Quadrum
Iconic shape
TYPE OF PROJECT: Office
LOCATION: Kristiansand
CLIENT: Bane NOR eiendom
SIZE: 6500 m2 office and 1700 m2 basement.
TIMEFRAME: 2016-2022
STATUS FOR PROJECT: Under construction
The E-building of Quadrum is the first construction stage of five buildings that will be built on the “Triangular site” (“Trekanttomten”) in Kristiansand. The triangular site will contain a mix of functions including offices, housing, hotels and shops, located closely to the railway making the area comparable to the Barcode area in Oslo. The new development will integrate the railway- and pier area more closely into the city center. The E-building will establish Quadrum's visibility and presence in the city centre with its iconic shape and angled facades, reflecting the surroundings and different shades of sky light.
Context
On the one hand, the area is Southern Norway’s main hub, connected to National transportation routes on sea and by train, bus and car. The site is in close vicinity to the bus and ferry terminals as well as E18. On the other hand, the site is located close to Kristandsand’s city center, a short distance from Kvadraturen. The street network (Tordenskjoldgate and Kristian IVs gate) will continue in to the project site as an extension of the city center. Today, E39/E18 is organized so that the E18 motor way is suspended on a bridge, with the resulting effect of creating a barrier towards the city center. This bridge will be reorganized so that it lands on the ground, ceasing the barrier effect, integrating the hub more closely into the city center, and to the attributes and energy of city life. The new bike and pedestrian pathway will also run from the city center and through the Quadrum site, right beside the E-building. In sum; the identity of the hub area and the traditional city center in Kvadraturen will be merged better than they are today. The triangular site will be linked in as a part of the city center. The new development can be compared to the Barcode-railway milieu by the central station in Oslo, placing a high density office complex close to a hub.
FORM Building on the opportunities for exposure the site gives, the E-building is made to stand out with its eight floors and slanted angles. The original formal concept was conceived by Kristiansand’s artist Kjell Nupen. The angles and pitched roof are optimised for best possible views towards the fjord and moors, letting in maximum sun light and shielding against weather and wind. Developing the original formal idea further, A-lab cantilevered the second floor above the consideration zone for the railway, giving it a lifted, elevated and open expression towards the fjord and accentuating the main shape of the building. The cantilever shields the main entrance.
Facade and materiality
The facade of the E-building, Quadrum is made up of prefabricated, isolated modules, clad with reflective, tilted silver aluminium panels with matching window profiles and screens. They are planned and executed taking the module element sizes into consideration so as to create as little loss as possible. Overall, the facade contains 35% glass area with high U-value. The tilted alu panels make out passive solar shielding, especially optimized towards the west when the sun is low on the sky in the afternoon. They are placed on the angled facades so as to reflect the light of the different directions of the sky.
The reflections of the different directions creates a play of light in different shades even though the panels are of the same material with the same surface treatment. This effect will light up the spaces between the five Quadrum buildings in different tones of skylight; the light reflected from the North being different from that from the West, and so on. The surfaces in different shades enhances Kjell Nupens sculpted ice block concept. The E-building will become a new landmark that draws on the skylight and other elements in its surroundings, reflecting them.
The withdrawn facade on the ground floor meets the surroundings with a light, transparent expression, inviting all to move in and out of the building. Because of the cantilever, the timber framing is brought to a cessation and is replaced by suspended steel trusses in this area. The characteristic steel framing above the cantilever in the 3rd and 4th floors will be partly visible in the office spaces, giving a distinctive identity.
In relation to the overall shape characterized by slanted angles, the pitched roof forms a part of this composition and makes out a fifth, green sedum facade, enhancing water retention and supporting local biotopes.
PLAN The focus in solving the plan was spatial rationality, optimizing the usability around an atypical form. Quadrum is designed with a centrally located core containing conduits and pipelines. The placement of the core in the center helps enhance spatial efficiency. With walkways on each side of the core, the plan can easily be subdivided either into two parts to be shared by two tenants or kept open; giving the floor a feeling of air, openness and access to vistas towards the fjord and city center. The interiors close to the facade are kept free from technical installations and are thus fully furnishable. The building is flexible and suitable for many different types of plan configurations and different proportions of cell offices and open landscapes.
The three upper floors are spatially connected towards the fjord with the resulting triple floor height, and are connected via internal stairs. These spaces will become a spectacular meeting center with views towards the sea and railways.
Ground floor and outdoor spaces
The tenants share communal functions in the ground floor, with a canteen connected to the main reception under the cantilevered facade towards the South. The entrance is open to the public, also leading to a café in the back. The café and canteen are connected but delineate different zones, the café being more specifically aimed at the public. They are separated by a glass wall with a door, so you can enter both from either side of the building. In addition to the canteen and café, both having distinct functions, are small niches, benches and pergolas creating opportunities for short rests and informal meetings inside.
The canteen and meeting room functions on the ground floor, as well as the new pedestrian and bicycle path along the railway, define the premises for the outdoor spaces. The public pedestrian and bicycle path running from the city center passes straight by the reception, creating an intersection between the public and the occupants of the E-building. The users of the office spaces can bring their lunch outside to eat in close vicinity to the indoor canteen; in open air or shielded under the cantilever when in need of protection from rain or shade from the sun. Passers-by can take a rest and use the outdoor areas as well. The outdoor spaces connected to the E-building make out a portion of the important new spatial connections, squares and pockets that will be established on the "Triangular site".
More specifically giving back to the public sphere, however, and directly connected to a "kiss and ride" zone on the East side of the building, the café welcomes all inside. The zone is close by the landing platform of the railway, where travelers arrive at Quadrum. There will be patches of urban vegetation by the "kiss and ride" zone, creating a buffer between shielded areas for having lunch outside and areas where you can use a car.
The new working places will have unique sightlines and panoramic vistas in several interesting directions. Towards the archipelago and fjord you will have an overview of the ships sailing in. Towards the city center you will have overview of Kvadraturen. In the North, you will also have views towards Kristiansand’s centrally located green areas; such as Heia. The architecture makes use of the unique sightlines and vistas through open plans and the three top floors being spatially connected and open by a large, panoramic window that stretches across the three floors in height. The core, letting in sky light from above, protrudes through the roof on the 7th floor, and when arriving on top, you are offered a glimpse of the view in the opposite direction than that of the main panoramic view on that floor.
Opposite, Quadrum will be exposed in all of these directions; being visible from a vast number of vantage points within Kristiansand; making it a prime locality for office spaces. The site is oriented towards South-west, with plenty of air and light on all sides, offering excellent sun conditions.
