Lillestrøm Bicycle Hotel
Norway has set ambitious targets for environmental and sustainable future. An increasing number of railway stations will now have a bicycle hotel, to promote the use of bicycles. On Monday 10 October 2016 the Lillestrøm Bicycle Hotel opened in Lillestrøm. The city that has been frequently voted Norway´s best cycling city.
Commissioned by ROM Eiendom AS and The Norwegian National Railways, the design of the building focuses on making a positive contribution to the surroundings. The project gives back to the city the area it takes away by providing a public green rooftop, which directly connects to the main square of the Train Station.
Design Concept
A free form wooden roof resting on a glass box.
The glass box consists of transparent glass walls and a playful concrete base that protects the building against the surrounding heavy traffic. The transparent glass walls allow natural light to filter through during the day and transform the building into a glowing box at night, providing a special visual experience. The mood of the building keeps changing from day to night.
The dynamic wooden roof that lays on top of the glass box, slopes diagonally down to the west towards the train station plaza. This gesture provides an inviting public access to the top. The roof is conformed by furnishing, vegetation, stairs and slopes. This creates a unique experience with a panoramic view towards Lillestrøm. The glass walls continue over the roof, turning into the balustrade around the public area. The roof also penetrates through the walls to frame the entrance and to provide a shelter against rain.
Together the glass box and the roof create an intimate yet open and accessible public space. The interior space focuses on the function of the building with light and natural surfaces. The double story bicycle rack becomes the main element in the space. The room height varies from 2.70 m to 6.00 m following to the curvature of the roof.
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