"Circular" concept wins NRK headquarters design competition

24/04/2025, 08:58

The concept "Sirkulær" by Nordic Office of Architecture in collaboration with Arup Architecture and Rodeo Arkitekter has been selected as the winner of the competition. Illustration: Nordic Office of Architecture with Arup Architecture and Rodeo Arkitekter.

The team of Nordic Office of Architecture with Arup Architecture and Rodeo Architects has been selected as the winner of the competition to design NRK’s new main headquarters in Oslo’s Normannsløkka district. Their “Circular” concept was unanimously chosen by the jury.

Hilde Wexels Riser

Over the past months, three architect teams vied to develop proposals for NRK’s future headquarters, with entries also submitted by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group collaborating with AART Architects, and Snøhetta partnering with LINK Arkitektur.

“It has been an exciting and demanding task to evaluate proposals from such renowned architects. After careful consideration, the jury unanimously backed the ‘Circular’ solution as best meeting our needs and the competition criteria,” said NRK Director-General Vibeke Fürst Haugen.

“The design appears solid, robust, open and inviting. We believe this concept gives us the best prerequisites to succeed as a unified and powerful media house going forward,” she added.

Further Development Ahead

Following a 10-day disclosure period, NRK can sign a contract with the winning architects to collaborate on further developing and realizing the project.

“We have nominated a strong winner that we will work closely with to achieve our high ambitions for the new headquarters,” said Tor Hoel, project director for the construction. “The hard work of elaborating this powerful concept now begins, but we are confident we have assembled a great team.”

NRK plans to build its new main offices at the centrally located Normannsløkka site, at the intersection of Ensjø, Kampen and Tøyen neighborhoods. With zoning underway, the targeted move-in date is 2029.

The public can view the competing proposals at an upcoming exhibition.