Kalkbyen Franzefoss Oslo residential buildings, Bærum municipality Norway, Norwegian housing design
Kalkbyen Franzefoss Oslo Development
9 December 2025
Design: Powerhouse Company
Location: Oslo, Norway
‘Limestone City’ – Powerhouse Company has won the competition for Kalkbyen Franzefoss, residential development west of Oslo
Images by Powerhouse Company
Kalkbyen Franzefoss Oslo Residential Buildings News
Oslo, 9 December 2025 – Powerhouse Company has won the competition for Kalkbyen Franzefoss (Limestone City), a new residential development in Bærum municipality, just west of Oslo, commissioned by Scandinavian Property Group AS. The project is situated on the site of a former limestone quarry operated by Franzefoss, an area characterised by its steep rock faces and terraced landscape. The transformation of this former industrial area into a new neighbourhood connects the site’s geological and industrial heritage with a contemporary vision for sustainable living.
From quarry to neighbourhood
The development is the first phase of a larger area of a total 150.000 m², and comprises approximately 18,500 m² of residential floor area and commercial space, with around 255 apartments, 10 townhouses, and over 200 parking spaces. The plan consists of different housing typologies varying in size and scale, offering a wide array of apartment types. The architecture is inspired by the industrial heritage at the site, and builds on elements to form the identity of the new neighborhood. Furthermore, the design integrates the existing “fjellhyller” – the natural rock terraces – as new public and semi-private outdoor spaces. These elevated plateaus connect the buildings and create communal areas with views towards the surrounding landscape.
‘By embracing the site’s industrial character, we created a design that is both grounded and forward-looking.’
– Henrik Flåte Poulsson, project leader at Powerhouse Company
Franzefoss 1971:
photo : Bærum bibliotek and Widerøes Flyveselskap A_S
A living landscape
The masterplan emphasizes natural light, views, and access to green areas, combining a range of building types to achieve a varied and inclusive residential environment. Outdoor spaces, shared gardens, playgrounds, and pedestrian routes are carefully designed to foster social interaction and community living, while preserving the site’s distinctive topography and geological character.
The work on the detailed zoning plan is set to start in 2026.
‘Transforming a former quarry into a place for living allowed us to turn the site’s rugged landscape into its defining identity – where the traces of history shape a new sense of community.’
– Johanne Borthne, Partner Architect at Powerhouse Company
Kalkbyen Franzefoss West Oslo Development – Building Information
Project name: Kalkbyen Franzefoss
Architect: Powerhouse Company
Client: Scandinavian Property Group AS
Time span: 2025 – present
Size: ca 18,500 m²
Location: Bærum municipality, Norway
Type: Living, Public Spaces
Design team: Johanne Borthne, Henrik Flåte Poulsson, Moritz Bachmann, Lars Aabel, Anne-Ragnhild Larsen
Powerhouse Company
Powerhouse Company is an international architecture firm with studios in Rotterdam, Munich, Oslo, and Nairobi. Since its founding in 2005, it has grown into a multidisciplinary team of over one hundred designers and specialists. Its portfolio ranges from adaptive reuse and residential developments to interiors, private villas, and public buildings. Powerhouse Company delivers integrated design solutions that combine timeless beauty with technical precision and an ongoing focus on innovation.
Kalkbyen Franzefoss Oslo residential development, Norway images / information received 091225 from Powerhouse Company
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