
NORWAY EPCOT
|
|
Your first glimpse of the Norway showcase is that of a striking wooden structure. This stavkirke, or Stave Church, is styled after Gol Church of Hallingdal, built around 1250 A.D. It houses an exhibit of Norse artifacts.
Forming a backdrop for the showcase and a romantic exterior for the restaurant is a Norwegian castle which was styled after Akershus, a 14th-century fortress that stands in the heart of Oslo’s harbor.
Gift shops and a tourism information center are located in quaint houses with reddish-brown roofing tiles typical of homes found in Bergen and other coastal areas.
The walk toward the Norway pavilion is lined on the left with camphor trees, used around the World Showcase to provide continuity and to soften the transition between the different landscapes. The trees, which also provide shaded areas for guests, are “cousins” of the cinnamon tree and are the source of camphor oil.
Approaching the Norway pavilion, one of the first things the eye sees is the sod roof. This technique was often used in traditional houses in mountainous regions of Norway as added insulation from the cold. At Epcot, zoysia grass is used because it stays green year-round.
Landscaping this pavilion was challenging because native Norwegian plants cannot survive the Florida heat. In their place, "look-alike" plants such as birch, maples and sycamores are used to produce the same effect.