Clarion Hotel and Congress, Trondheim Building, Norwegian Architecture, Architect, Design

Clarion Hotel and Congress, Trondheim

Industrial Waterfront Development Norway – design by Space Group, architects

28 Feb 2013

Clarion Hotel & Congress Trondheim

Design: Space Group

Location: Trondheim, northern Norway

photo : Peter Hebeisen

THE CHOICE OF THE STARS

The hotel at Brattøra redefines the classical atrium hotel typology to a new and strong identity. The rooms are arranged/organized in four highly rational structures all oriented towards the perfect view. The rotation transforms the atrium from an enclosed central space to a 3-dimensional star shaped lobby space.

photo : Peter Hebeisen

Unlike the classical American and Asian hotel atrium where everything is exposed in a centralized and vertical, magnificent but one-dimensional experience under a glass cover – the lobby is here given a 3-dimensional and dynamic spatial experience with a programmed roof, and a sequence of shifts between glimpse and panorama, intimacy and spectacular exposure.

photo : Peter Hebeisen

The hotel bears references to the local city fabric of Trondheim in the combination between the large structural lines and the small intimate ‘ally’.

The hotel becomes a landmark without front or backside – but oriented towards the city and the fjord for optimal views in all directions. A lighthouse by the sea and inviting from the city.

photo : Peter Hebeisen

THE LOBBY AREA AT GROUND LEVEL BELONGS TO THE CITY AND THE PUBLIC SPACE

The hotel room structure is ‘dissolved’ at ground level to increase the public accessibility at ground level. The openness secures good orientation from inside and out – and internally between reception, elevators, lobby bar restaurant, exhibition area and conference. Cross connections, shortcuts and moving of common functions into the adjacent squares are encouraged: outdoor dining at the south-west faced terraces by the Brattøra basin, pause areas in the park, exhibition and entertainment can turn towards an outdoor arena and representative ‘red carpet’ entrance with fountain and stone garden are facing the city.

photos : Peter Hebeisen

SUPERSTAR LOBBY, the exceptional common space of the hotel connects all the public functions from ground level to the upper floors.

photos : Peter Hebeisen

In the 3-dimensional lobby, the fireplace room, conference facilities and sky bar with roof terrace are shaped in a free form to take advantage of unique attractions towards the park, the Brattøra basin and the free view above neighbour buildings. The internal crystalline shape is fragmented, but vertical sacral – gives associations to dramatic ice formations with cliffs, rips and ice floes.

photos : Peter Hebeisen

Clarion Hotel and Congress – Building Information

Title: Clarion Hotel & Congress Trondheim
Location: Trondheim, Norway
Site: Former industrial waterfront
Area: 35.000m2
Program: 400 hotel rooms and conference for 2.000 people, restaurant, sky bar and meeting facilities
Client: Star Property C/O Realinvest
Status: First prize, Competition 2006-2007, completed April 2012
Design: Space Group

Competition team: Gary Bates, Gro Bonesmo, Adam Kurdahl, Wenche Andreassen, Fredrik Krogeide, Naofumi Namba, Tim Prins, Minna Riska, Lotte Sponberg, Gerald Bliem, Grant Cooper and Nathan Smith

photos : Ivan Brodey

Project development team: Gary Bates, Gro Bonesmo, Adam Kurdahl, Anne Wodstrup, Fredrik Krogeide, Gesine Gummi, Claudia Laarman, Thomas Bang Jespersen, Jens Niehues

Engineering: Arup & Partners London
Fire: Reinertsen Engineering
Visualization: MIR AS, Luxigon
Interior: Space Group and Anders Bjørkén
Landscape: Space Group, PLAN arkitekter AS
Model: Space Group
Structural engineer: Competition – Arup & Partners London, Under Construction – Dr. Ing. A. Aas-Jakobsen Trondheim AS

Photos: Peter Hebeisen, Ivan Brodey and Space Group.

image from architect