FJORDCITY | DnB NOR | 67m | 17fl | U/C

[ramblersen]

http://www.dezeen.com/2009/09/17/dnb...ters-by-mvrdv/

This building rocks! And this building in the Varcode context rocks even more!

My only reservation is that some of the cool features of it may not be that visible due to the narrow space between the adjoining buildings? Well who cares, the density is what makes it great.

[Þróndeimr]

The final design looks much better than the previous designs!

Pixelated design for DnB NOR headquarters enters main construction phase
WorldArchitectureNews

Foundations up to basement level are now complete at the main building of the new DnB NOR headquarters in Norway. The new headquarter cluster with a total surface of 80,000 sq m, is developed by the Norwegian Oslo S Utvikling (OSU), and its pixelated central building, designed by MVRDV with 17 floors and a surface of 36,500 sq m, is due to be completed in 2012.

In 2003, MVRDV, together with Norwegian firms Dark and a-lab, won the competition for the Bjørvika waterfront development and designed a dense urban master plan along Nyland Allé, the Oslo Barcode, that will be developed and realised by OSU in phases.

The project combines Norwegian bank DnB NOR's twenty offices into a new cluster of three volumes with a common basement and a 3,000m2 underground concourse interlinking the three buildings of the bank.

The project aims to create synergy and identity for the firm translating social and democratic culture into the design and making the space an enviable working facility. MVRDV's building is conceived as a steel ‘rack’ which permits adaptation to the flexible nature of the organisation. The steel rack is wrapped in a stone skin, which adopts Norwegian environmental standards. It appears as a rock, a strong shape within the boundaries of the Barcode. The niches of this rock provide space for vegetation growth: the positioning of the pixels creates roof gardens or outside areas for every floor.

The generic office floors which provide more than 2,000 flexible working spaces recline and are recessed in various places to reflect the urban context and to create communal indoor and outdoor areas and outstanding daylight conditions. At street level the building volume is opened by sheltered entrance zones, and intersected by a public passage leading to the Oslo Central Station. The pixelated design allows this specific response whilst being highly efficient and flexible. As a result, every floor of the building is both unique and generic: the pixelated volume makes the generic specific.

Additional facilities include a panoramic 140 seat canteen on the top level, an executive lounge with a view over the fjord, a board room, in the heart of the volume, DnB NOR’s trading room with 250 work stations, and the main entrance with a reception and access to the concourse. These collective elements are connected by a staggered continuous internal route of terraces, encouraging informal meetings and communication between employees and a series of wooden stairs and bridges allows travel between levels.

[City of Rain]

amazing.

the new design definitely looks better than the old one!

someone should edit the first post

[marshol]

Originally Posted by ramblersen

http://www.dezeen.com/2009/09/17/dnb...ters-by-mvrdv/

This building rocks! And this building in the Varcode context rocks even more!

My only reservation is that some of the cool features of it may not be that visible due to the narrow space between the adjoining buildings? Well who cares, the density is what makes it great.

Thanks for the update

[Ingenioren]

I'm really glad they changed it, i have hopes that Oslo will get more buildings like this, setbacks is the ultimate way to keep a good urban feel to skyscrapers without making the streets the unpleasant canyon feeling... Didn't New-York use to have a mandatory setbacks regulation in the 30s?

[Ingenioren]

Still growing: 23/9-09

[Ingenioren]

Skyline views:

[marshol]

26.09.09

The walls are coming up:

[marshol]

A little more since last time:

[Ingenioren]

News is getting around:

Originally Posted by Skyscrapernews

Work Starts On DnB Headquarters
Published on 06-10-2009 by Skyscrapernews.com

Work is now underway in Oslo on the new corporate headquarters for Norwegian financial giant, DnB NOR.

The 17-storey scheme has been designed by MVRDV and once completed in 2012 will have 36,500 square metres of floor space for the bank to occupy.
The original relationship between MVRDV and the site dates all the way back to 2003 when they, Dark and a-lab won a competition to design a masterplan for the Bjørvika waterfront.

It wasn't until 2007 however that the developer OSU decided to commission a central building for the site which has now morphed into the DnB headquarters.

What they've come up with is essentially a selection of stacked cubes with steel racks, each with floor to ceiling glazing and a stone skin. Compared by the architect to a rock thanks to its blocky, if geological look that includes various nooks, crannies, and alcoves taking advantage of cantilevers.

These are in fact a continuous stream of terraces running around the building connected by wooden footbridges that can provide a number of outdoor spaces for the buildings 2,000 plus employees to take advantage of when they are not chained to their desks as well as an opportunity to walk from A-Z outside when the weather permits rather than make their way through the traditional corridors.

Norway is one of the few countries in western Europe that has been hugely affected by the current economic problems with the massive sovereign wealth fund it has built up actually being one of the main beneficiaries thanks to shrewd economic management. The scheme is being built by Vedal Project AS and has a 2012 completion date.

[kjetilab]

I guess this is that kind of building I don't know if I hate or love.. Guess it must grow on me a bit.

[GlennHGSD]

don't worry, i think it will look nice, it sort of reminds me of how they used to make buildings in New York specifically, all these setbacks and such.

What i love about the barcode buildings is that they are boxy, yet very interesting and sleek looking!

[Ingenioren]

How it looked this morning, 27/10-09:









It becomes clear how fat this centre building will be in comparison to other barcodes like Visma - luckily the setbacks will make it a little bit slimmer.

[Ingenioren]

17/11-09: It's above ground!

[Ingenioren]

Just want to point out the completion of several DnB-Nor buildings, info from Byggeindustrien.

Bygg A: Middle of 2012.
Bygg C: Ending of 2012.
Bygg B: Ending of 2013.

So we will soon see some progress on C aswell i imagine

[muster]

I'm looking forward to the completition of the C-building. Will be nice with the elevator and the restaurant/"skybar".

[IceCheese]

Apropo, did anyone get the new OSU mag today? I did! Didn't have much time to read it, but I think there was something about how the sales are going and something about the future timespan.

[kjetilab]

Originally Posted by IceCheese

Apropo, did anyone get the new OSU mag today? I did! Didn't have much time to read it, but I think there was something about how the sales are going and something about the future timespan.

I did to. Not much news (for well informed individuals as our selves), but always fun to read.

Progress plan:
Allmenningene:
Festningsallmenningen: 2014
Operaallmenningen: 2014
Akerselvallmenningen: 2013 (northern part)
Stasjonsallmenningen: 2011 (northern part), 2014 (south of DEG)
Bispekilen: 2016
Kongsbakken: 2016
Loallmenningen: 2017

Next residential project (don't know if that's DNB-Nor Hus B or MAD-bygget): 2012

[Ingenioren]

Originally Posted by kjetilab

Next residential project (don't know if that's DNB-Nor Hus C or MAD-bygget): 2012

That would be Mad-bygget, as stated before, only DnB building B has appartments.

[kjetilab]

Originally Posted by Ingenioren

That would be Mad-bygget, as stated before, only DnB building B has appartments.

My bad. I confused Bygg B with C.