Holar
Holar is a Norwegian architecture firm specializing in sustainable design, circular construction, and educational facility projects, serving Norwegian municipalities, government entities, and select private clients across Norway.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersOslo, Norway
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Holar does
Holar (formerly Ola Roald Arkitektur) is a Norwegian architecture firm founded in 1994 by Ola Roald in Tønsberg, Norway, now operating from offices in Oslo (Pilestredet 75D) and Tønsberg (Øvre Langgate 48). The firm provides end-to-end architectural services covering architecture, interior architecture, area planning, art consulting, project management, and specialized reuse-mapping (ombruk kartlegging), with project categories spanning schools and kindergartens, residential, cultural and commercial, healthcare, urban place development, and building transformation. Its strongest segment is educational facilities, with 40+ delivered schools across Norway, and the firm is repeatedly used by municipal and government clients such as Bærum Kommune, Asker Kommune, Oslo Bygg KF, Kautokeino Kommune, Holmestrand Kommune, and Vestland Fylkeskommune.
The firm's core technical differentiation centers on sustainable construction, including mass timber (massivtre) construction, circular economy principles, and low-carbon building methods. Holar designed Nedre Sem Låve, Norway's first FutureBuilt-compliant circular building, and developed Båtsfjord barnehage achieving an 85-90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions through reuse; the firm is a partner in the SirkTre consortium promoting timber reuse. Other technology integrations include GeoTermos geothermal/solar hybrid systems and VR for design visualization.
The business model is professional services on a project-by-project basis, with no public pricing. Revenue is generated through competitive bidding, public procurement via architectural competitions, and direct client relationships; the firm has won multiple first-prize architecture competition awards. Ownership is a private partnership with 6 partners joining founder Ola Roald in 2022, and the firm rebranded to Holar in 2024 to mark its 30th anniversary and transition to a multi-partner identity.
Holar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Holar
- Legal name
- Holar Arkitekter
- Website
- https://holar.no
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Holar is a Norwegian architecture firm specializing in sustainable design, circular construction, and educational facility projects, serving Norwegian municipalities, government entities, and select private clients across Norway.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Holar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (541410)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
Keywords
Where Holar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oslo
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Holar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architecture Services: Full-service architecture firm providing architectural design, interior architecture, landscape planning, and project management services for public and private clients across Norway.
- Sustainability Consulting: Advisory services on sustainable building practices, circular economy solutions, and environmental certifications for construction projects.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Holar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Holar is a Norwegian architecture firm providing full-service architectural design for public and private clients, covering architecture, interior architecture, area planning, project management, art consulting, building permit applications, feasibility studies, and certified reuse mapping (ombrukskartlegging). The firm is best known for educational facilities (40+ completed schools), healthcare and care buildings, residential projects, cultural and commercial facilities, and urban place development, with particular leadership in sustainable mass timber construction and circular economy building design.
Product overview
Holar (formerly Ola Roald Arkitektur) is a Norwegian architectural firm offering comprehensive architecture and design services. The firm operates as a unified practice providing architecture, interior architecture, area planning, art consulting, project management, and reuse mapping services. Projects span multiple categories including schools and kindergartens (the firm's strongest segment with over 40 completed schools), residential buildings, cultural and commercial facilities, healthcare buildings, place development, and building transformation. The firm has developed particular expertise in sustainable timber construction, circular economy principles, and low-carbon building methods. Notable projects include Båtsfjord Barnehage (85-90% carbon reduction through reuse), Nedre Sem Låve (Norway's first circular building), and numerous award-winning educational facilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Arkitektur (Architecture) Full architectural design services across all project phases from concept to completion for schools, kindergartens, healthcare facilities, residential, cultural, and commercial buildings. Targeted at Norwegian municipalities, government entities, and private developers.
- Interiørarkitektur (Interior Architecture) Interior architectural design focused on spatial planning, material selection, lighting, and environmental quality inside buildings, integrated with overall architectural services.
- Arealplanlegging (Area Planning) Urban and regional planning services including regulatory plans, development projects, feasibility studies, and master planning for municipalities and developers.
- Prosjekteringsledelse (Project Management) Design and project leadership and coordination services overseeing the design and construction process from initiation through completion.
- Ombrukskartlegging (Reuse Mapping) Certified circular-economy assessment that inventories existing building materials and structures for potential reuse in renovation and new-build projects, reducing embodied carbon.
- Kunstkonsulent (Art Consulting) Art consultation services integrating artistic elements and art programs into architectural projects for public and private clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- 85-90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Holar
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Holar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Holar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SirkTre ConsortiumcoreHolar is a partner in the SirkTre consortium through the SirkSkole work package. SirkTre is a cross-disciplinary project promoting reuse of returned timber as a sustainable resource in construction, contributing to Norway's climate goals under the Paris Agreement.
- WSPminorEngineering and consultancy partner on Båtsfjord barnehage project, contributing to reuse mapping and material inventory analysis.
- BACKE Stord-Oslo ASminorConstruction partner on Emma Hjorth skole project.
- Kaldnes Brygge AScoreDeveloper partner for Kanalbyen urban development project - a 50,000 sqm transformation of historic industrial area in Tønsberg.
- Selvaag BoligcoreHousing developer partner for Kanalbyen urban development project.
- NorconsultminorEngineering consultancy partner on Roa omsorgsbolig project.
- Langgaten 45 AScoreClient and development partner for Holmestrand municipal administration building project.
- Streken ArkitekterminorArchitecture partner on Eide school project in Hustadvika.
- PeabminorConstruction partner on Langhaugen videregående skole project in Bergen.
- SwecominorEngineering consultancy partner on Langhaugen project.
- Ark-TellusminorArchitecture partner on Åkle Iveland urban development project, winning the parallel assignment competition.
- Siljan KommunecoreMunicipality partner for SAGA community center project - transformation of town center with library, assembly hall, and offices.
- Færder KommunecoreMunicipality partner for Tjøme library and community center project, part of ongoing collaboration following municipal merger.
- Harald Nilsen ASminorConstruction partner on Båtsfjord barnehage project.
- LO:LE LandskapminorLandscape architecture partner on Båtsfjord barnehage project.
- WoodconminorTimber construction partner on Nedre Sem Låve project.
- VeidekkeminorConstruction partner on Nedre Sem Låve circular building project.
- NMBU (Norwegian University of Life Sciences)minorResearch partner on Horten demobolig project for energy design and sustainable building solutions.
- Morten KaelsminorPartner on Cicignon skole project.
- Steen BisgaardminorEngineering partner on Cicignon skole rehabilitation project.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Holar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Nordic Office of Architecture: Nordic architecture firm with substantial Norwegian public-sector practice including schools, cultural buildings, and healthcare. Larger peer competing for similar high-profile commissions.
- Snøhetta: Norwegian-founded global architecture firm with strong sustainability and public-sector credentials. Competes with Holar on high-profile Norwegian public projects while operating at vastly larger scale internationally.
- Link Arkitektur: Nordic architecture firm with strong Norwegian presence across public, educational, and commercial sectors. Competes with Holar for school and public building commissions at a larger scale.
- Henning Larsen: Large Nordic architecture firm with sustainability and public-sector expertise. Broader portfolio and global scale, but competes for major Norwegian public commissions.
Direct peers
- Rintala Eggertsson Architects: Nordic architecture firm focused on sustainable, timber-based public architecture. Comparable in scale and philosophy to Holar, with strong overlap on Norwegian public commissions.
- DARK Arkitekter: Norwegian architecture firm with comparable sustainability focus and public-sector portfolio. Directly competes with Holar for municipal and educational commissions in Norway.
- MAD arkitekter: Norwegian architecture firm of comparable size focused on schools, public buildings, and sustainability. Directly competes with Holar for Norwegian municipal commissions and shares similar sustainable-design mandate.
- LPO Arkitekter: Norwegian architecture firm with similar focus on residential, public, and educational buildings. Comparable in size and project mix, competing head-to-head on Norwegian municipal projects.
- Helen & Hard: Norwegian architecture firm specialized in sustainable and timber-based architecture. Strong overlap with Holar on circular construction, mass timber expertise, and Norwegian public-sector projects.
Regional players
- AART Arkitekter: Danish architecture firm with strong Nordic educational and public building portfolio. Comparable in segment focus though based in Denmark rather than Norway.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Holar social profiles
Digital presenceHolar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Holar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Holar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Holar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Holar
What does Holar do?
Holar is a Norwegian architecture firm providing full-service architectural design for public and private clients, covering architecture, interior architecture, area planning, project management, art consulting, building permit applications, feasibility studies, and certified reuse mapping (ombrukskartlegging). The firm is best known for educational facilities (40+ completed schools), healthcare and care buildings, residential projects, cultural and commercial facilities, and urban place development, with particular leadership in sustainable mass timber construction and circular economy building design.
Is Holar a public or private company?
Holar is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Holar founded?
Holar was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Holar based?
Holar is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does Holar make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Architecture Services are the primary driver. The others are sustainability Consulting.
Who are Holar's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Nordic Office of Architecture, Snøhetta, Link Arkitektur and Henning Larsen. Direct peers are Rintala Eggertsson Architects, DARK Arkitekter, MAD arkitekter, LPO Arkitekter and Helen & Hard. AART Arkitekter is listed as a regional player.
Does Holar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Holar.
What industry is Holar in?
Holar's product category is Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54131.