WAN 21 for 21 Award, 2013

Haptic has been Highly Commended in the World Architecture News (WAN) 21 for 21 Awards; an award intended to forecast the next generation of designers in the 21st century. 158 entries were received this year.

The jury selected the practices that showed an outstanding ability to demonstrate their individual potential to be the next big thing in the architectural world. The jurors in particular were looking for architects whose directional ideas are helping to shape the future of architecture whilst keeping within the boundaries of commercial viability and sustainability.

WAN's editorial stated "The first of the Highly Commended practices is Haptic architects, a UK and Oslo-based practice which caught the judges’ attention with their submitted airport design, as Dennis Ho praised their ‘contextual and site specific’ designs and the organisation of their plans which earned them a Highly Commended status."

See WAN Editorial [link]

Arctic Ocean Airport, Norway

A new regional airport terminal and masterplan in northern Norway. The Arctic Ocean Airport will capture the spirit of the place in relation to natural forms, light, ocean & in its materiality. The terminal building is organised in a highly functional manner, with central service spine and open plan spaces to the perimeter, which effectively defines the private and public split of functions and allows flexibility for future expansion. The roof form is the defining element, which embraces the spirit of the region, natural phenomena and spectacular scenery.

Apartment at Idunsgate, Oslo

This complete refurbishment includes a bespoke kitchen with open fire and double height bathroom, working across several levels, with elevated bath and shower area.  The material palette comprises oak flooring and joinery as a counterpoint to polished concrete, grey stone and white corian.  More pictures to follow of other rooms, including the floating staircase (see our fun video post from Nov 2012 here).  

Apartment at Thor Olsens vei, Oslo

This refurbishment of an apartment in Oslo, incorporated bespoke kitchen units and island on a limited budget.  The bathroom was made in parallel to our project at St. Hanshaugen (see January's post) and employed a similar material palette.  All bathroom furniture is bespoke, including floating vanity, shelving and towel rail. White oak veneer cladding is used on the main wall, with  remaining walls formed in large format tiles that measure 1m x 3m (only five tiles were needed).

Kristiansund Progress

Kristiansund service building is out for tender this month.  The scheme comprises office building, fire station and several halls for cleaning & maintenance of airport equipment.  The building is wrapped in a lightweight polycarbonate skin over precast concrete panels.  The envelope provides differing degrees of transparency, thermal & acoustic properties, depending on the internal use and required performance.

Competition Win – Temporal Urban Square for Oslo

Haptic have won the competition to create a new urban square outside the ROM Gallery in downtown Oslo. In connection with the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution, architects, artists and designers were invited to give a concrete or subtle commentary on the relationship of art and architecture to the nation and its political systems. Haptic’s proposal is one of four that will be delivered on a rolling programme, similar to the concept of the 4th plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square.

The site’s urban position acts as an intersection between three adjoining districts - City centre, Grünerløkka and St.Hanshaugen, and as a portal between the eastern and western parts of the city with all the historical, social and political significance this brings.

Haptic’s proposal is for a Speaker’s Corner. By taking advantage of the sites natural slope, an amphitheater is to be formed; a venue for talks, dialogue and debate. It is also a space for relaxation; to be quiet, make out, cry, read, rest, eat lunch, sun bathe. Skateboarding, parkour, break dancing and Bhangra are also allowed!

The temporal nature of the project required cost effective solutions. A simple construction of OSB and framework assimilates the street's aesthetics, drawing inspiration from skateboard ramps, barricades, construction sites and other temporary structures.

Straume Competition Win

Haptic in collaboration with NORDIC - Office of Architecture and Gross.Max Landscape architects, have won the competition to create a new urban centre and a public square in Straume.

Straume, in the municipality of Fjell, is located on the west coast of Norway, near Bergen. The competition, commissioned by Sartor Holding required innovative and flexible solutions for three urban blocks and a public square to cater for a variety of events. The buildings include a 13-storey tower; a new landmark for the region.

Under the heading, from Shopping Centre to City, the competition aim is to assist in changing the image of Straume and to create a new city centre, with streets, squares and frontages, as opposed to the traditional shopping centre model.

The scheme is organised around the public square, conceived as a seamless surface that negotiates a substantial level change and incorporates planting, seating and lighting but primarily allows for flexibility in its use.  The landscape and its geometry inform the architecture and bleeds into building common areas, creating semi-public spaces.  The large square links to smaller routes and main shopping avenues.  The landscape design places emphasis on intuitive movement across the square and around the active frontages.  

The building forms are designed to maximise sunlight penetration into the square and residential courtyards, whilst eliminating problematic wind conditions. The architecture employs a simple palette of materials, taking inspiration from the stunning natural surroundings, its surface qualities and typology. The stone tower accommodates office and library space. The two urban blocks to the southern side of the square comprise hotel and residential space, above retail. The uses however, can move around freely, subject to design development and client / operator decisions.

The team, led by Haptic and NORDIC are proud to be part of this important transformation of Straume, in what could be an exemplar of shopping centre transformations.

The team beat Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, CF Møller with JAJA Architects & Team 3 comprising Arne Henriksen, Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk and Jensen & Skodvin to win the high-profile job. The first phase will be completed by November 2014.


The full team:

Haptic Architects (London and Oslo)
NORDIC – Office of Architecture (Oslo, Copenhagen) (Formerly Narud Stokke Wiig Architects and Planners)
Gross.Max: Landscape
AKTII: Structures
Buro Happold: M&E, Sustainability, Facades

Haptic Exhibition - Working the Land

Working the Land presents the recent work of Haptic and provides an insight into the practice’s ethos, to work carefully and strategically with the site context, whilst focusing on materiality and craftsmanship. 

The installation “Light Touch” takes its inspiration from the dramatic natural lighting conditions found in the Norwegian landscapes. The slatted timber box draws from vernacular architecture and the way in which the low-lying sunlight filters through the forests, whilst providing a tranquil breakout space for Buro Happold and visitors.

 

Partners

BOB, [Graphic Design], www.bobdesign.co.uk

Ruairi Glynn & Chryssa Varna, [Kinetic Design], www.ruairiglynn.co.uk

Concept Design, [Lighting Design], www.conceptdesign.no

Sponsors

Nordic Office of Architecture, www.nordicarch.com

Bob Books, www.bobbooks.co.uk

Norwegian Embassy, www.norway.org.uk/Embassy/

Video from Haptic's exhibition "Working The Land"

Haptic Architects - Working The Land. Video of installation from Simon Kennedy on Vimeo.

St. Hanshaugen House

An interior and furniture design project, recently completed for two actors in the chic neighbourhood of St. Hanshaugen in Oslo. The kitchen incorporates custom-made pieces and a central island that pays homage to the Japanese pick-up-stick game, Mikado. The master bathroom was originally a small, dilapidated WC and separate shower room. The scheme resolved this by joining the two, creating a suitable volume in which to form this contemporary bathroom. The primary palette is a warm grey Corian, oiled white oak veneer and large earthy toned porcelain tiles.

‘Working the Land’ – An exhibition by Haptic Architects

As part of the Emerging Architects series, Haptic have been invited by Buro Happold to curate an inaugural exhibition of our work.  The exhibition runs from 22 January - 2 March.

‘Working the Land’ presents some of the recent work of Haptic through a variety of mediums; from traditional architectural images and drawings to an interactive installation entitled “Light Touch”. The exhibition provides an insight into Haptic’s ethos, to work carefully and strategically with the site context, whilst focusing on materiality and craftsmanship.   

For further information, please email corporate.events@burohappold.com

Expo Exhibition Centre, Fornebu, Oslo

A large exhibition space with conference and training facility, for oil company Aker Solutions. The scheme includes a double height exhibition space, meeting rooms, high-tech visualisation suites and associated break out space. A 7-metre diameter dome hangs centrally to the mezzanine incorporating state of the art projection and visualisation capabilities.

New Hapticians

We would like to welcome Nathalie Devoghelaere and Mira Wolden to our London office

Hotel Expo, Fornebu

Some more photographs of Expo, taken by Simon Kennedy