3XN’s Bergen masterplan makes arena the city’s hub

– Jan Ammundsen, senior partner, 3XN
Nygårdstangen Utvikling—a consortium consisting of developer Olav Thon, building management firm EDG Property and construction company Rexir— has commissioned Denmark-based architects 3XN to design a masterplan proposal for the city of Bergen, Norway.
Bergen City has ambitious plans for itself as a Unesco World Heritage Site and, in response, 3XN has created an equally bold masterplan that makes a new arena the of epicentre it.
Despite its World Heritage status, the city’s central area is currently is seen by locals as a place of heavy traffic with little connectivity to the rest of the city. 3XN’s plan is to change hearts and minds with the arena acting as a modern-day Colosseum that also offers generous public spaces, with renderings showing green areas atop its planned buildings.
“In developing this new arena, we considered the characteristics of Bergen as it is now and envisioned how it can be in the future,” said Jan Ammundsen, senior partner and head of design at 3XN.
“In our design we have tried to solve the urban and infrastructural challenges by creating an arena in human scale using warm materials, taking the local climate into account. We will change the area from a place for cars to a place for people.”
The plans connect the inner city with the coastal waterfront and provide a destination for concerts, sport and cultural events. The new neighbourhood development in the city centre would also include a hotel, cinema, housing and a police school.
Architects: 3XN
Client: Nygårdstangen Utvikling (consortium) – Olav Thorn, EDG Property, Rexir
Location: Bergen, Norway
Leisure elements: Arena, hotel, cinema


BIG's designs Prague concert hall to be vibrant centre of life

Mather & Co-designed Gretna Green Experience opens to the public

Project to save last major bellfoundry which cast bells for St Paul's and Washington National Cathedral

Perkins & Will reveals designs for net-zero sports and cultural centre in Toronto

World’s first living waterslides announced for Therme Manchester

Heatherwick reveals Volcano-inspired opera house designs for Hainan

Natural history museum planned for Abu Dhabi

Controversial London music venue, MSG Sphere, gets full planning permission

Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment

Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment

Glasgow's iconic Burrell Collection reopens after five-year, £68.5m revamp

SB Architects delivers Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica with tree-house spa and private residences

Ole Scheeren designs vertical jungle resort complex in China

Designer Brian d’Souza launches Swell to create evocative soundscapes for physical environments

Basalt Architects create geothermal Forest Lagoon in the wilds of Iceland

Hot Pickle design £73m Guinness visitor attraction for Diageo in London

Amsterdam's new digital art centre Fabrique des Lumières will use tech to bring art alive

Pharrell Williams to launch tropical Bahamian beach resort

Banyan Tree curating solar-powered wellness retreat on private Mozambican island

Dubai Expo hits 10 million visits

Foster + Partners designs Dorchester Collection's first hotel in Middle East

Neil Jacobs reveals Six Senses Places concept for major cities

Orient Express returns to Italy after 46 years with six trains designed by Dimorestudio and new Rome hotel

400-year-old mineral spring will power Preidlhof’s €2m medicinal bath experience

Universal Beijing Resort reveals expansion plans for second phase

Pop-up stadium built with shipping containers opens ahead of 2022 World Cup

Playfulness will inspire Serenbe’s new wellness community, Spela

John McAslan + Partners-designed M7 cultural hub and museum opens in Doha

LPO Architects and GrecoDeco create vast subterranean wellness retreat for Oslo
