Bragernes torg 1
Illustrations: A-Lab
Bragernes torg 1
History and identity shapes the new story of Drammen
Bragernes Torg is a gathering place in the city centre and Bragernes Torg 1 once housed no less than the city's fashionable Grand Hotel from 1909, until the building was destroyed by fire in 1970. In 1973-74, Kreditkassen's bank office was built on the corner plot, and you can still see reminiscences of Norwegian bank building practices from the era, which emphasised the use of high-quality solutions and materials.
TYPE OF PROJECT: Transformation, Ground Floor, Office
LOCATION: Drammen, Akershus, Norway
CLIENT: AVA Eiendom
SIZE: ca. 5000 m²
PROJECT STATUS: Planning stage
The building is refurbished with a richly detailed brick facade built on the existing foundation, an energy-saving measure that maintains the existing footprint. The five-story height with a recessed top floor is retained, but a new slender curb is added that extends beyond the cornice and creates a pergola over the roof terrace. The name "Bragernes Torg 1" is mounted on top of the parapet as a crowning touch.
A Facelift
The former Grand Hotel at Bragernes Torg was built in 1909 and existed until 1970 when it was demolished after extensive damage caused by a fire in the same year.
In 1973-74, the new Kreditkassen bank building was built, but its function has changed over time and is now used by various tenants. The building needs a facelift to remain attractive on the market.
In designing a new facade, we look at the building's history and whether there are elements that should be continued in order to give the new facade anchoring in the past and preserve some of its identity as one of Bragerens Torg's most important buildings.
By colour scanning the various facades around the square, we see a distinctive use of warm beige, brown and grey tones, mainly in the materials of render, brick and concrete.
A simple grid that communicates the building's existing load-bearing system and materials that harmonise with the surroundings creates the starting point for further design studies.
The building's facade consists of an open base with contact both to the square and the river. Active on one side, quieter on the other. A highlighted main entrance to the office is pulled up to emphasise the connection to the floors above.
The new corner facade follows the original corner radius. Panoramic windows on each floor open up the building towards the surroundings. The rounded corner also creates a more welcoming experience for pedestrians on the ground floor. Seen from the city bridge, this solution is a modern interpretation of the building on the other side of the square. Together they form a portal motif into Bragernes Square.
Important axis
The city axis is the central urban space in Drammen on both sides of the river. It has buildings from many different eras in different styles. The area consists of buildings for business and retail, housing, public buildings, as well as transport and infrastructure.
Bragernes Torg 1 has a prominent position as a corner building, and is part of framing the square.
Active Ground Floor
The distinction between inside and outside has been blurred throughout the ground floor to invite passers-by in for various dining concepts, where an outdoor seating area helps to activate the square.
Photo: A-Lab