A vision for a green, socially and economically sustainable industrial building at Rødtvedt in Oslo

Kakkelovnskroken 3 is an innovative industrial building with wooden construction planned for the light production and processing of food, with a focus on organic and healthy products. In addition it provides common workplaces for ecological and food-related environments adapted for competence development and courses.

The building is designed to meet both social and environmental objectives with a construction method that contributes to smaller greenhouse gas emissions; short-lived workplaces; local food production on the roof; bicycle hotel and workshop; bakery and local area with possible use for the neighborhood; and a public square with extensive planting and local stormwater management.

Our vision is that Kakkelovnskroken 3 will be an active and outward-looking building. The windows will light up to show the baking of bread or mixing of packed salads to be ready in the morning. The building will be filled with forward-looking tenants who we hope together will develop meeting places and food-inspired innovative environments, which will also be open to the local public.

Oslo should not just be housing – with this in mind,  Kakkelovnskrokken is meant to be a large, complex city of functionally mixed neighborhoods where housing, commerce and production have a place, and the locals see as something to emphasize and be proud of. It should no longer be only homes in the valley sides and industry within the valley floor. Rather, we will create a new, green neighborhood production for a diverse workplace that also has room for social entrepreneurs.

We wish to leave a footprint that contributes positively; a pioneer project we hope many will copy and improve in the years to come.

Urban industry can also help prevent «monoculture» in the city. The urban development of recent decades, with emphasis on housing, leisure, commerce and office, creates a city for highly educated residents. Housing for all walks of life and jobs for all occupational groups is therefore crucial. A multifunctional city is a socially integrated city, with room for everyone.

Project group

Initiative: ByKon
Owner: Økologibygget AS
Contractor: HENT AS
Project management: iTre
Design group management: Oslotre AS
Architecture T1: Fragment & Oslotre AS
Architecture T2: Helen & Hard
Building category:
Factory + office
Project size:
10 000m2 + roof garden
Environmental performance:
ca. 2000 tonnes of CO2 equivalents stored in the building structure. Non-toxic Lye and Soap treated timber.
Material use:
CLT and GL construction walls and TCC floorslabs. Scorched shou-sugi-ban pine in facade. Vegetable garden on roof
Delivery from Oslotre:
Architectural design, together with Fragment and Bykon