggests not just maintaining the status quo but actively improving the systems and opportunities available.

◦ Education: Central to the Foundation’s mission. This is a recognition that change begins with learning—both formal and informal. It aligns with Snøhetta’s history of mentorship, collaboration, and teaching. Education also refers to growth in the Foundation by learning from others, bringing new methods and solutions into the Foundation and improving upon future activities that have not yet been widely recognized.

◦ In these fields: Ensures a focused impact on architecture professions, design, and public art, creating a virtuous cycle of knowledge creation and dissemination.

“Preserve, support, and foster intellectual discourse”

◦ Preserve: A recognition of the importance of heritage and continuity. It reflects a responsibility to safeguard the insights, practices, and models that have shaped the disciplines thus far.

◦ Support: Indicates active involvement in nurturing individuals, communities, and ideas. The Foundation seeks to be a platform where voices can find the resources and encouragement needed to flourish.

◦ Foster intellectual discourse: Highlights the value of dialogue and debate. It is a reminder that progress often emerges from the exchange of ideas, not from a single voice or perspective.

“Within the Foundation’s fields”

◦ This phrase reaffirms the Foundation’s focus and expertise. It is a commitment to excellence within its chosen domains, ensuring depth over breadth.

Contextual Threads

Connection to the Brundtland Commission Report

The reference to addressing societal and environmental challenges globally resonates with the principles of sustainable development defined in 1987: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. The Foundation’s purpose aligns with this vision, extending it through the lens of creative disciplines.

Snøhetta’s Legacy in Public Structures

The Foundation inherits Snøhetta’s ethos of creating spaces that are accessible, inclusive, and contextually meaningful. Projects such as the Oslo Opera House and Bibliotheca Alexandrina exemplify how architecture, design, and public art can elevate public life.

Social Sustainability as a Core Principle

The Foundation’s emphasis on education, innovation, and intellectual discourse reflects a belief in the collective potential of humanity. Social sustainability—centered on equity, cultural vitality, and participation—is at the heart of this mission.

Environmental Sustainability in Design

The Foundation actively incorporates environmental sustainability into its initiatives, seeking to address climate challenges through innovative and responsible design. By leveraging architecture, design, and public art, the Foundation fosters solutions that reduce environmental impact and enhance ecological resilience.

A letter for the future

To those who carry the Snøhetta Foundation forward, know that this purpose is not merely a statement but a call to action. It is an invitation to think expansively and act boldly, using the tools of creativity to address global challenges world societies face. The Foundation is a bridge—between disciplines, between generations, and between ideas and action. As its stewards, your role is to keep this bridge strong, flexible, and open to all who seek to cross it.

With conviction and humility,

Kjetil Trædal Thorsen and Craig Dykers
Co-Founders, Snøhetta Foundation

Oslo and New York, Autumn, 2025