Futurebuilt brilliance building: The National Museum, Oslo

Statsbygg, publicly owned and the largest property owner in Norway, were pioneers in incorporating environmental requirements for materials from the project’s inception in 2014. At that time, there were only a few Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) available to calculate carbon footprint reduction from materials. The project manager at Statsbygg had to calculate carbon emissions from EPDs in PDF files, says Elin A. Hansen, project manager for the New National Museum.

With such a major player driving the initiative, the adoption of EPDs became more widespread.

Material selection and technical solutions make up a world-class museum building. The façade is clad in Norwegian slate. Inside solid materials such as slate, limestone, marble, bronze and both light and dark oak have been used. Custom-made Italian fittings and textile ceilings with high-quality LED lights will highlight and present the art in the best possible way.

High environmental ambitions will ensure substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the building. One of many ambitious solutions is a seawater heat pump from the Oslo fjord, which provides heating and cooling services for the museum. This will ensure significant energy savings.

Environmental Goals

Environmental goal: Greenhouse gas emissions

A 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the building (CO2 footprint) in relation to a similar building built at current levels and without regard to environmentally friendly solution

Environmental goal: Energy

The building must satisfy a minimum energy level equivalent to passive housing (NS 3701).

In the operational phase, real energy use should be 200 kWh/m² year (gross area). The heating and cooling needs of the building are covered by a heat pump that uses seawater as an energy source. The heat pump is used as a base load for heating and district heating will be used as a top load.

Environmental goal: Material selection

The materials must be solid, age well and be easy to operate and maintain.

The choice of materials must contribute to reducing the stress on the external environment.

Selected materials must contribute to a good indoor climate.

Materials must not emit gases that are have a destructive effect on the museum collections.

Environmentally friendly material and product selection must be done with requirements for documentation of environmental properties and follow-up in all phases of the project.

Urban environment and architecture

The new museum is to contribute to a good urban environment with good quality of life and be of high architectural and environmental quality.

The outdoor area of the museum will be an arena in which the museum makes an active mark in the cityscape and communicates with the public both during and outside opening hours, with activity zones and facilitation for all visitors around the building.

Ideal properties

The project must be innovative, have a clear character and be well suited to viewing and profiling.

The building complex is to appear as a high-profile cultural building for Norway in general and in particular for Oslo as the capital of Norway.

The new museum complex with the building and outdoor facilities will be an attraction that makes a distinctive contribution to the Oslo cityscape and contribute green elements on the ground floor, roof terraces and other areas.

The project will be an ideal climate and energy project. See environmental goals.