Development in Bergen, Norway, Europe

Solheimsviken 30 Oct 2009 Metropolitan Workshop (MW) and Arkitektkontoret Vardaal-Lunde (AVL) have won an invited competition to design a new conference and exhibition centre, offices and hotel buildings in the old ship building docks of Bergen, Norway. Scandinavia's largest developer GC Rieber are commissioning the buildings as the centrepiece of the Solheimsviken area, as part of a ongoing major regeneration and development programme. The two practices have also recently collaborated on major planning commissions in Bergen including masterplan proposals for the Mindemyren district and proposals for a new bridge across Danmarksplass. image : Metropolitan Workshop and Arkitektkontoret Vardaal-Lunde Solheimsviken Project Description The 30,000 m2 project consists of three new conference and exhibition halls, a business and meeting centre facility, major new offices, restaurants, cafes, car parking and large areas of new waterfront terraces and boardwalks. The project also includes a 240 bed 5-star hotel with spa facilities, bar and brasserie which is intended to be Bergen's premier hotel. The project is a major cultural development for the city which will reactivate the Solheimsviken area and contribute to the wider regeneration plans for the district. The site is closely connected to the new tram line (Bybanen) currently under construction. The 6,000 m2 exhibition and conference centre consists of three multi-function halls, a business and meeting centre and major new offices next to a prominent site between two city centre fjords. The exhibition building will provide leading facilities for large scale exhibitions, concerts, conferences and events to be hosted by the city. The industrial scale of the conference centre will recall the large shipbuilding sheds that were historically located on the site. The new hotel is proposed to be placed on a new island surrounded on all sides by water and is arranged around a 'knot' configuration. The organisation of accommodation generates internal atriums and maximising 3600 external views toward the fjords and the Bergen mountains of Floeyen and Ulriken. Neil Deely (Director MW) says: 'The team has proposed a new canal to lie between the two buildings bringing water into the site which will allow boats to be moored directly alongside the Conference Centre. The contrasting architectures of the two buildings will recall the volumes and shapes of the industrial activities once present on the site. Osmund Lie (Director AVL) Says: 'This is a key project for the future of Bergen - There are huge ambitions for the transformation of the area and this project will become the centre piece of the district.' Solheimsvike Project infomration received 301009