In Oslo, Norway, on April 25th, Snøhetta has inaugurated Vertikal Nydalen, the mixed-use building with net-zero energy consumption designed to transform the former industrial quarter of Nydalen from a business hub into a vibrant residential area. The project, located on the site of the former Gullhaug Torg, will also serve as a new public square for the neighborhood, freeing up space for a car-free area, with restaurants on the ground floor and five floors of offices topped by apartments with breathtaking views of the Oslo fjord.

Thanks to a combination of geothermal wells, photovoltaic panels (PV), a low-energy heating and cooling system, and natural ventilation, the building achieves net-zero energy consumption for heating, cooling, and ventilation, also reducing CO2 emissions from materials, transportation, and energy use by more than 50%. Traditional office ventilation systems often require suspended ceilings that sacrifice valuable space, while the natural ventilation system adopted by Snøhetta eliminates these structures, allowing for a more spacious and luminous environment and reducing maintenance interventions. The angled facade creates pressure differences that drive air circulation throughout the building. Fresh air enters through valves in the facade that adjust automatically.

Snøhetta’s founding partner, Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, emphasized the importance of a progressive client for realizing such projects, as well as the need to challenge current regulations to explore innovative solutions for sustainable development.