The town of Ålesund, known for its Art Nouveau architecture, is located in Norway.
Ålesund lies on Norway’s west coast in Møre og Romsdal, amid islands and fjords. Its distinctive architectural identity dates largely from the aftermath of the Ålesund Fire, which destroyed most of the town on the night of 23 January 1904. The rebuilding used stone, brick and mortar rather than the wooden construction common in many Norwegian towns.
Between 1904 and 1907, roughly 350 buildings were erected under a coordinated urban plan. Norwegian architects and builders combined international Art Nouveau and Jugendstil influences with local motifs inspired by Viking and medieval traditions. This produced a regional expression sometimes called Ål Stil, recognizable for towers, geometric decoration and echoes of stave-church forms.
Ålesund is sometimes confused with Scandinavian Art Nouveau centres in Sweden or Denmark, but it is firmly Norwegian. The town’s Art Nouveau Centre, Jugendstilsenteret, explains the fire, reconstruction and architecture. Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II also sent aid after the disaster, including materials for temporary shelters.