Shaping cities
A-lab’s portfolio covers all typologies in a city; residential housing, offices, commercial spaces, urban floors and everything in between - big and small. We believe in transforming cities into the most nature-and people friendly spaces imaginable. The more complex, the better. We thrive on decoding the complexities of urban life for people and nature. We consider ourselves to be future-oriented and will always strive to find smarter and innovative solutions for a more sustainable future
«Multidisciplinarity is the key to solving urban challenges. We specialize in all types of buildings, landscapes and urban situations, but it's the way we bring these competencies together in each project that creates the magic. By connecting the dots across disciplines, we are able to create solutions that are future proof.»
Geir Haaversen, Founding Partner of A-lab
Kvartal 71 is moving along
The revised planning proposal for Kvartal 71 has a larger focus on sustainable transformation, re- use and re-building and was delivered late December 2024.
Pillar Bjerke is ready for construction
Stor Oslo Eiendom has managed to presell enough apartments in order for construction work to start, we cannot wait for this next phase, a step closer to the finishing line. The project is located near the race tracks in Bjerke and has forests surrounding in the south and west. The high-rise is a nod to the typology in the area and the apartments will have great lighting and view. Read more about the project here
An ambitious rehabilitation project
Our urban floor team is working on an ambitious rehabilitation project in Drammen. Now in January the social service office is moving out of their current location, leaving the building for new adventures.
Photo: Jean-Pierre Mesinele for A-lab
Living with the sea as your neighbor
Sjøkanten Park’s new chapter
What used to be an industrial area in Stavanger is now transformed into a lively urban area filled with residents and visitors. The project is part of the vision of an urban seafront in Stavanger and making this more accessible for the people who lives here and visitors.
Vulkan Student Hus is completed
Our latest project in Vulkan has finally been filled up with students. The project for SiO and was done in collaboration with LALA Tøyen landscape architects. The neighborhood is lively and fit for students as it is in a short vicinity to clubs and the food marked in Vulkan. Understanding the place, the street and the existing context surrounding it was crucial to achieve a project that not only blends well into its’ surrounding, but also functioning as an urban connector.
Render by A-lab. Image showing a future Kabel gata.
Nature’s principles
Towards a more circular practice
Time is running out for continuing with business as usual. There is an urgency to change path and adopt new practices. Circularity, a concept deeply rooted in nature is gaining more traction. We see this in our field as well. Our latest project has circularity in focus, this time in a larger scale with innovation in mind. Hovinbyen is a large area that consist of several boroughs, we wanted to look at how circularity would work in this scale. Together with Civitas, we have worked on a feasibility study that explores how this can happen in Hovinbyen.
Rewilding
Nature as part of the urban fabric
Urban development is going through a huge shift. Today we see the need to include nature into the cities to fight global challenges and make sure human beings get their much-needed contact with natural elements in order to strengthen both physical and mental health. Søndre street is an experiment in transforming hard concrete urban surfaces to lush green areas where all age groups can play and enjoy regardless of socioeconomic background.
Enduring architecture
New take on existing sustainability norms
From designing for a building lifespan of 60 years, there is now talk of creating long lasting architecture. On the one hand, it's about returning to old ways of thinking and using materials, while at the same time utilizing innovative technology and solutions to create a new type of adaptability that allows buildings to change over time. With the development of Lilleakerbyen, developer Mustad sets an example on how to design beautiful and functional buildings that can live for over 120 years.
Harborfront development
Leveling up Oslo’s Fjord City
Increasingly more coastal cities are recognizing the value of making the waterfront accessible to the city's population. By revitalizing the waterfront with carefully designed residential, office and cultural facilities with an activating urban floor, the city's population will be able to enjoy the recreational qualities offered by the proximity to the water. The project Grønlikaia is highlighting the connection between the challenges on land and under water, using interdisciplinary expertise to address how the landscape can work as a buffer to protect and restore the Oslo Fjord.
Mitigating climate change
Towards net zero
Architecture can be a tool to accomplish energy efficient environments. Natural ventilation creates a comfortable indoor climate and provides plenty of fresh air while keeping the outdoor air clean. Thermal buoyancy and wind are the main drivers of natural ventilation. In Casa M, eco-efficiency is incorporated into the design, with an inner courtyard. The sea breeze, which is let in at the lower level, gradually rises up to the skylights and provides natural ventilation throughout the home. In the summer, solar radiation from the skylight is controlled by means of external solar shading, while in the winter it acts as an important source of passive solar radiation.
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