The school, with prominent black and yellow facades, is located in the new mixed-use Vulkan complex, a former industrial area; nearby are the picturesque banks of the Akerselva River and the popular Cuba Park.
The underground floor of the building is larger in terms of the area of its ground part; because of this, at ground level, the building is framed by a glazing belt. During the day, through the transparent "pavement", light enters the basement level, at night, on the contrary, the light coming from below illuminates the facades of the school. This creates the feeling that the building "vibrates" within the boundaries of its perimeter.
Openness, accessibility and visibility are the main values of the Westerdals school, which are reflected in the project. The spacious entrances and the free layout of the first floor seem to invite the audience inside. There is a reception desk, a small media library, a student café open to everyone with a veranda overlooking Akerselva, as well as a multifunctional space suitable for exhibitions, parties or organizing "informal" work areas.
A. G.
