R6 Norwegian Government
The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services and Ministry of Agriculture and Food and some associated service functions moved to new surroundings in central Oslo in 2011. The new offices are located in a new building in Teatergata and an older building in Keysergata. The coordinator for the 'R6' project was Statsbygg, the Norwegian Government's central adviser in building and property matters. The complex project was managed by architects Narud Stokke Wiig.
Layout & furnishings
The main entrance to R6 is in Teatergata. Visitors are led into a large rectangular hall, with glass on four sides. The simple room has freestanding circular concrete columns, bare concrete walls and a bright terrazzo floor. The hall has a very cool ambiance due to the materials used, and the sparse furniture had to match the simplicity while also adding warmth. The CH404 sofa upholstered in brown leather and the accompanying CH413 coffee table in walnut were chosen.
The widow's hall is a large multifunction room located in a century-old building, which has been integrated with the new buildings. The hall's name derives from the fact that widows came here in the early 1900s to receive pension payments
for their deceased husbands. It has been beautifully preserved with a historic heritage listed interior from 1899. The columns and walls are covered with varnished carved wooden panels. The walls above the panels are covered in dark green plaster. The floor is divided into walking areas with patterns of yellow and gray ceramic floor tiles, and lounge areas covered with brown linoleum.
With its timeless design, Wegner's Shell Chair is the element that adds modernity to the room, and its various brown leather and wood hues beautifully complement the other colors in the room. In the adjoining meeting room, the brown leather on the Wing Chair matches the color of the wooden panels.
Architect Narud Stokke Wiig comments on the choice of furniture:
"A government project like R6 has to meet very specific requirements. A public building represents the Norwegian Government and must signal both authority and democracy. This means that the furniture must have an institutional, formal ambiance, while also having a relaxing, friendly look. The furniture also has to add an intimate touch to a room, without making it seem private. The furniture must not clamor for
attention, but should compel interest due to its design, materials and workmanship. The design has to be beautiful, unglamorous, simple and timeless, so users will not tire of looking at the furniture. The timeless quality makes the furniture an investment in the future. It will also have a very long life cycle, making it eco-friendly."
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