Drammen Station is currently undergoing an extensive upgrade. As designer for the station environment, Kaia Kristine Giltun has played a pivotal role in bringing a touch of elegance and joy to this bustling transportation hub.

Drammen has historically been prone to flooding during storm surges and high river-water levels, causing significant train delays.

The upgraded station is now elevated by 80 cm throughout, and in the process, it has become a much more comfortable place to be. Following the recent opening, the public can now access six tracks featuring 350-metre platforms.

Designing everyday joy
"It's been an incredible journey," Kaia begins, reflecting on her role in the project. "I was responsible for the station environment, particularly the timber slat feature walls and seating furniture. It was a fun challenge to create something that was both aesthetically pleasing and functional."

“People need nice places to lead good lives. It's fulfilling to design spaces that can make a positive difference for so many people”

Dynamic Duo
Kaia worked closely with landscape architect Jo Sindre Kleppe Simones from Norconsult to achieve the best possible outcome.

“In this project, it was quite difficult to draw the line between the architect’s task and what was the landscape architect's task. So, the solution was to work more together! After working with Jo Sindre for so many years, we can almost finish each other’s sentences. Or at least each other’s drawings,” Kaia adds with a smile.

Timber crafting
Kaia's attention to detail is evident. "The seating is designed to be comfortable and visually appealing," she says. "We've used a lot of timber, specifically pine, to give a warm and inviting feel, especially in the areas people spend the most time. We have also carefully chosen sun loungers and benches that fit well into the overall scheme and allow travellers to relax and enjoy the surroundings."

Since 2019, Kaia has been working on the project for Drammen station, and her passion for her work is palpable. "I've grown so much in my role as an architect and had the opportunity to work with many talented people," she shares.

Lighting magic inspired by the river
“Undulating timer-slatted elements is designed in modules for efficient production”, Kaia explains. “They add movement and warmth to the concrete walls.” In close collaboration with lighting designer Anette Rustand from the local Norconsult office in Drammen, the impression of the wall was further enhanced by strip lighting along the curves.

The lighting scheme's colours were carefully calibrated on-site with the design team, reflecting colours from the adjacent river at various times of the year. At sunrise, the lighting scheme reflects the changing natural light colours and levels and adapts accordingly.

Find your favourite spot
“This bench is shaped like a wave and gives various sitting positions. I enjoy observing people when they find their favourite spot!”, Kaia explains with excitement. “Originally, this piece was intended to replace an existing bench, but the old one also remains. However, it is clear which bench people prefer. Personally, I prefer the high areas on the bench where I can dangle my legs even though I am an adult!” she exclaims with a laugh.

Architectural art or arty architecture?
The station area is closely integrated with the river promenade, stretching throughout town. The idea of decorating the concrete wall with art was introduced to enrich the promenade and station environment further. Are these decorative panels an architectural interpretation of an artist’s work?

“No, this is arty architectural work. I’ve created the patterns myself and translated them into three-dimensional pieces. It was a big puzzle with 9000 wooden blocks in four colours and three heights. It’s a digital parametric design, meaning the pattern follows set algorithms with randomised heights. The pieces were produced and assembled by local carpenters.”

Enhancing people's daily commute
All in all, Drammen station has improved vastly during the recent upgrade, creating spaces people appreciate. Kaia feels that working with railway stations is incredibly rewarding because it benefits society to make these spaces enjoyable.

“People need nice places to lead good lives, and a train station is a bustling hub that countless travellers pass through daily. This project was my chance to impact many lives by designing a welcoming station environment. Opportunities like this are rare, and it's fulfilling to know that you can make a positive difference for so many people.”