Fire Station in Bjørvika, Oslo
Open international competition
2020
3rd prize (150 000 NOK)
Participants: 103 teams
The activities of a fire department generate curiosity and excitement among people of all ages, and the location of a new fire station in the middle of the populous Bjørvika creates an opportunity to expose this vital social function directly towards the people of Oslo. Our station is placed close to important walkways in the area and is given a transparent and inviting exterior, where large openings in all directions ensure that spectators can get close to the building and take part in the everyday life and activities going on inside. The building is designed to accommodate visiting kindergartens and school classes so that fire protection measures and preventative activity can be communicated to future generations.
Festningsalmenningen is one of seven commons in Bjørvika that connect the urban fabric with the waterfront - a green public space that constitute the transition between the classical city (Akershus/Kvadraturen) and the harbor. Our goal for the station building has been to create a pavilion-like structure with a light and varied facade, that enhance the park character of the commons and adds human scale to the area. The ceramic panels of the cladding provide a filtered expression while at the same time maintaining a close relationship with the stone and brick facades of the surrounding buildings.
A fire station is an extremely specialized function, where rational internal organization is crucial and can be the difference between life and death when every second counts. One of the keys to achieving well-functioning logistics has been to place the dorms on plan 2, providing the shortest possible route from here to the apparatus bay (where the vehicles are parked). This creates a very compact station, where all of the primary functions are organized along the main staircase running from north to south.
A locally produced wooden structure reduce CO2-emissions to the atmosphere, and allow for recycling and reuse, while the compact shape of the building provides a small surface area and thus reduced energy consumption for heating. South-facing solar panels on the roof provide heated water, while integrated solar cells on south-facing glass-facades produce electricity. A green roof with rich biodiversity will contribute actively to the ecosystems of Oslo and create a natural habitat for bees and other pollinating insects.
Biodiversity has also been one of the key design parametres for the park directly to the south of the building. This area is difficult to access for pedestrians and cyclists due to traffic conditions, and has therefore been earmarked as a place for exercise and physical activity - in order to make it into a destination that people will actively seek out. The work out apparatuses will also be used by the fire station staff, thus facilitating further interaction between the station and the city's population.