Archives

Winter Cabin Kvitfjell

Various Architects were commissioned design a modern spacious winter cabin in Kvitfjell, Norway.

The site is situated next to a ski slope with an amazing  panoramic view. The shape of the cabin offers two expressions. From the side of road as close, private, with functions as storage for skis and garage. On the other side, cabin is opening towards the view with curved glass wall. The entrance hall has low ceiling, yet as we continue further to main living area, it suddenly changes to spacious open space. The feeling is enhanced by a beautiful view in front of us framed by the cabins glass curved wall along the entire inner fasade.

The concept is to create a flow and connection between defined spaces. Each of the space enjoy day light and great view with a sense of enclosure. The floor plan is divided to common social part, guest and private part. The heart of the cabin is dinning and lounge area with a big fireplace. The private bedroom area is located close to the entrance to avoid cross circulation. The cabin includes exterior jacuzzi with sauna and gym in the basement.

Oslo Twin Houses

Various Architects were commissioned to design two new family houses in Nordstrand district of Oslo. The plot is characterised by it´s steep slope with amazing views on Oslo fjord. Thorough studies allowed us to reach the optimum placement to the houses on the landscape.

The houses share the same design concept,  yet each house has it´s own characteristics according to it´s position on the terrain. The base is solid, concrete while the second floor is light, wooden structure with a spacious terraces, directly connected to the terrain. Larger windows are oriented towards the view.  Parking is solved by a separate underground garage for every house.

The design of houses can be adjusted in few variations.  The living areas are placed on the first floor, while private and bedrooms are placed on the second floor. The flexibility of the design allows placing the living areas on the top floor to enjoy the amazing views of Oslo fjord.

Huk Aveny

Various Architects are working on a family housing project for Midgard Eiendom. The assigned plot has a great location on Bygdøy in Oslo.

The design has area-efficient and smart solutions, which are characteristic for floor plans. The housing is adapted to modern and functional lifestyle and at the same time fits to its beautiful surroundings. It consists of five two-storey housing units with sloped roof. Houses are situated in order to reach the best possible sunlight, view and privacy. The parking in underground. Each house has private rooftop terrace and its own garden.

Mesterfjellet School

Various Architects, together with CEBRA Arkitekter and Østengen & Bergo Landskapsarkitekter won an invited competition to design a new 1st to 10th grade school in Larvik, Norway.
New Mesterfjellet School and Family Center combines contemprary pedagogical theory with varied teaching environments, passivhaus level energy efficiency and excellent indoor climate in a 5-story school on an urban site in Larvik. The School creates a framework for a living and a multifaceted educational universe with great spatial variation that supports the schools varying functions. An arena for learning, a workplace, and a social meeting place.
By upending the diagram of a typical atrium school, the introverted central space with roof-light is transformed into an extroverted central space with generous daylight and views to the playground outside. The common school functions which are typically arranged on the ground floor are now also spread vertically throughout the building. This transparent and unusual organisation combines the best qualities from traditional compact atrium schools and more spread out «finger» schools.
The vertical central space is the heart of the building and functions as a fulcrum for student activities. The landmark magenta stairway spirals up throughout the space to create an inviting and exciting path for the students. The compact plan gives short internal distances from classrooms to special functions on every floor, creating a synergi effect that allows students to meet and interact regardless of their age or cohort. Themed internal «squares» on each floor relate to the specialized teaching spaces nearby. Smaller, more intimate gathering areas are also provided within each floor, with seating niches on top of book lockers, or larger «storytelling» spaces in the north-east corner. This combination of spaces provides for great spatial variation allowing individuals or groups to find their own spaces for study or soscialisation. Artist Frida Fjellman has contributed a series of large plexiglass crystals to the central space.
The central open space is clad with perforated wooden panels that provide sound absorbtion and ensure an optimal acoustical response. The perforations of the panels are decorated with pedagogical and aesthetical elements made from holes of varying sizes. Three motives tell stories that are related to the special rooms behind them. The motive-walls weave images from scientific history, nordic mythology and musical elements together into an open narrative that students can explore and discover over time. New details can be interpreted and understood differently as they develop throughtout their tenure at the school.

 

A-Møbler Furniture Store

A-Møbler AS commissioned Various Architects  to design the extension to their furniture warehouse as a part of a general modernisation of the warehouse and the A-møbler brand. The main task was to change the costumer behavior and circulation to make a better experience when visiting the warehouse. In addition to give the ware house a new look, and extend the exhibition space, the extension included an escalator from the entrance directly to the 2nd floor, and a large reception area. A-Møbler has a very central location in the Alnabru shopping district, and is located inbetween two busy roads; strømsveien and E6 (largest highway in and out of Oslo).

Design Concept

The main concept is to create a lively and inviting building that would be attractive to costumers.  At the same it´s important to restrict natural daylight in the exhibition space. The design is achieved be creating a double facade with white polycarbonate that is lit from the inside. In addition a large glass fasade towards the reception and circulation area is created. The warehouse has been known throughout for its distinctive front facade which included a very large letter «A “ that marked the entrance and exit of the building as people had to walk through it to get in and out. Various Architects maintained this landmark by creating the letter «A» even larger than before yet fully integrated in the facade.

HV Family House

HV Family House is designed for our dedicated clients who requested a simple modern house for a family of six. Situated in the heart of Oslo by Tåsen metro station. The sloping site was an old apple garden with a unique view towards Oslo fjord. Various Architects designed the house in close contact with the client, focusing on qualities such as simplicity, feel of massiveness, flow, contact with the exterior and enhancing the view.

The living areas and kitchen are located on the top floor to maximize the view. The living area is designed on split levels to create flow in the house and to allow closer access to the main entrance. The Master bedroom is located half a level below the kids bedrooms for more privacy.

The exterior volume is a simple cube that has been carved to allow natural lighting and to create spaces such as the main entrance and the terraces. The roof is covered with colorful sedum plants the filter the rain water. Seen from the street the house appears calm and simple while maintaing light playfulness.

Kirkeveien Loft Renovation

Various Architects are working on two loft renovations at neobaroque building in Lindern area of Oslo.

The original roof is preserved with addition of roof windows according to regulations. The interior of the two duplex loft apartments will have a modern look with a simple detailing and unique spatial solutions.

Duplex Apartments B13

Various Architects is commission do design the refurbishment of a historical apartments building in the center of Oslo, Norway. The building, from the 19th century is well preserved and has undergone a successful renovation of the facades.

The project consists of renovation of the top 2 floors including the attic, to create 10 new appartments. Our design concept focuses on maximum utility of the existing space and creating apartment with unique qualities highlighting the historical value of the building. Instead of creating separate apartments on each floor we designed duplex apartments to minimise egress corridors and to create a flow between the spaces on different floors. In addition we lifted parts of the roof to allow for natural day lighting to flow through the higher living spaces.

Munch + Stenersen Museum

Various Architects were asked by Diller Scofidio + Renfro (NYC) to collaborate on the planning and design competition for a new Munch + Stenersen Museum in Oslo, Norway. Hav Eiendomhas invited 10 architects and prequalified another 10 (out of 199 applicants) for this prestigious new competition. Diller Scofidio + Renfro were among the 10 prequalified offices. Various Architects will be the local contact architects for DS+R and will collaborate with them throughout the design process.

The new museum will combine two well known cultural institutions in Oslo on an exciting fjordside site, just behind the new Oslo Opera. In addition to the 16,000m2 museum, the competetors will plan and design 20,000m2 of commercial and residential area on the site.

The complete list of teams for the competition is as follows.

Munch-museum and Stenersen museum – invited architects:

Tadao Ando – JAPAN

Zaha Hadid Architects – ENGLAND

Abalos Herreros Arquitectos – SPAIN

Foreign Office – SPAIN/ ENGLAND

Tony Fretton Architects – ENGLAND

Gigon/ Guyer Architekten – SWITZERLAND

REX Architects – USA

Henning Larsen Tegnestue – DENMARK

Kristin Jarmund Arkitekter – NORWAY

CODE Arkitektur – NORWAY

Munch-museum and Stenersen museum – prequalified architects:

NONAME 29 – SPAIN

Heneghan Peng Architects – IRELAND

Nieto Sobejano – SPAIN

Diller Scofido Renfro – USA

Kengo Kuma Associates – JAPAN/ FRANCE

ALA – FINLAND

Christ Gantenbein Architects og Lie Øyen Arkitekter – SWITZERLAND/ NORWAY

Sauerbruch Hutton – GERMANY

Ghilardi Hellsten Arkitekter – NORWAY

Manuelle Gautrand Architecture – FRANCE

Villa in Fredrikstad

Various Architecs collaborated with  Gunvor Thorsen to design a family house in Fredrikstad, Norway.

The concept consists of three main volumes with split-levels. The middle volume contains central staircase as design element connecting all split-levels. The first floor visually connected by huge glass windows with exterior spacious terraces. In the first cube is master bedroom with private bathroom and walk -in closet. The second cube volume is for the children.

 

Hurum Farm House

Our favourite client, Terje Wiggo Nielsen, is founder of Neilco and a real estate developer for 50 years. We previously collaborated with Nielco and Tollef W. Nielsen on several other projects including Olympia Gården and Villa Faun. Terje had a vision to build a modern farm house in the country side of Norway. He created very interesting sketches and details of slightly sloped roof over the living areas of the house with a panoramic view over the peaceful green fields. He also created one to one mock up for placement of the building on site to fit within the natural landscape formations.

We are happy with our collaboration process with Terje and Tollef and we´re even more happy with the final result. The building is very well integrated in the landscape. The living areas are flexible with working spaces that could be separated from the dining and kitchen spaces. The bedrooms are housed in a separate and more private volume.

Lindbäck Twin House

Various architects were commissioned by Midgard Eiendom to design a family housing situated in Nordstrand district of Oslo.

The project consists of double house with two units, each with its own garage and garden with a terrace. The concept was to create split-level floor plan to adjust it with the terrain and to create generous double-height space for the living room.