The establishment of a house for the press after the restoration of a former warehouse,
Atelier Oslo and KIMA Arkitektur have restored a pair of listed buildings as a new press house with a light and generous atrium in Oslo, Norway.
The reform, called the Norwegian Press House,
consists of the conversion of two heritage-listed buildings from the 1880s in Oslo’s historic city centre.
By adding new elements to the old structure, such as the suspended wooden beams,
the old structure is harmonized with an abundance of light that creates depth through soft materials and additions.
This approach also eliminates the dichotomy between the old structure and any new structure in the complex.
Acting as a new hub for media and press activities,
the structures are surrounded by conference rooms, studios, meeting rooms, and a café/restaurant.
Norwegian Press House also houses offices for 11 of Norway’s leading media organizations,
with a capacity of nearly 200 people.
According to the team, the design was carried out in close dialogue with conservation authorities to find solutions in meeting the many limitations due to the inclusion of both buildings.
Design features
The team designed new functions around a new built atrium,
flanked by offices, social areas, circulation, and meeting rooms.
The design provides plenty of light to the deep volume, helping visitors to orient themselves.
The entrance lobby grows larger for each floor raised,
while the atrium runs in the opposite direction.
The entrance lobby becomes the main protagonist of the design,
flanked by suspended bridges of new plywood beams that hold up the glass ceiling.
The smooth transition between the materials reveals the concept of subtle spatial organization,
which literally means getting lost in the materials.
This atrium has a light feel and forms a contrast to the other atrium, the hall – atrium,
Which consists of an old listed steel structure which is a remnant of the old warehouse.
Here all floors have been removed to convert this into structure and light space.
A new glass ceiling covers the atrium of his home that appears to grow out of the old structure,
creating a layered wood structure that filters light.
The team preserved and restored most of the old brick structure
and shaped precise cuts to create rooms for the new circulation and technical equipment.
Because of the different floor levels between the two buildings,
it was necessary to create an entirely new internal circulation to achieve universal access.
In order to provide a light, organic quality, the team carefully plastered the old stone walls with lime,
which can be seen throughout the interiors.
The old and new steel structures have been given a red hue to contrast with the light mural walls.
But at the same time it goes with hints of the original red brick color.
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