Tomtebrygga in Oslo, Norway by LPO Architects

Article source: LPO Architects

Situation, History And Project Facts

The urban development and transformation of Bjørvika, starting with the Snøhetta Opera, forms an entire new neighborhood in Oslo. The brownfield site along the former harbor basin south of the central station rail tracks, where the Akerselva river meets the fjord, is reclaimed – making the shorefront once again available to the public.

The B1 plot of the Bjørvika masterplan sits along the eponymous promontory Paulsenkaia, named after wholesaler H.A.H. Paulsen, and is part of a stretch of land that includes the new Munch museum at the outermost tip of land.

An international architectural competition for the museum was won by (now) estudio Herreros and included the adjacent plots B4 and B1. LPO arkitekter was in charge of the proceeding zoning plan.

Image Courtesy © Ivan Brodey

• Architects: LPO Architects
• Project: Tomtebrygga
• Location: Oslo, Norway
• Photography: Ivan Brodey
• Software used: Autodesk, Revit

Image Courtesy © Ivan Brodey

The developed design for the B1 plot consisting of a hotel (Clarion Hotel Oslo), residential and commercial units, was proposed for HAV Eiendom as client in a collaboration between estudio Herreros and LPO. Detailed design, multi-disciplinary coordination and construction documentation was subsequently developed by LPO with Skanska as general contractor. Construction took place 2016 through 2019.

The B1 mixed-use city block is organized as a double story commercial base with three cantilevered seven-story volumes on top. Towards the north lies the hotel structure, acting as a buffer against the residential units facing west and south. Total developed area above ground is 19’400m2, comprised roughly of 5700m2 residential use and 13’300m2 hotel and commercial use. Additionally, there are two technical plant stories below ground level totaling roughly 6500m2.

The hotel consists of 255 guest rooms in addition to meeting and conference facilities on ground and first floor levels. 54 living units are distributed across three main entrances as a variance of 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom apartments according to master plan stipulations. These also share an elevated landscaped courtyard at the center of the block, in addition to a rooftop terrace.

Image Courtesy © Ivan Brodey

Image Courtesy © Ivan Brodey

Urban Qualities / Master Plan Concept

The projects along Paulsenkaia abide by the overall Bjørvika masterplan with declining heights from the north towards the sea in the south. The new Munch museum with its landmark design is the exception to this rule.

Vehicular access is provided solely along the southern edge of the site from Operagaten. The new boulevard Dronning Eufemias gate to the north acts as a thoroughfare providing public transportation access with bus and tram stops just outside the building. Oslo S central train station, including the Airport Express, is within walking distance to the site. There are plans for a future harbor island ferry outside the Munch museum, in addition to a gondola lift to the Ekeberg hillside.

Image Courtesy © Ivan Brodey

Image Courtesy © Ivan Brodey

The overall Bjørvika zoning accommodates for residential areas south of Dronning Eufemias gate, with semi-closed, broken perimeter blocks. However, due to the mixed-use character of the B1 plot, this was later altered by introducing several more openings, creating an appearance of free-standing and cantilevering prismatic volumes on top of the commercial base. Spatial relations reminiscent of urban arcades are created on ground level, whilst access to daylight is increased on the upper levels.

Public facing functions are placed at ground floor level, with entrances directly from the sidewalks. Restaurants and cafes are located at ground level as part of the hotel strategy of creating public meeting places, including indoor art exhibition spaces.

Image Courtesy © Ivan Brodey

Image Courtesy © Ivan Brodey

Public / Private Relationship

The B1 city block is composed both in terms of volume and function with varying degrees of outward facing and introvertedness. The residential units and hotel guest rooms frame private functions, whilst common green rooftop areas form informal recreational places. Towards both the east and west public parks and pedestrian plazas encircle the plot. Facing the eastern bank of the Akerselva river we find outdoor dining facilities below a cantilevered glass canopy.
The commercial spaces on ground level are public facing with entrances directly from the sidewalks. Hotel and apartments both have intermediate access lobbies as interstitial spaces with a semi-private character.

Image Courtesy © Ivan Brodey

Image Courtesy © Ivan Brodey

Residential Qualities

Apartment units are elevated above ground and have varying sizes adapted to different needs. The residential building volumes are quite slender. Large and medium sized units are either continuous across the buildings’ width and/or opposite corners of the building. Cantilevered elements, recesses and setbacks are creating variations in the building skin, conceptually forming volumetric masses rather than secondary building elements.
The apartments all have above-normal ceiling heights, with generous fenestration, sliding doors and glass partitions. Many have access to French balconies in addition to conventional balconies, loggias or terraces. The top floor is recessed, and some of the residential units also have access to private gardens either on courtyard or rooftop level.

The residential part of the building is built according to passivhaus standards, using a sub-floor heating system as sole heating source, and wide exterior walls with 30cm thermal insulation. The automatic sprinkler system is concealed in a drop ceiling.

Image Courtesy © Ivan Brodey

Image Courtesy © Ivan Brodey

Use Of Materials

The materiality of the façade responds both to environmental demands by being physically light, in addition to the wish for an urban and solid appearance. The entire material and colorimetric range resides within a narrow spectrum creating a calm backdrop for the new opera.

The hotel volume is clad using opaque, optic white glass with concealed fixtures. The shiny surface contributes by reflecting light to the surroundings as well as the interior courtyard. The glass screen is protruding outwards from the exterior wall, creating a relief between the two planes.

The residential volumes are clad using story tall aluminum panels set in staggered pattern with a thickness that conceals integrated technical features like exterior solar shading. The windows have a similar staggered pattern, thereby creating a variety of architectural expressions even though the building function is identical story over story. Towards the inner courtyard there are some supplementary wooden panels.

The overall building base has an open and transparent appearance using glass with occasional opaque aluminum panels and also translucent glass panes. A repeating, linear grid draped over the volumes acts as a structuring principle for the overall concept. The material spectrum poses a variation over a common theme.

Facade-north, Image Courtesy © LPO Architects

Facade-east, Image Courtesy © LPO Architects

Facade-south, Image Courtesy © LPO Architects

Facade-west, Image Courtesy © LPO Architects

Plan, Image Courtesy © LPO Architects

Yes plan, Image Courtesy © LPO Architects

Section 2-2, Image Courtesy © LPO Architects

Landscape plan, Image Courtesy © LPO Architects

Tags: Norway, Oslo

Categories: Autodesk, Commercial Building, Hotel, House, Housing Development, Residential, Revit

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