Did you know that Sørvågen Radio was designed by a woman?
The architect was Lilla Georgine Hansen (1872–1962). A pioneer in Norwegian architectural history and the first woman in Norway to establish her own architectural practice.
When the Telebygget building at Sørvågen was completed in 1914, Lilla Hansen had already begun to make her mark on an architectural profession that was mainly dominated by men.
She became known for innovative and practical floor plans, with an eye for the people who would use the houses she designed. Gardens and playgrounds were part of the whole picture, and she introduced solutions such as ski sheds and what is considered the first corner window in Norwegian architectural history.
But what was it like to be a woman and an architect in an environment dominated by men?
In a much-quoted letter to her colleague Harriet Flaatten, dated 13 November 1956. Lilla Hansen recounted the question she had been asked about how she dealt with the “loud-voiced builders”.
The answer was short:
“I whisper.”
Two words that say a lot about a woman who didn’t have to shout the loudest to leave a lasting mark.
Today, Sørvågen Radio not only tells the story of telegraphy, radio and how Lofoten became more closely connected to the world. The building also tells the story of one of the women who helped shape modern Norwegian architecture.