From the Architects’ website:

‘3XN has been pointed out as one of the three winners in the contest for residences in the master plan: Barcode. Barcode, which is located in the Bjørvika area at Oslo Harbour close to the new opera house, is a harbour area which has been undergoing an exciting development, marked by large scale.

The concept of 3XN’s project is in principal an M. The M-shape, with its thin three-legged construction, consists of three towers, that unites and creates a voluminous space at the top. This provides the optimal view conditions and space for neighbouring constructions on both sides, whilst the acme of the M-shape provides room for a lush rooftop garden and community facilities.

By placing the outdoor areas on top of the building and slant the top in the direction of the fjord and sun, a sunlit free space is created. The buildings structure is called Soria Moria. The expression Soria Moria origins from an old Norwegian folklore fairytale, about the castle Soria Moria: the Promised Land with eternal sunshine.

With this simple and definite proposal with reference to a barcodes precision, 3XN takes the need for city density seriously, while at the same time the urban qualities on the street level has been taken into account. Here the base and the rooms in between contribute to fulfil the vision of a throbbing and attractive area, leasuring both residents and visitors.’