Erling Viksjø

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Erling Viksjø (4 July 1910 – 2 December 1971) was a Norwegian architect known for modernist design and his use of textured concrete, called Naturbetong. He was born in Trondheim and studied architecture at the Norwegian Institute of Technology until 1935. He moved to Oslo and joined Ove Bang’s firm, later leading the firm after Bang’s death in 1942.

During World War II, Viksjø was imprisoned in Grini concentration camp from 1944 to the war’s end in 1945. After the war he started his own practice. Notable works include Bakkehaugen Church in Oslo and Tromsø Bridge. He won the Betongtavlen awards in 1961 for Bakkehaugen Church and in 1963 for Tromsø Bridge. In 1950, he co-invented Naturbetong with engineer Sverre Jystad, a method for casting and finishing concrete to create special facade textures. Several Viksjø buildings feature natural concrete, such as the Oslo government complex (Regjeringskvartalet), Bergen City Hall, and Norsk Hydro and Standard Telefon og Kabelfabrik headquarters. He died in 1971 at age 61.