The Tangen VGS is beautifully situated just south of therenaissance quarter of Kristiansand with an open view to theOtra River. The new school assembles a number of educationlines, including hotel and nourishment, design, media andcommunication and construction courses, both practical andtheoretical. Earlier these facilities were widely spread, soone of the important targets for the new school building is tobring different education cultures together to form a unity,that encourages to establish cross-over contacts in order tobenefit from the differences among the students.

A clear and simple design strategy defines the school building:A plait. To sets of double stories are pushed togetherto form a central area with normal floor height. The doubleheightparts are used for workshop activities, while thecentral part houses theory classrooms etc. In the centre ofthe building, a large circular atrium cuts through the buildingfrom ground floor to top glass roof, connecting all floors. Thetwo-sided design of the school building discretely handlesthe bending of the site, and at both sides of the building,large parable openings invite by-passers to get a good impressionof the many activities inside.