Destination Forus | MAD Architects

Destination Forus

Designed by MAD Architects, Destination Forus is intended to be a clear, robust and effective masterplan to become an exclusive commercial district, both in form and function, which radically differentiates itself from the surrounding building fabric. Increased density and urbanity on one side is juxtaposed against the openness of Forus Park on the other. This sustainable commercial development includes good housing areas, efficient infrastructure, abundance of wildlife and agricultural areas, forests and green fields creating a place that is of a strong identity. 

Destination Forus is about pulse and dynamic. It will become an arena for the most thriving and demanding working environment in Norway, attracting organizations with sky high ambitions of becoming global leaders in their fields. Destination Forus creates the framework that enables these ambitions, promotes higher achievements and stimulates that essential little extra.

Forus Park is a place for recreation and health, bare foot lunches enclosed by nature and sustainable solutions. Also, it creates a place to belong, reminding the user of what productive and creative work is all about: to create value and quality with a broad social responsibility. When working or visiting a business in Destination Forus, one is immediately aware of the strong identity of the place. A strong green profile with the environment in full focus. Although creating something new and exciting at Destination Forus, the existing developments and their intrinsic qualities are not set to one side. On the contrary it is incorporating them and improving them.

“We are referring to the efficient and robust commercial solutions. Our  project preserves the existing road network and infrastructure surrounding the site. In order to minimize surface parking spaces, a single storey underground car park is created under the entire site, connecting all the new buildings. This enables a higher density than the existing surrounding development. This increased density, combined with a clear framework for the new development, also enables all the previously scattered green areas to be combined into one single park with immense qualities. By this we achieve a defined park, and at the same time a 300% utilization in the built area, which are far higher than the current norm at Forus“, said MAD.

Respect for the overall building boundaries and orientation of the buildings to the park, is all what required for the project to work as intended. This way, Destination Forus becomes a pure commercial campus, containing offices, corporate housing and apartment hotels. It also becomes a development with a large developed significant element of research, educational institutions and related student housing developments. Moreover, if the area grows the need for additional housing, proportions of the program could sustain a purely residential program.

The overall aim is allowing for change without compromising the main qualities of the project. The feeling of belonging, the unique qualities of the park, the sense of place and the entire region connection Stavanger and Sandnes is undergoing great change. The goal of the project is to create a regional center of focus where Forus becomes the goal, not the place in between. 

Project Information :

Architect : MAD Architects
Location : Forus, Norway
Project Year : 2012
Total area : 500,000 square meters
Team : Kurt Singstad, Gaute Brochmann, Kyrre Sundal, Fergus Sørli, Axel Propfe, Johannes Schlenker-Bø, William Fairminer