The Fjordporten Oslo S competition | cf moller

By combining tradition and innovation, Fjordporten at Oslo central station merges transport, work, leisure time, culture and business into a forward-oriented and robust hub.

The primary aim for the Oslo S of the future is to improve the Fjordporten public transport hub by streamlining transfers between the various means of transport. This is achieved with the high architectural quality of the building complex, streets and urban spaces, as well as good connections between them, combined with a clear architectural identity and a sustainable profile.

Fjordporten comprises a tower with a base. The tower mainly houses offices, while the base contains service functions for transport users. The building volume interacts with the towering "cathedral space" in the existing Østbanehallen and tapers downwards with inspiration from Oslo's landscape and buildings. By combining the use of timber with modern materials such as concrete and hightech glass, the building's materials are a subtle reference to the time when the city was built from wood. Together, the various materials form an organic façade that stands out as a landmark of the city.

The tower is bathed in daylight. The workspaces have shared infrastructure, break rooms and informal meeting places to facilitate a flexible, mobile working life. "Green lungs" in the form of vertical connections across multiple levels and terraces with vegetation provide ample contact with the city and its landscape. Since the multistorey building is to contribute to the city’s life, the tower is planned to have public areas, as a spectacular vantage point that is accessible to everyone.

At the base, areas have been created that make it easy to find one’s way around. The building structure is clearly evident and facilitates smooth transfers between the various means of transport. A wooden pergola of lightweight mesh structures defines the central railway station's new main entrance, while spacious amphistairs connect the area to Østbanehallen’s food market.

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