Løkka

Løkka was one of three finalists in the competition for transforming Arkitektens Hus in Oslo.

The project is as much about subtraction as addition. The main intervention at Løkka is the creation of two new entrances from the current courtyard, forming a natural gathering point and smooth flow between buildings, along with the creation of three distinct garden rooms. These new entrances, placed directly opposite each other, create a clear outward axis that intersects with the axis connecting the courtyard to Josefines gate.

Another key aspect of Løkka is the creation of three gardens with unique qualities: the front garden facing Josefines gate, the winter garden in the foyer, and the villa garden in the courtyard. The goal is to make each building feel as if it stands within a garden, allowing the greenery to extend to the sidewalk, thus connecting the entire site with the outside world.

Our focus has been to enhance the site's qualities through a strategy where the elements we work with follow a set of rules. These rules guide us on how to perform operations on existing walls and floors and how to treat the buildings as a whole. This approach gives the interventions and additions in the project a signature and a clear reading. We believe that this clarity in the changes creates a tension between the present and the past, adding new layers to the stories the buildings tell.