Located on a peninsula in Central Oslo, Sørenga is a residential headland of eight blocks designed by four different architectural teams. A common and unifying element for all buildings is the blue-red brick used for the exterior cladding. Each team was then encouraged to differentiate the individual blocks through form and material. Sørenga 6 by MAD Architects is an apartment block with with 110 flats and a semi-public green interior courtyard. Rising sharply from one story to 8 storeys, two diagonally aligned passages through the block bring in daylight and allow for visual connections to the sea. The sloped roof is covered with vegetation, offering generous terrace, views and amount of light.

Equally striking as the sloping form is the use of material. The outer shell is clad with the dark yet shiny brick used for all eight blocks while the interior facades are clad with brilliant white panels from STENI. The STENI panels are partially embossed with motifs from historic nautical charts of the inner Oslofjord. 

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Sørenga is a peninsula located in the Bjørvika of central Oslo. The area was previously occupied by harbor industry, but are now transformed to a residential headland with a focus on waterfront recreation. The peninsula is divided into eight blocks, designed by four architectural teams. A common external material has been chosen for all the blocks – a reflective blue-red brick - encouraging the architects to differentiate each stage in a volumetric manner. Sørenga Block 6 combines Oslo’s most extreme roof scape with a courtyard that seamlessly transforms into a maritime amphitheater.

Sørenga 6 is a dialogue between the strict form of the city block and criteria of natural light, views and urban connections. It’s an apartment building with 110 flats and a semi-public green courtyard. Two large, diagonally aligned passages cut through the block to bring the waterfront presence into the courtyard and central park of Sørenga. This visual connection invites visitors into and through the courtyard, and offers easy access for the residents.

The characteristic sloped roof of Sørenga 6 brings a lot of daylight into the courtyard and the flats within. Also, the sloped structure offers generous terraces and views for the rooftop flats. There is also a large, common rooftop terrace for all residents to use – for parties, cruise ship watching or for sunbathing when their private balconies are in the shade. Sørenga 6 is eight stories’ tall towards the boardwalk to the north, yet only one story tall towards the central park to the south. This diagonal cut-away creates optimal conditions of daylight and views for each of the residential units as well as in the central courtyard. It also respects sight lines which would otherwise be halted by the block.

The steeply sloped roof is covered with vegetation. This tilted green plane is kept intact towards the edge of the block, while towards the inner courtyard, the green slope is serrated to form roof terraces with optimal orientation. The orientation of the slope also allows it to act as a green background to the central park of Sørenga, as well as a green continuation of the wooded hills of Ekeberg beyond the site.

Fjord access

The building is adjacent to one of Sørenga’s perpendicular canals, and there is direct access to the fjord from basement level via two floating docks. With a practical storage room for kayaks and Norway’s largest outdoor sea bath within throwing distance, the residents of Sørenga enjoy qualities far beyond the fjord view. A resident reportedly caught a sea trout from his balcony!

Materials

The outer and inner façades of Sørenga 6 are in stark contrast to each other. While the outer ‘shell’ is the dark-yet-shiny brick developed specifically for all eight Sørenga blocks, the façades (and ceilings) within are bright white. This bright white cladding is Steni panels partially embossed with motifs from historic nautical charts of the inner Oslo Fjord. We like to say that the green roof is the 5th façade of the building, and that it creates a visual green link between the Sørenga central park and the green hills surrounding Oslo.

Responding to its context on an Oslo peninsula, this apartment block design from MAD Architects highlights the special relationship of the location to the sea. STENI panels in a dazzling white clad the interior courtyard facades of the block, creating a striking contrast to the dark brick of the exterior. Highly customisable, the panels are custom designed with a graphic element depicting a historical map of the Oslofjord. 

More from the Manufacturers:

With the unique option to customise the surface, the STENI Vision façade panels really added something extra to this housing project.

The Norwegian architect firm MAD wanted to highlight the close relationship the new city district of Sørenga has with the sea. They chose to use a graphic element depicting a historical map of the Oslofjord.

“Instead of just choosing STENI Colour in another colour to contrast with the white, we wanted a more dynamic expression.”

From a distance, it creates a beautiful play of colours. Close up, it serves to form a direct link between the maritime location of the project and local charm.

“A material that is highly customisable, easy to work with and has a finish that is consistent with the high standards we set for every project in which MAD architects are involved.”