Playing with Paper

Scandinavian architecture firm AART has, together with Höegh Eiendom, designed a new landmark building for the new district of Verket in Moss, Norway. With its paper-like architecture, the mixed-use building not only pays homage to the papermaking history of the area. It has also been shaped and folded to take full advantage of the daylight and view of the deep-blue fjord surrounding the district.

Gallery

"The bright facades with their sharp lines evoke images of the folds and origami of paper. The result is an almost paper-thin architecture. Together, with the retracted glass facade, this gives the house a light and floating expression. The protruding floor and flat separations give each home an individual identity and the whole house an expressive identity without a clear direction or back,” Architect Solveig Lee Folling Larsen says.

The Paper House, as it is called, is developed for Höegh Eiendom and is situated in the new district of Verket – a former industrial area by the fjord of Mossesundet. With the scenic fjord in mind, the building has been shaped so that it creates the best possible views of the surrounding area towards the fjord from all flats, while at the same time, creating retracted glass facades that shield the homes from unwanted exposure.

The Paper House will have 34 flats ranging from 46 to 119m2. The flats are distributed on the six upper floors, while the ground floor will have cafes and shops so that the house will become an integrated part of the district of Verket. However, life will not only be lived at street level but also above, where there are private balconies and the shared roof garden with a greenhouse, kitchen garden and lounge area.

“The roof garden will become a gathering point for all residents, where they can grow vegetables and hangout together high above the city which will create a strong sense of community,” Solveig Lee Folling Larsen continues.

In continuation of the social and aesthetical ambitions, the building has been designed with the environment in mind, which means that it has been designed to meet the sustainable BREEAM standard ‘Very Good’.

Share this article

Login to post comments

About us

Future Constructor & Architect is a specification platform for architects and building contractors, which focuses on top-end domestic and commercial developments.

As well as timely industry comment and legislation updates, the magazine covers recent projects and reviews the latest sustainable building products on the market. Subscribe here.

Privacy policy

Latest updates

e-newsletter

Sign up below to receive monthly construction, architecture and product updates from FC&A via email: