Kristian Augusts gate 23, Oslo

Designed by the architects Bjercke & Eliassen, the building in Kristian Augusts Gate 23 in central Oslo was originally the headquarters of the Norwegian Employers’ Confederation. The building has subsequently been modernized several times, most recently in this project by Höegh Eiendom, during which the interiors from 1950 have come to the fore again.

The façades are listed and have been retained along with the load-bearing system, covers, stairwell, footing and foundations, in addition to as many of the interior walls as possible. Details and materials such as the dark wood panels, terrazzo floors, and scagliola walls and roof have been retained, as well as several building components and interiors. The inclusion of new building parts has been conditioned on their reusability, in line with circular principles.

But the KA23 project did not focus exclusively on circular economics, and a greenhouse gas inventory was conducted in line with the FutureBuilt criteria to ensure that the total emissions were reduced by at least 50 per cent. The inventory was used actively during planning to keep emissions in check.

Several measures have been implemented to make the building as energy-efficient as possible, such as user-driven ventilation, windows with lower U-values, post-insulation of roofs, and upgraded technical facilities. The ambition is for KA23 to be as energy-efficient as a modern building and to be certified “Excellent” according to the BREEAM In-Use scheme.

To encourage cycling, the facilities now also include changing rooms and parking places for bikes in line with FutureBuilt’s cycling guide. Because of KA23’s central location, trains, buses, trams, and metro lines are all nearby.

An eco-friendly roof full of local, pollinating plants has been planned in order to improve central Oslo’s biodiversity and offer users a green recreation area.

Low-carbon strategies

• Focus on reuse and reusability

• Bike-friendly building

• Carsharing scheme

• An eco-friendly roof to help maintain biodiversity in central Oslo and alleviate surface runoff

• An energy monitoring system, including information screens in common areas, to keep users informed of the building’s energy consumption and thereby make them more aware of energy and waste issues

ENERGY

BUILDING TECHNICAL

TRANSPORTATION

COSTS AND SUPPORT

PROJECT DETAILS

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