nuan studio wins competition to design oslo's cultural center for norwegian waterfront

nuan studio has won the competition to design oslo‘s cultural center for norwegian waterfront (CCNW), a contemporary building that will incorporate a new public square, exhibition spaces, a library, and an auditorium. the proposal draws from the country’s mountainous landscapes and icy waterfalls, with all its elements wrapped elegantly in a monolithic crystallized glass facade and vertical features that enhance the reference to the ornament quality of frozen waterfalls.

all images courtesy of nuan studio

located in the neighborhood of forsvarsmuseet (the norwegian armed forces museum) and norsk arkitekturmuseum – nasjonalmuseet (the national museum – architecture), the cultural center for norwegian waterfront (CCNW) will provide new civic spaces, where the local community will be able to share experiences of historical and cultural value. nuan studio‘s winning proposal encloses all spaces in a single glazing screen, while a warm and cozy atmosphere shines through it, contrasting the coldness of the transparent surface and the surrounding environment.

from the public square in front, visitors enter into the lobby, where a large atrium invites them through a cultural journey. halls become vantage points from which they can observe the city at different heights, while main parts of the program, such as the library, exhibition spaces and the auditorium are arranged gradually, stacking up to a 26 meter height. the roof terrace, which can be accessed at different levels, offers the best views of oslo. the building’s geometry slowly emerges from the ground up, marking its presence as new icon for the city.

project info:

name: cultural centre for norwegian waterfront (CCNW)

architect: nuan studio

team: jaenes bong, queena wang, ming tse lin, ivan chi 

status: 1st winner open competition

location: oslo, norway

GFA: 3,860 sqm