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Statoil regional and international offices, Oslo

The oil giant Statoil, Norway's largest company, will have their offices here at Fornebu for at least the next 15 years. Is a-lab's building the office of the future?

Architect: a-lab (Arkitekturlaboratoriet AS)
Published 29 Aug, 2013
 
Statoil, Fornebu. Because of the size of the programme, the volume was divided into smaller parts – five three-storey blocks which, according to the architects, also provided a human scale.

Statoil, Fornebu. Because of the size of the programme, the volume was divided into smaller parts – five three-storey blocks which, according to the architects, also provided a human scale.

Statoil, Fornebu. Headquarters for the largest company in Norway.

The double-curved glass roof above the central space is the first of its kind in Norway.

The double-curved glass roof above the central space is the first of its kind in Norway.

A-lab have succeeded in identifying and making use of the specific architectural potential in this project, according to critic Mirza Mujezinovic.

The furniture creates smaller spaces within the atrium.

The cafeteria on the ground floor of the communal atrium.

Social meeting place on top of the cylindrical service centre in the atrium.

Meeting area on top of the service centre.

The Statoil building is tailored to a flexible future. Statoil has a 15-year rental agreement, but the architecture is also programmed to take multiple tenants.

The interiors include a number of different meeting- and working sitiuations. In the background Jim Lambie's colour pattern on the stairwell walls.

Statoil Fornebu. A number of working environments are available.

Three variations of plan level 5. Left: Block with fixed cores (A). Middle: Next phase with some partitioned rooms, made with light partitions (B). Right: The block with partitions and a general furniture arrangement (C).

Concept diagrams.

The stacking strategy aims to minimise the building footprint, create a variety of outside spaces and leave room for a public park by the sea.

The plaza with Statoil's main entrance. Light installastions above the entrance by Pippilotti Rist.

The plaza with Statoil's main entrance. Light installastions above the entrance by Pippilotti Rist.

The main lawn, view towards the east.

Landscape plan.

Plan level 1.

Plan level 4.

Plan level 7.

Site section through common atrium and glass roof.

Completion: 2012 (landscaping 2013)

Address:
Martin Linges vei 33, Fornebu

View it on the map

Photo:
Ivan Brodey, Luis Fonseca, Kirsti Mørch, Bjørgli & Bergersen (interiors)

The new office building at the former airport outside Oslo gathers Statoil’s regional and international activities, 2500 employees, under one roof. The building is the result of an open bid in 2008, with detail design and a short 20-month construction period before the opening in the fall of 2012.

The offices are divided into five generic bars, stacked up with large cantilevers to reduce the building footprint and keep the site clear for a public park. Each bar is built as an independent bridge structure, with many of the elements such as steel and concrete decking prefabricated off site. In the middle of the stack is a large communal space, covered with a double-curved glass roof.

The building is organised to allow for future changes in occupation and use, and can be divided up for several tenants. The interior design focuses on social solutions for an innovative working environment with a variety of working- and meeting places, and was developed in close collaboration with the tenant, Statoil, and their advisers, as well as the other consultants.

Facts:

Interior architects for IT-Fornebu Eiendom AS: a-lab
Interior architects for Statoil: Momentum Arkitekter AS
Landscape architects: Rambøll Oslo AS