ÅF Lighting wins the Nordic Lighting Design Award 2016 for Østbanehallen

The prestigious Nordic Lighting Design Award has been awarded to ÅF Lighting for the grand transformation of Oslo’s central railway station – Østbanehallen. The lighting design played a major role in creating a unique atmosphere that blends the historical with the modern, turning the station into an attractive food court and urban space.

“It is a great honor to receive the Nordic Lighting Design Award for this project, and an amazing feeling to be invited onto the stage to receive it, surrounded by the very best Nordic lighting designers and their impressive projects.” says Morten Jensen, Office Manager and Head of Design in Oslo.

Østbanehallen is the oldest part of Norway’s largest railway station, with more than 150.000 people passing through every day. ÅF Lighting planned and designed the lighting of the entire building, including the square in front of it, the façade and the main hall. It features an advanced lighting control system and a pixel wall. When it was first built, Østbanehallen had an open façade, facing east, which allowed the light from the rising sun to fill the great hall. The pixel wall once again makes light and sunrise part of the building, and conveys a message about the beginning of news days and new journeys.

The jury were eloquent in their praise: “The project forms a beautiful, ballroom-like atmosphere from an existing building, while still leaving room for individual restaurant lighting, warmth and individuality. The project has a very holistic approach to understanding the space to be illuminated. Not only in the functionalities but also the building’s historical background and the impact on the people that use it”.

“Receiving the Nordic Lighting Design Award proves that a great lighting design involves specialist skills, innovation and craftsmanship. The spectacular lighting design for Østbanehallen is not a coincidence – it is based on ÅF Lighting’s design philosophy and methodology, integrating the functional, scenographic, spatial and social aspects of light. This is our 14th major lighting design award since we created ÅF Lighting in 2011. Naturally, I am very proud of the team and our achievements” saysAllan Ruberg, head of ÅF Lighting.

Facts:
Client: Rom Eiendom v/Trond Rusten
Location: Oslo, Norway
Status: Completed 2015
Type: Urban spaces & Landscape, Buildings & Landmarks
Lighting design: ÅF Lighting – Morten Jensen, Helga Iselin Wåseth, Wiggo Pedersen Evensen, Gry Frellumstad, Geir Sire, Pizzie Holmsted, Christian Klinge.
Architects: Mellbye Arkitektur Interiør AS
Additional Project Credits: Aase byggeadministrasjon AS, ÅF Reinertsen AS (formerly ÅF Infrastruktur AS), Høyer-Finseth AS, Norconsult AS, Brekke & Strand AS.
Photographer: Tomasz Majewski

Jury members:
Anders Winell (Sweden)
Anne Bay (Denmark)
Katia Valerie Banoun (Norway, and on behalf of Are Roysam)
Tapio Kallasjoki (Finand)
Darío Nunez Salazar (Iceland)

Contact:
Allan Ruberg, Head of ÅF Lighting
Mobile: +45 40 82 96 97
E-mail: allan.ruberg@afconsult.com