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Kittiwake Blue Beam Project    


Honorable mention in the world's largest architectural competition for students by students.

120 HOURS - 2026
The Black-legged Kittiwake, once native to Norway's coastal cliffs, has increasingly begun nesting on the buildings and facades of Tromsø. The 120 Hours 2026 competition invited participants to design a kittiwake hotel — a dedicated nesting structure that treats the birds as legitimate urban inhabitants, rather than a nuisance to be removed.

A standard U-profile steel beam is the core element of the Blue Beam Project. Mounted on building facades and roofs across Tromsø, the beams provide much-needed nesting space for kittiwakes. Their vibrant blue color makes them instantly recognizable — to humans and birds alike. Outside the hatching season, the beams are gradually relocated and assembled into permanent mega-nest structures, giving the kittiwakes a new home in the city.

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