Vertikal Nydalen
Going back to the future of energy solutions

Thermal mass is necessary for the floors to release heat and cold at a slow pace, and concrete slabs and cores ensure this. Steel constructions support the decks, while the façade is made up of wooden elements clad in heat-treated pine, which creates a warm and tactile expression on the outside, though the color will gray over the years. Furthermore, the façade is clad with vertical wooden slats in an uneven pattern, which both contribute to a playful expression and emphasize the height direction of the building.

The façade is further characterized by the 43 angled balconies that stand out from the wooden surface with their steel finish. The railings are perforated, while the undersides are multifaceted and capture the light from different angles, providing observant passers-by with various expressions throughout the day.

Towering above the wood-clad structure are two rooftop terraces placed partially below PV panels. Simple wooden planter boxes are designed to lie outside the roofed areas and are partly irrigated from rainwater stored and distributed in the bottom of the boxes.

In collaboration with an ecologist specialized in urban development and landscape analysis, a selection of locally affiliated greenery will be planted based on its utilitarian and ecological value, to stimulate micro-habitats for endangered and vulnerable species, such as wild bees and butterflies.

The natural ventilation solution sets certain parameters for the interior. As any adage of materials would lower the effects of the raw concrete and the generous ceiling height, the concrete is unveiled as much as possible throughout the interior. Vertikal Nydalen's top floors are dedicated to 40 apartments, where sizes range from 44 sqm to 143 sqm with various layouts. Every apartment is unique, given the untraditional shape of the building. Equal for all of them are the exposed concrete ceilings, doors stretching 2,4 meters, and custom-made windowsills in oak.

To adjust the experienced warmth without significantly lowering thermal capacity, a thin oak parquet layer is glued onto the concrete flooring. The apartments have a floor-to-ceiling height of over three meters and large windows allowing plenty of light, a rare quality for urban new builds, with views over the surrounding areas, most of them reaching as far as the Oslo fjord.

With the spectacular view of the city and the river running past the building, the interior architects drew inspiration from light hitting the babbling water at different times of day, creating various color schemes. The shades were then translated into three themes guiding the interior. Focus has been put on developing concepts that can withstand the test of time, avoiding trend-based directions and numerous re-decorations for the future.

The stairways are constructed using raw concrete and metal handrails, with larger wayfinding elements guiding you between floors. To add warmth and absorb sound, oak ceiling suspensions, and carpets are installed in all hallways leading to the apartments of the building. There are no garage spaces in the basement, but good facilities for green commuters with bicycle parking, locker rooms, and showers for bikes.

The client, Avantor, is Nydalen’s leading property developer and occupies a floor of the building. In collaboration with them, three ambitious premises were set for the interior concept of their office spaces. Every material and interior supplier had to be local or strongly affiliated with social sustainability. Secondly, the client wanted to be challenged in using more color, and thirdly - they wanted the interior to reflect the neighborhood. Based on the client's keen interest in the community and neighborhood of Nydalen, the interior office concept drew inspiration from the surrounding agoras, park areas, and the river.

Acoustics and locally produced persistent furnishings were prioritized to create comfortable and functional work environments. Given the amount of exposed concrete used to enable natural ventilation, absorbents play a key role in the interior of the office spaces. Baffles made from recycled plastic are strategically placed in the ceilings to align with the triangulation of the building, halting sound waves and creating pleasant work environments.

All large meeting rooms have walls constructed with water pipes, clad in clay, and finished with a thin layer of clay tech. These walls can absorb and release moisture, operate as natural radiators, and ensure comfortable temperatures and air humidity. Naturally ventilated offices have less need for remodeling and technical maintenance, so the spaces are designed to last and adapt to the clients' changing needs.

Vertikal Nydalen results from two research projects supported by The Research Council of Norway. LowEx focuses on heating and cooling with very little added energy, and aims to develop new total concepts for thermal energy supply in zero-energy buildings and energy-positive buildings, with performance that is 2 to 2.5 times better than today's state-of-the-art.

The interdisciplinary collaboration through the research project Naturally (Naturligvis), with 13 participants from the Norwegian construction industry, focuses on developing new strategies for natural ventilation. To test and achieve the solutions used in Vertikal Nydalen, it was necessary to apply for exemption from the indoor climate requirements of both the technical regulations and Arbeidstilsynet (the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority).

The building is a FutureBuilt pilot project certified according to BREEAM NOR (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), with the level Excellent for the office area and Very Good in the apartments.

To track the heating and ventilation and collect feedback that can help optimize the climate, sensors are placed throughout the areas, and all desks in the office spaces have QR codes that lead to an online register form where both positive remarks and criticism can be left. The programmed vents will be adjusted to optimize the perceived climate based on this combination of technical measurements and user-generated feedback.

The overall performance of the building will be closely monitored over the next years, and energy consumption, indoor climate, and user satisfaction will be measured through the research project Hybrids, an extension of the original Naturally. The user experience of thermal comfort and air quality will be followed up on through the project SmartTune.