A-lab has designed a new residential building in Oslo. “SæterTerrasse” consists of 34 apartments in a new building approx. 6500 m2 total with 4500 m2 over ground. This residential building is situated by a interjunction ,Sæterkrysset, in the borough of Nordstrand in the eastern part of Oslo. The plot, which is 3300 m2 lies on a ridge facing southwest, the “Nordstrandsplatået”, a terrain formation that rises from the lower urban areas and stretches southeast of Oslo and has very good daylight conditions and view of the Oslofjord.

Planning This area of Oslo, like many of the boroughs that surround the inner-city area “Sentrum” consists of mainly lower density areas of residential housing, with municipal planning from 2004 aiming for higher density on plots/excisting buildings by communications hubs and major street inter junctions.

These designated higher density areas often border to low density single or row housing and one of the major architectural challenges is to “bridge the gap” between these different typologies.

A-lab regulated in accordance to the planning scheme of 2004 and designed this new apartment building on two former plots of single family homes for the client, Solon Eiendom.

The project The project has a footprint of ca. 1100m2, with underground parking and a private outdoor garden protected from the main road Ekebergveien by the building. The outdoor areas in the east/south have daytime sun and all apartments have afternoon and evening sun. Facing southeast, the site and the building gradually rises from a height of 2 and 3 stories to 5 stories in the south.

The first floor has a commercial space with direct entrance from the urban street, whereas the inhabitants of the building enter from the private gardens from the southeast and northwest.

All of the apt. have private balconies and 31 of 34 apt. are dual aspect, with views to the west and outdoor garden in the east.

In our overall design approach we`ve tried to plan and create apartments with good daylight conditions, a spacious inner ceiling height and plans that concentrate living zones towards the views and sleeping/ quiet zones away from traffic. We`ve also tried to take into account the different scales and density of the surrounding neighborhood by concentrating the main mass of the building towards the regulated building line facing the main road and intersection and letting the mass diminish more to the north. The main façade also recedes in parts from plan 0 to plan 5.

Architectural approach The building consists of volumes and stories that adjust to different contexts and scale/density. By varying the distance of the vertical facades from the regulated building line towards the main road Ekebergveien the façade creates different vertical levels that bring down the overall scale of the building and creates a series of different private outdoor areas.

The main façade materials are Alutile sandwich metal plates that allow for precise detailing and “pre-bent” corners for a continuous precise use of the same material. The aluminum metal coating is slightly matt and reflects very well the shifting and often intense light conditions of the Nordic summer and winter, allowing the facades to reflect the dawn and sunset colors which can vary from intense pink, dark blue, warm golden as well as a matt metallic sheen.

In contrast the balconies are treated with a long-lasting oil/varnish that gives a uniform warm brown coloring on the sides and roof as well as the floor. This outdoor area is in continuation of the living room with large window doors spanning the entire apt. width bringing in daylight.

Balconies, as terrace and outdoor areas are subject to a lighting plan and have in situ designed vertical led lighting that illuminate the wooden materials on the balconies in the evening. The meeting points between the metal façade and wood are clean cut and precise and meet windows and doors that have a black frame giving a uniform colouring and perception of the openings. All balcony railings are in glass. The roof has private terraces and is otherwise covered in sedum grass that changes color with the seasons and helps regulate and bind surface water from rain.

Completed in the spring of 2017, all residents have since moved in and planting /completion of the outdoor areas are due finished the summer of 2017. Outdoor and Landscaping by Bjørbekk&Lindheim AS.