Area
90 000 m² gross area new buildings, 40,000 m² gross area renovation.
Discipline
Security clearance, plans, constructions, facades, logistics
The proposal Lysning was grounded in fundamental Norwegian values: openness, equality, closeness to nature, modesty, and the short distance between high and low—between rich and poor, and between those who govern and those who are governed. At the same time, the design aspired to give the Government Quarter a sense of dignity and distinction—something that rises above the ordinary and the everyday.
At the heart of the concept was the idea of organizing the project as a ring around Einar Gerhardsen’s Square, reinforcing the perception of Norway’s political center through a clearly defined public space surrounded by shared functions for all ministries. The square was intended to remain open to the public at all times, symbolizing the meeting point between citizens and government.
Located between the historic G-block, the iconic H-block, and newly planned ministry buildings, the square would be unified by bridges spanning the adjacent streets. Constructed in the same materials and architectural language as the surrounding buildings, these bridges were designed to strengthen the overall identity of the place.
In 2017, after negotiations with Statsbygg, Lysning was awarded second place in the competition.
