National Museum at Vestbanen - Oslo

Add To Collection

Other Projects by archibrook

Add To Collection

"Green meadow"

Add To Collection

KOIVUSAARI INTERNATIONAL IDEAS

Add To Collection

MUSEUM OF POLISH HISTORY (competition)

National Museum at Vestbanen - Oslo

Firm

archibrook

Type

Cultural › Cultural Center Museum

SIZE

1,000,000 +

BUDGET

$100M +

The site is located in the western downtown part of Oslo, bordered by the three streets of Munkedamsveien (road), Dokkveien (road) and Dronning Mauds gate (street), and by Radhusplassen, (the City Hall Square). The old Western Railway Station site is one of Oslo’s most attractive sites and a key site on the Oslo seafront.Conception of the common solution based on many factors. Some of them: complexity of the plot, bad grounds force to find rock for solid bearing, and the danger of floods – necessity of location permanent exhibitions of art and storages above the extreme flood level +2.6. This conditions affected on the architectural decision and layout drawing. More important was to answer urban aspects. The Museum Complex consists of two separate volumes on the common platform stayed up on powerful columns, which lean on the bedrock. The number of them is determined in accordance with rational design. Place for every column is depended on existent underground tunnel. One of the volumes – is in shape of pyramid – includes offices, library and other rooms for all kinds of intellectual activity (communicate, inform, outreach in exhibitions, communication, publication, discussion). Atrium upon the whole of pyramid height is open to the bay, and crown on the top floor with universal multifunctional hall with view of the city, fortress, harbor…Second volume is the exhibition block with multipurpose flat roofing, open space for exhibitions. On the ground level under the whole volume of the building situate:Entrances to staircases, lifts, ramps Low level of inner courtyardBicycle parking, parking for the disabled, set-down and pick-up points for 5 tourist coachesPoint of goods deliveries, artwork transports, turning spaces, Museum’s fleet of vehiclessecurityOn the first floor (within the framework of height of trellis girder) there are vaults , partly auxiliary rooms, clothes, utility cores and engineering services, which must to supply normal work of engineering systems for normal life and work of the whole Complex.On the second floor – the prime place for public. Here located central entrance vestibule, reception, main exhibition halls and partly the vaults near lifts towards to transform into galleries as appropriate. The Mainline Station building connects with new Museum Complex by pedestrian bridge. One more overpass across the Munkedamsveien road connects old office building on other side of the road with new office rooms inside of pyramid.Surrounding space includes mountains and hills on the horizon, if looking from the sea and open spaces, and also roofs of old houses, such as Akershus Fortress and others. New building of Museum has a shape of composite pyramid. This solution allows to insert it in the surrounding environment. All elements of space may call to one another. At the same time the shape of pyramid gives a new significant emphasis for landscape, cityscape and seascape, not interrupted on existing dominants.Being able to attract attention from long distance, this shape of pyramid disappears gradually when forthcoming to it step-by-step, increasing the importance of old building.The shape of pyramid don’t shadow, that supplies insolation for surrounding buildings.All elements of constructions are fabricated in plant conditions and then mounted-in-place (dry assemblage), except zero circle and supports of the ground level.Main constructions are glued wooden with metal.External walls completed in special-purpose stained-glasses.As concerns the demands for heritage aspects of the two adjacent listed buildings: they are included in the whole ensemble. Back facade walls of the Mainline and Local Stations take part in the creation of the space of new court-yard, a hall under the open sky. Thereby old facades become the exhibits of exposure.The attempt to connect different times, and at the same time to answer one of the main functions of this Museum–the Collective Memory Function. The creation of court-yard also answers the second Main Function of Museum – to be the Meeting Place, Forum. The contrast of different materials and styles is a symbol of different epochs, and at the same time combination and harmony between them.