Solheimslien lights up Bergen
Façades with many requirements
It was the architects at Arkitektgruppen Cubus AS, who were assigned the task to upgrade the visual expression of Solheimslien.
“The housing cooperative is situated at the foot of a mountain, and there is quite a bit of shade in addition to heavy rainfall. That wears on a building. Therefore, it was important that the buildings and façade panels should be as durable and maintenance-free as possible, especially with regard to plant growth and moisture, says architect Lena B. Keilegavlen at Cubus.
Chose Steni Colour
By using Steni Colour façade panels, the architects could choose among 60 standard colours in three gloss levels. The solution was to create a natural expression inspired by the seasons, which easily fits into the surroundings.
“Most of the façades are dark grey, highlighted with an interplay of various red, yellow, orange and green tones. The buildings are located at the foot of the mountains bordering the city and the colours were chosen to make the façades contrast with the foliage of the different seasons. The design has been well received by the residents, and we are very pleased ourselves. In addition, it was important that the price was competitive as the board wanted keep the rise in rent as low as possible,” says the architect.
Gloss gives light
Since the buildings are in the shade of the mountains, the architects have also made use of the various gloss levels that the façade panels come in.
“Because there is so little sun here, we chose to use glossy façade panels at the very top of the buildings, while we used matte at the bottom. That gave us a natural glow that lights up the buildings and the surrounding area,” says Lena B. Keilegavlen.