Henning Larsen Architects has won the international design competition for the new Grieg Quarter Arts Center in Bergen, Norway. The winning design, Kontrapunkt, envisions a state-of-the-art concert hall that regenerates places by transplanting new spaces into the existing urban fabric. Thirty-two teams competed in the competition, and the five were shorlisted including Kengo Kuma & Associates, MAD Architects, Snøhetta, and Zaha Hadid Architects.
The Grieg Quarter will be a 24,000m² development bordering the historic center of Bergen with an orchestra pit, exhibition space, café, and multi-purpose rehearsal space. The project involves an expansion of the existing Grieg Hall, designed by Danish architect Knud Munk, as well as spatial work that includes the surrounding Edward Grieg Square. The performance hall will seat over 1,000 people, and there will be 3,570m² of exhibition space below the square. It connects to the surrounding urban fabric through the existing Grieg Hall entrance in the lobby and a new entrance in the square, and also through a café with a cozy outdoor space, creating a focal point for gathering interacting with the surrounding streets. The rehearsal space is an amphitheater with 140 folding seats that can be used for performances, meetings, and events.
In keeping with Bergen’s natural setting as a port city on a fjord and surrounded by mountains, the outdoor plaza of Grieg Quarter will be enriched with native plants and a thorough water management to create a stable ecosystem and a welcoming place for people. Norwegian landscape architect Eva Bergsodden will collaborate on the landscape design. The plaza will play an important role in expanding the area around the arts center into a vibrant landscape with a variety of uses.
Chair of the jury, Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen, stated, “The winning work, Kontrapunkt, will bring vitality to Bergen through architectural design and functionality,” adding, “This innovative design will not only revitalize the area around the Grieg Hall but also make Bergen a dynamic city hub. Combining excellent acoustics with an appealing and inclusive space for music performances will further elevate the city’s cultural landscape.”
Partner and Design Director of Henning Larsen’s Norwegian office, Kasper Kyndesen, expressed his anticipation that the Grieg Quarter will firmly establish Bergen’s position as a contemporary cultural hub, expecting that the space, where familiar and new experiences converge, will unlock the city’s cultural potential. The Grieg Quarter Arts Center is expected to be completed in 2030.
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