Danish architectural firm ALL has designed a contemporary city hall for Bodø, a Norwegian city located north of the Arctic Circle. Covering an area of 12,000 square meters, the project renovates and connects a new building with two existing structures. This new city hall seamlessly integrates three buildings into a flexible layout that revolves around a stunning wooden atrium.
▲ Analysis diagram
▲ Analysis diagram
The new city hall resembles a crystalline stone, with its exterior walls slanting towards the lower surrounding buildings. The angle of these walls is carefully determined by the inclination of the existing roofs. This distinctive polyhedral form adapts to the rapidly changing light conditions typical of locations above the Arctic Circle. Situated on a peninsula, Bodø is surrounded by mountains and the rugged Norwegian Sea. The city center’s old city hall has been transformed into a modern landmark, while the new office space accommodates up to 400 employees across 12,000 square meters.
The new building’s connection and renovation follow the flow of the original structures, creating a dynamic circular circulation around a soaring and dramatic atrium. This atrium functions as a civic forum—a public square lined with meeting rooms and public service areas. Workspaces extend up to the fifth floor and open into the atrium, while restaurants on the sixth and top floors provide breathtaking views of the surrounding ocean and mountains. The site includes the old city hall with its brown plaster facade and the historic national bank, clad in richly patterned natural stone.
▲ Analysis diagram
Both the original facades have been preserved. The new building’s exterior facade slopes to complement the rooflines of the existing structures, uniting old and new in a harmonious composition. The brown Jurassic stone cladding on the new walls enhances this connection. Its color matches that of the old city hall, while the stone pattern resembles the National Bank facade.
The polyhedral facade features a modular design, arranged along horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines, creating a cohesive volume both in overall form and detail. The varying angles of the stone panels capture light differently throughout the day, casting dynamic shadows and producing a constantly shifting play of light and shadow.
Inside, light grey wood flooring extends across walls and ceilings, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere reminiscent of Nordic homes. This natural wood finish pairs with a modern office layout designed around new ways of working, effectively integrating a home-like workspace into the office environment.
The courtyard surrounding the workspace evokes the intricate spatial qualities found in Piranesi’s drawings, featuring staggered balconies, a recessed atrium, varying floor levels, and an impressive art installation by Per Kristian Nygård titled ‘Dikt til Byråkratiet,’ spanning the entire height of the courtyard wall.
The surrounding landscape is crafted with beautifully designed public spaces and seating areas, all paved with natural stone, enhancing the civic character of the city hall.
Project Drawings
▲ First floor plan
▲ Second floor plan
▲ Fourth floor plan
▲ Sixth floor plan
▲ South elevation
▲ North elevation
▲ Sectional view
▲ Sectional view
Project Information
Project type: City Hall
Location: Norway
Architectural firm: Atelier Lorentzen Langkilde
Area: 12,000 square meters
Year: 2019
Photography: Adam Mørk
Manufacturers: Lindner, Autodesk, Franken-Schotter, Trimble, DEKO
Client: Municipality of Bodø, Norway
Engineers: Buro Happold, Hjellnes Consult, ÅF Engineering AS
Landscape Design: Atelier Lorentzen Langkilde
Construction: Gunvald Johansen AS
Technical Construction: Caverion AS
Acoustic Design: Brekke & Strand Arkustikk AS
Art: Per Kristian Nygård, Rune Johansen
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