Munch Pier is the winner of the City of Oslo Architecture Prize

The winner is commended for failing to build huge luxury apartments, despite their impressive location.

Lund Slaatto Architects

The Munch Pier in Bjørvika wins the City of Oslo Architecture Prize for 2020.

The area is commended by the jury for being an impressively thorough architectural project that in a clever and advanced way adds warmth and qualities to the district.

The Munch Pier in Bjørvika wins the Oslo City Architecture Prize for 2020. It was announced during the award ceremony on Thursday afternoon.

The award is given annually by the city of Oslo to honor good new architecture. This year’s award was presented by Mayor Marianne Borgen (SV) and City Development Committee leader Øystein Sundelin (H) at Oslo City Hall on Thursday, October 15.

– This year’s award shows that the city continues to change. Architects are in charge of changing the way people move. Good living environments and quality should be among the most important goals when building new ones, says Sundelin (H). He is the leader of the urban development committee in Oslo.

Lund + Slaatto Arkitekter and landscape architect Gullik Gulliksen AS are behind Munch Pier. They receive the award together with the contractor Bundebygg AS and the client Stor Oslo Eiendom.

Famous for small apartments

Munch Pier is an area in Bjørvika located between the Opera House and the new Munch Museum. The area consists of four apartment buildings divided into two blocks. Here are shops, cafes, restaurants, a bathing area, a kindergarten and 158 apartments. The first residents moved in in January 2019.

The buildings are clad in light red brick, a natural material that becomes thinner over time. The jury believes that the project is successful in treating important urban spaces, both the Munch Museum and the Akerselva outlet.

The jury believes it is understandable that despite its impressive location, huge luxury apartments have not been built on the pier. The houses are 60 to 80 square meters. All have a large private balcony. You can see the water from almost every apartment.

Erling Dokk Holm has also previously praised Munch Brygge. In a comment in May this year, he described Munch Pier as “an urban blessing.”

Landscape architects are also praised for the large, lush community rooftop gardens. Here are areas to sit, opportunities to grow, shower and shelter.

This is not the first time that Munch Brygge has won an award. Last year, the project received the Architecture Award from the Oslo Architects Association for 2019.

The price consists of 50,000 crowns. The winner will also receive a plaque and a diploma.

Great mention to the other finalists

There was also an honorable mention for the other two finalists, Krydderhagen in Hasle and Lakkegata Activity Park.

Krydderhagen is a residential area located next to the former Vinmonopolet estate in Hasle. Dyrvik Architects is behind the project and Grindaker AS is the landscape architect.

Krydderhagen was nominated for the award by the residents who live there themselves. It indicates well-being and commitment, according to the jury. The Urban Development Committee cited this as a good example of a major housing project that has managed to create variety and good outdoor spaces.

The other candidate, the Lakkegata activity park, is also praised. The jury believes that the park is activated both during school hours and after school hours. It is located in Sofienberg, next to the Botanical Garden. Landscape architect Asplan Viak is behind this.

The jury believes the park is an example of how much of an effect a small outdoor area can have in an otherwise underused location.