VIA is situated in the heart of Oslo’s central business district at a unique site overlooking the picturesque fjord and prominent buildings such as the National Theatre, the grand City Hall, and the new National Museum.

VIA is a central cross-section and a symbolic focal point for the new modern Oslo. The architecture interprets the surrounding volumes’ characteristics and heights and adds a new and unique architectural expression.

From the outside, the building complex appears as a tight sculpture that adapts to the different scales of the site and to the city’s street profile. New passages and squares create shortcuts through the block. Enhanced integration between the building and the city is achieved by introducing two new areas - entrance square and the inner courtyard.

Drawing inspiration from the gradual erosion of land by water, the building is accessible from all sides and offers pedestrians a peaceful route between two main streets, Ruseløkkveien and Munkedamsveien.