Curated by ArchiRev Editorial | Feature Story | Published July 14th, 2026 | Source: Snøhetta
Project Details
Architect: Snøhetta
Location: Medora, North Dakota, United States
Typologies: Cultural, Museum, Library, Visitor Centre, Public Building
Themes: Landscape Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Sustainability, Environmental Stewardship, Public Realm, Civic Architecture
Status: Under Construction
Client: Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation
Photographer: Snøhetta (Visualisations)
Few landscapes shaped a public figure as profoundly as the rugged Badlands shaped Theodore Roosevelt. It was here, among sweeping grasslands, dramatic rock formations, and expansive skies, that the future president developed the conservation ideals that would later define his legacy. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library responds to this powerful relationship between place and person by allowing the landscape itself to become the project’s primary architectural influence.
Designed by Snøhetta, the library is conceived not as an object placed upon the land but as an extension of it, inviting visitors to experience Roosevelt’s story through architecture that is inseparable from its natural setting. Rather than competing with the surrounding terrain, the building settles gently into the hillside overlooking the Little Missouri River Valley. Its low-profile form follows the contours of the Badlands, minimizing its visual impact while strengthening the connection between visitors and the landscape that inspired Roosevelt’s enduring commitment to environmental conservation.
Overall building form integrated with the landscape © Snøhetta
The architecture unfolds as a continuation of the site’s natural topography. A publicly accessible green roof extends the surrounding prairie across the building, allowing visitors to walk over the structure while enjoying uninterrupted panoramic views of the Badlands. This landscape-first approach dissolves the traditional distinction between architecture and nature, transforming the roof into an extension of the visitor experience rather than simply an environmental feature.
Movement across the site becomes an immersive journey where pathways, vegetation, and carefully framed vistas encourage exploration long before visitors enter the exhibition spaces. The landscape itself becomes the first gallery, introducing the themes of stewardship, discovery, and reflection that continue throughout the project.
Green roof and accessible landscape pathways © Snøhetta
Arrival is intentionally understated. Visitors descend gradually into the building through a carefully choreographed sequence that mirrors the experience of moving through the surrounding terrain. Natural materials, generous glazing, and controlled daylight establish a calm atmosphere where the transition between exterior and interior feels almost imperceptible.
Rather than creating a monumental entrance, the design encourages a slower pace of discovery. Architecture becomes a mediator between the visitor and the landscape, reinforcing the idea that the library is experienced as a journey rather than a destination.
Main entrance and interior arrival spaces © Snøhetta
Inside, exhibition galleries, educational facilities, archives, and public gathering spaces are organized around shared civic environments that encourage learning and dialogue. Flexible interior layouts allow exhibitions to evolve over time while maintaining clear visual connections with the surrounding landscape. Carefully framed views continually remind visitors of the environmental context that shaped Roosevelt’s life, ensuring that the narrative extends beyond the displayed artifacts. The interplay of daylight, timber, and natural textures creates warm, contemplative interiors that support both quiet reflection and active public engagement.
Exhibition galleries and public interior spaces © Snøhetta
Environmental performance forms an essential part of the project’s architectural identity. Rather than treating sustainability as an independent technical objective, the design integrates passive environmental strategies, renewable energy generation, and responsible material selection into every aspect of the building.
The extensive vegetated roof contributes to thermal performance while restoring native habitat, and the building is designed to operate with ambitious energy performance targets that reflect Roosevelt’s conservation legacy. These strategies reinforce the idea that the library’s environmental responsibility should be experienced rather than simply measured, allowing architecture to embody the principles it seeks to communicate.
Sustainable roofscape and environmental design © Snøhetta
The surrounding landscape is equally important to the visitor experience. Outdoor classrooms, walking trails, interpretive spaces, and gathering areas extend the institution beyond its enclosed program, encouraging visitors to engage directly with the ecology of the Badlands. Rather than separating education from nature, the project allows the two to unfold simultaneously, creating opportunities for learning that continue throughout the site. This integration of architecture and landscape transforms the library into both a cultural institution and an environmental destination.
Outdoor gathering spaces and landscape experience © Snøhetta
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library ultimately redefines what a presidential library can be. Instead of relying on monumentality, the project derives its identity from its relationship with place, allowing the Badlands to shape every aspect of the architectural experience. Through the careful integration of landscape, sustainable design, and immersive public spaces, Snøhetta creates a civic landmark that honours Roosevelt’s legacy not only through its exhibitions but also through the very way it occupies and protects the land that inspired him. The result is an institution where architecture becomes an enduring expression of conservation, education, and public stewardship.