03.2010
OsloNM
Given a delicate site that is close to six acres in size and a program that approaches one million square feet, the Olso National Museum presents itself as a study in both urban design and form. How does a structure of this size fit into the urban fabric of Oslo without overpowering the historic Train Station turned Nobel Peace Center? The concept is simple; allow the palimpsest to exist, the history of the site to show through, while allowing the grid to penetrate,and create internal blocks. From this the form is generated and then manipulated to allow the building to step down to a central plaza which faces the Nobel Peace Center. Two of the blocks become the museum while the other blocks are given over to future mixed-use development. The blocks of the museum allow shifts between the two, creating a central circulation space. This circulation space allows a coherent navigation between the forms of the museum, providing access to both the internal program and the varying levels of terraces and roof decks.
