A new milestone in the New Government Quarter as the A-block reaches its height
The New Government Quarter is rising, and the magnificent A-block has now reached its height, with the entire facade almost in place. The A-block is one of two new buildings in phase 1 of the reconstruction of the government quarter in Oslo and is set to become a landmark building in the city centre.
After years of planning and designing, it is fantastic to see the 50 meter high A-block take shape! This will, in many ways, be the new face of democracy.
Fredrik Haukeland, Associate Partner at Nordic Office of Architecture is very pleased to see the A-block rise, continuing, "with its unique location between Johan Nygaardsvolds Square and the new Government Park, I am looking forward to share with the public the sight of the facades of the A-block land on blocks of Norwegian natural stone, Larvikite, as in the surrounding urban spaces - truly both durable, dignified, friendly, and beautiful!"
The facade of the A-block will be distinctive, built with glass and aluminum, appearing lighter and more transparent than the other blocks, featuring a light relief made of cast GRC (Glassfibre Reinforced Concrete) and exposed crushed stone from the Lysefjord area. Housing the main entrance to the government quarter, the pyramid room next to the entrance will be a magnificent space. Parts of the north facade are folded in to allow sunlight into the park and to mitigate wind conditions. The west gable is slanted to open the sightline into the park and to the neighboring buildings to the north. With such a unique profile, the A-block is truly worthy of being a new feature in Oslo's urban space.
Regardless of the side from which you approach the A-block, you will encounter facades and surfaces adorned with large, eye-catching artworks. From the entrance side to the west, the wall inside the Pyramid Room will be clad with Outi Pieski's artwork AAhkA, a 50-meter high, almost 700 sqm wooden piece. At Einar Gerhardsen's square, you will see the artwork "The Fishermen" by Pablo Picasso, which was dismantled from the Y-block and reassembled on the facade of the A-block. Inside the main entrance, Picasso's "The Seagull" is mounted, also preserved from the Y-block. From the north and east, you will encounter an artwork by Damla Kilickiran on the lower part of the facade facing the park and Grubbegata between the A- and D-blocks.
We are very grateful to see the building rise in the urban space of Oslo and cannot wait to share the New Government Quarter with the public!
