/Office & Commercial/Urbanism

New Government Quarter

Project information

  1. Location Oslo‚ Norway
  2. Area125.000 m²

Project details

  1. Year2017 — 2026
  2. StatusUnder development
  3. Partners Haptic Architects
    Cowi
    Rambøll
    Aas-Jacobsen
    Asplan Viak
    Bjørbekk & Lindheim landscape architects
    SLA landscape architects
    Scenario
    NIKU
    Norsam
  4. Client Statsbygg
  5. Enquiries Gudmund Stokke
  6. Scope Masterplanning
    Urban planning
    Workplace design
    Sustainability
    VIZ
    BIM

Noble, enduring, beautiful, and welcoming

The New Government Quarter contributes to a better urban environment in Oslo. It is efficient, flexible, and secure for the ministries it houses, serves as a representation of the government, yet remains open and accessible to everyone.

Four words guided the design: noble, enduring, beautiful, and welcoming.

From tragedy to new hope

On the very site marked by the tragedy of 22 July, the first phase of the project is now complete. sparking purpose and hope, reopening the nation’s political heart as an open, civic landscape for everyone.

PLAY Nordic Office of Architecture - New Government Quarter (Teaser) (Rev A) (Subtitles)

Adapting to the city fabric

The New Government Quarter expresses Norwegian values—transparency, accessibility, and a close affinity to nature. A highly functional and attractive workplace, it feels like a natural extension of the city: a place where residents and visitors feel welcome and safe.

Once complete, a new park will open to the public
The New Government Quarter is woven into the historic city fabric, creating new routes to walk and cycle through

Well connected

The Collaboration District, a “ribbon” of social spaces linking all the buildings on the first floor, encourages interaction and collaboration among ministries.

The ground‑floor lobby of the A‑block opens directly to Johan Nygaardsvold plass, with extensive glazing, timber surfaces and a feature staircase that leads visitors into the building.
Sculpted timber stair and balustrade elements have been crafted with local boatbuilders’ expertise to achieve precise double‑curved forms that celebrate Norwegian design and identity.

The work place of tomorrow

The office facilities provide the flexibility needed to adapt to future changes and foster collaboration within and between ministries.

The sensitively restored Høyblokken is linked by bridges to the Collaboration District, where timber‑lined informal meeting spaces preserve the original character of the 1958 building while providing daylight‑filled settings for everyday dialogue and cross‑ministerial collaboration.

Preserving history

Høyblokken (1958) and the G‑block (1906) stand as important architectural statements from different eras, and the A‑block completes this historic continuum.

Høyblokken is preserved, modernised, and integrated with the new buildings through first‑floor bridges.

Høyblokken’s interiors have been carefully restored with contemporary details, with a Picasso mural visible beyond the lift lobby.
The most prestigious meeting room at the top of Høyblokken combines original character with carefully restored finishes, providing a dignified setting for high‑level governmental discussions.
Refined details, craftsmanship and tactility characterise interiors across the New Government Quarter.
The A‑block and the restored Høyblokken form the public face of the New Government Quarter, linked by glazed bridges. Jumana Manna’s artwork featuring stones from across Norway transforms the public plaza into a patterned “city floor”.