NRK Normannsløkka
New headquarters for the Norwegian public broadcaster
2024–2025
Introduction
With Kringkastern, Snøhetta and LINK Arkitektur have developed a modern and generous headquarter and broadcasting centre that is both well-integrated and creates a clearly recognizable silhouette in the city.
Technical details
NRK
The proposal developed by Snøhetta and LINK Arkitektur is a building that expresses movement - a rotating dynamic where soft, curved lines open up and invite to dialogue with the public and the city, like a broadcast.
The building's volume is designed as a composite structure where shifts in levels create a rhythmic movement. This construction provides a natural transition between the urban landscape and the open, green zones.
Green terraces on all sides of the upper floors create easy and flexible access for the employees. Vegetation and recreational areas on the terraces are planned based on wind analyses.
The proposal also clears space for a four-acre park in front of the entrance - a new destination for the neighborhood, visitors and employees, connecting the green spaces towards Kampen Park and giving the district an important green lung.
Kringkastern is a building that invites and includes. It is designed to be a 'good neighbor' and integrate into the local community. The building's terracing ensures a balanced and humble relationship with the surrounding buildings and Kampen Park.
Photo: Mir
Remote and proximal impact
The building expresses the institution's weight not through massive walls, but through transparency and contact with the surroundings. The open glass facade reflects both the building's function and the openness, courage, and credibility that a national media house should have.
The compact, terraced form provides a distinct profile that is visible from a distance without being dominant. Extensive planting and green areas at all levels bring life to the building's exterior and create a connection to nature.
In the evening, the building's geometric shapes are highlighted by the lighting, and the warm wooden core glows from within. This creates a pleasant atmosphere for both passersby and those viewing the building from afar – a signal of activity, openness, and community.
Materials and Climate Measures
The visible massive wood construction is light and gives the building a warm and natural expression. The open structures expose the building's support system and provide a tactile experience that reinforces the feeling of durability and quality. The consistent use of wood and vegetation in material choices are both visible indicators and real contributions to the building's high environmental qualities.
The wood stores CO2, while the extensive planting contributes to biodiversity, reduces wind and heat islands, and improves air quality. Building-integrated solar cells in the facade contribute to self-production of energy and add a visual dimension to the building's facade. They create a dynamic interplay between light and reflection throughout the day, while emphasizing the building's ambition to be a forward-looking media arena.
Photo: Mir
The Broadcaster
The term ‘broadcasting’ has roots in agriculture – a method for spreading seeds over a large area. With radio, the term gained a new meaning: the dissemination of news, ideas, and stories. A hundred years later, broadcasting is not just about spreading, but about choosing, verifying, and connecting.
The proposal Kringkastern is a meeting point between the power of journalism and society's need for openness and access – an architectural response to NRK's role and societal mission.
Kringkastern is a friendly building, with no backsides, offering various activities and services along the facades. The building opens up to the city in a generous way at ground level.
Photo: RYTM
Photo: RYTM
Photo: RYTM