The National Association of Norwegian Architects (NAL) is a members’ organisation for architects in Norway. We work to promote good architecture and the common interests of architects. We are party-politically independent and constitute a professional network and a community of interests. Membership comprises ca. 4,300 architects in the private and public sectors as well as students.

NAL was founded in 1911. The Board of Representatives is NAL’s highest organ and its national committee is NAL’s governing organ.  NAL has 14 local associations, which are locally governed.  NAL’s administration employs 35 people.

This is what NAL does:
We cooperate with various public and private institutions in order to improve general conditions for architecture.  We do this by among other things acting as a body entitled to comment on proposed new laws and regulations and by participating in debates on architecture, planning and development. NAL promotes the development of architectural policy in Norway by lobbying politicians and other decision-makers.  Moreover, we take part in international for and on behalf of our members.

Architectural competitions
NAL is the advisor for and organiser of architectural competitions in Norway.  Our competition secretariat can be contacted for advice about holding competitions as well as giving guidance and advice to our members.

Environmental Projects
Via our environmental section Ecobox we take part in and develop environmental projects on our web pages.  Our aim is to increase environmental awareness and interdisciplinarity among architects, planners and other actors in the construction sector.

Courses and professional development
Our academy offers courses and supplementary training for architects and other related professional groups.  In addition, NAL arranges seminars and conferences about architecture and local development. Each year we arrange the Day of Architecture with topical speakers from home and abroad.

Communicating architecture
NAL publishes three professional periodicals: Architecture N, Architect News and Norwegian Architectural Competitions.  We have the Nordic countries’ largest private professional library and collection of periodicals on architecture.  In addition, we have our own web dealing with central themes within architecture.

NAL’s Homepage