Nicolai Sivert Beer was a Norwegian architect.
He opened his own office in Christiania (now Oslo) in 1914.
Beer belonged to the avant-garde among Norwegian architects in the 1920s and was inspired by developments in German architecture. Beer was especially concerned with simple and rational solutions. He participated in numerous competitions and received, among others, a 1st prize for Blindern Studenterhjem in neoclassical style, completed in 1925.
One of his projects, Professor Dahls gate 24C–K, also in neoclassical style, is an early example of row houses in Oslo. This demonstrates his interest in a conscious approach to color use, characteristic of both neoclassicism and functionalism.
Together with Egil Haanshus, he designed the plans for Bislet Byggeselskap on the east and north sides of Bislett Stadium. The residential area Heia near Olav Kyrres plass, built in 1933-1934, is one of his projects that marked the introduction of functionalism in Norway. Beer also designed numerous industrial buildings and public buildings, both in Oslo and elsewhere in the country.
Architect Hjørdis Egner later wrote an extensive article about "Høyanger – Norway's ideal city," as it was titled in an article in Morgenbladet from the 1930s, where Høyanger was hailed as one of the most beautiful cities in Norway, planned by Nicolai Beer and architects Christian Morgenstierne and Arne Eide. Beer received the Sundt Prize for Industrigata 21 in 1922 and for Kristinelundveien 25 in 1932.
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