BIG's cross shaped factory in the norwegian woods gets ready for grand opening

BIG plants ‘The Plus’ in norway 

‘The world’s most environmentally friendly furniture factory’ is how Vestre is describing its new manufacturing complex in Magnor, Norway, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group / BIG. Named ‘The Plus’, the 7,000 sqm building will generate 55% less greenhouse gas emissions than a conventional factory. It’s also reportedly set to become the world’s first project of its type to achieve the highest environmental BREEAM rating of ‘Outstanding’.

The cross shaped architecture houses four production areas – the Color Factory, the Wood Factory, Assembly, and Warehouse – around a circular courtyard. BIG Partner David Zahle comments on the design,‘Playfulness, democracy, and sustainability are at the heart of the Vestre brand and everything they do; our wooden, colorful factory in the middle of the Norwegian woods – surrounded by a 300,000 sqm public forest park where the local community can come to experience the gigantic Vestre furniture pieces sprinkled throughout – lives and breathes this philosophy. Working with the ambitious and dedicated Vestre team has been the pleasure of a lifetime.’

images by Einar Aslaksen, Pudder Agency

transparent sustainability

The key drivers of BIG‘s design were sustainability, environmental considerations, and transparency. Strategies include the 900 rooftop solar panels, which will generate approximately 250,000 kWh of energy per year, and the recycling of 90-95% of the water used during production.

In tribute to the Norwegian concept of ‘Allemannsretten’—meaning the right to roam—one of Vestre’s goals was also to build the world’s most open and transparent factory. Void of protective fences or borders, visitors will be able to glimpse inside the factory from generous windows on all four wings. They can also walk up the outer ramps and gain access to the green rooftop to gain a better view of the factory and the surrounding pine forest. Furthermore, visitors can learn all about Vestre’s sustainable strategies in the Vestre Energy Center and Vestre Clean Water Center.

‘The Plus will be a great attraction, for both locals and visitors, where people can visit and experience a modern factory built in the most sustainable way possible,’ adds Tjust.

The Plus is set in a 300,000 sqm pine forest

BIG Project Lead Viktoria Millentrup comments, ‘The task of creating a sustainable, accessible, colorful production facility with a public park felt like designing a whole new typology. Manufacturing facilities are still thought of as fenced-off buildings polluting the environment. I am excited that The Plus is a prototype for the green transition, proving that manufacturing can be sustainable, social, local, and profitable at the same time – and raising the all-important question: What would happen to the planet if all industrial buildings followed this concept?’

Vestre hopes that The Plus will become a global inspiration, showing that industrial projects can also be global innovators in the environmental field. It’s also the company’s ambition to contribute to Magnor and the region by attracting more industrial companies.

‘We are convinced that more companies will come to Magnor to become part of a strong manufacturing cluster’, says Tjust.

the building features a circular courtyard at its center

Located nearby the border with Sweden, Vestre wants to inspire and highlight how the Scandinavian countries should work together to succeed in the global market. ‘Someone has to take the lead if we are to accelerate the green shift’, says Tjust. ‘We hope that The Plus gets more companies to discover all the opportunities here in Magnor and the region on both the Norwegian and the Swedish side. There is plenty of room for more people here, so it would have been fantastic if more companies moved their production here.’

Completed in just 18 months, The Plus will open its doors on June 3rd for an official factory opening. ‘It feels fantastic that we have succeeded in this extensive project within 18 months. We managed to do this because of good cooperation with our main contractor and all our local suppliers involved in this project,’ continues Tjust. ‘The Plus is a factory for the people! It is a project we have put an enormous amount of soul and energy into. This is an important day for us, but also for the Norwegian mainland industry and the Scandinavian export cooperation.’

See designboom’s previous coverage of The Plus here.

visitors can access the rooftop all year round

Vestre says the building will generate 55% less greenhouse gas emissions than a conventional factory

visitors can learn all about Vestre’s sustainable strategies in the Vestre Energy Center and Vestre Clean Water Center

900 solar panels will generate approximately 250,000 kWh of energy per year

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project info:

name: The Plus

location: Magnor, Norway

client: Vestre

architecture: Bjarke Ingels Group / BIG

size: 7,000 sqm (75,347 sqft)

photography: Einar Aslaksen