Aasenkvartalet, Kunnskapskilometeren and Innovasjonsløkka in Volda

The college area is in Central Volda, a community on the northwest coast of Norway, known for its long history as a knowledge community. The extension of the college campus area is to be executed in three stages. When the development is completed, the campus will consist of three building volumes of a total of 32,000 square metres. Aasenkvartalet will be a transparent, open and accessible block which amplifies the existing qualities of the campus while reinforcing the connection between the campus and the rest of Volda. The main emphasis of the competition is on the first building stage, which will form an endpoint for the so-called "Campus axis", which defines and connects the college area. The building will be central and visible at the new route of the coastal trunk road E39 and be perceived as a "welcome building" for Volda University College.

A tight structure forms the basis for the organisation of the buildings, where a playful approach to the grid and structure creates exciting passages, terraces, atriums and spaces. The first building stage is oriented towards the south with a large, sunny vestibule near public transport as well as bike lanes and walkways. Towards the northeast, the entrance faces a unifying square and a large park area tying the entire campus together. The two entrances are accentuated by being drawn into the building, and they are connected by a diagonal public space through the main plane. The public space ties the inner courtyards together, where the overhead light follows the diagonal movement through the building and amplifies it with the urban space as a public indoor street.

Aasenkvartalet is to be a place of innovation and collaboration across private and public participants, disciplines and activities. The organisation of the building emphasises making outward-facing activities visible and accessible. On the main plane, as well as on an inserted mezzanine floor, there are meeting rooms open for booking, a large workshop area for producing and testing prototypes, college auditoriums, open workspaces for shorter and longer collaborations and a black box for cultural and larger events. In the heart of the building, in the central atrium, is the cafeteria tying all functions together. The two more general floors above the main plane contain the college area as well as rental areas for businesses and institutions. Flexibility and elasticity are emphasised in the work floors, where social and open functions are placed on shelves towards the central atrium. Support functions and meeting rooms form a buffer against the quieter office areas situated along the facade. At the top of the building is the hotel, forming two separate volumes connected by a glass bridge. The hotel descends towards the central atrium, and the volumes will thus form a luminous cleft that gives the building a distinctive character. The hotel is partially withdrawn from the main facade, and it has green roof terraces on each side, accessible to all.

The project places great emphasis on the environment. The buildings are intended to be erected with wooden load-bearing structures, with walls and covers in massive wood and bracing cores in concrete. The rational construction gives a practical building which can change over time and enables efficient systems, prefabrication and short construction time. The main source of energy is geothermal heat with wells, distributed as waterborne heat in the floor coverings. Heat recovery from air and rooftop solar cells will also help reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint. Low emission, natural materials and surfaces are to be used as much as possible. Using wood in the interior provides a good indoor climate while contributing to a pleasant atmosphere. Solid materials gain patina after a while, they are robust and reduce the waste requirements of the building. Reusing parts from the existing Ivar Aasen building will add distinctive interior and design elements both inside and outside.

Outdoors, the campus park is to be developed into a lush, open park with a blue-green factor, where enlarging and adapting the stream running through the land will provide a great outdoor space on sunny days and as a flood pool on days with heavy rainfall. Green roofs and roof terraces will also help handle floodwater locally on the plot.

Extensive use of wood combined with recycled and recyclable materials provide buildings with low carbon emissions during construction and sustainability in the future. A rational building system and a high degree of flexibility in construction and layouts ensure financial sustainability. Social sustainability is safeguarded by giving the buildings an inclusive, universal design facilitating broad social interaction – reinforced by the fact that the buildings are to be transparent against the surroundings and open for access throughout large parts of the day.