Thon breathes new life into iconic Stortorvet 2 in Oslo

New centrally located office spaces in the Oslo city centre: "Extensive renovation" 

"We've gone ahead and emptied large sections of the building of tenants in order to facilitate extensive redevelopment that includes both renovation work and remodelling," says Kristine Elisabeth Ervik, assistant property manager at Thon Eiendom.

Koppgården – one of the most beautiful buildings in the area – is located at Stortorvet 2. As the closest neighbour to Oslo Cathedral, the building adds a touch of elegance to Karl Johans gate. 

The current building was built for the German wine merchant Herman Kopp in 1880. Kopp's descendants owed the building until 1988, when it was sold to Thon Eiendom.

Stortorvet 2 is now being given a complete face lift – both inside and outside. 

Adapted to modern office needs, while preserving historic distinctiveness  

"Our guiding principle has been to preserve the historic elements of the building, while adapting it to today's needs," explains Ervik.

The exterior of the building is being totally renovated with a new exterior finish, new windows, new doors and a new roof. The emphasis has been on a colour scheme that is historically correct, made possible in part by colour research on both the inside and outside of the property. 

"As part of the renovation of the outside, we used historic pictures and drawings to see how the outside used to look," says Ervik.

"We also found inspiration in Christian Krohg's painting Struggle for Survival, in which a glimpse of Koppgården can be seen in the background. Together with the Cultural Heritage Management Office's recommendations, these sources are being used as the foundation for the exterior renovation work." 

"What's important for a well-functioning office?"

To achieve the right balance between preserving the history of Koppgården and making the building functional in line with today's demands, Thon has joined forces with the Tuvalu architectural firm, which has made all the decisions during the renovation work in consultation with the Cultural Heritage Management Office.  

"In developing the design, both the building itself and functions within it carried equal weight," says Mari Smørgrav, a professional consultant, managing director, partner and architect at Tuvalu. 

"What's important for a well-functioning office? Can we facilitate this by modernising the building? We often come up with win-win solutions. Other times, either the building or function wins."

Reviving details and adornments from original drawings

As an example of a win-win decision, Smørgrav mentions the original wall openings, which are being opened up again to create more light in the rooms – an obvious asset in an office space.

The building has a Neo-Renaissance design created by German-born Norwegian architect Wilhelm von Hanno. These drawings have provided the basis for the restoration work. Original details like decorative columns are being restored in their entirety and refurbished in the new design, says Mari Smørgrav. 

"The stairwells will feature the same colours as the reddish granite plinths outside and make a subtle reference to the cathedral and its classic shades of red. The floor will have a chequered pattern, which is typical of Neo-Renaissance design, but with a new interpretations in the base and steps."

Modern and eco-friendly  

To ensure that Koppgården functions optimally and fulfills today's requirements and demands, Thon Eiendom has focused strongly on offering tenants a good and energy-efficient indoor environment, explains Kristine Elisabeth Ervik. 

"In this renovation project, much thought and effort has been put into enabling modern solutions in combination with the decorative and classic design of the building. We have focused on energy efficiency by including a state-of-the-art ventilation system, retrofit insulation of the outer wall and windows with a high energy rating. These are important for both the building's energy consumption and the environment," she adds. 

Preservation with pride

Jøran Nenseth is property manager at Thon Eiendom. He points out that managing an exquisite building like Stortorvet 2 comes with a unique responsibility.  

"It's motivating for us to see what we can accomplish with a project like this one, and it's even more rewarding when the Cultural Heritage Management Office feels that we're doing an important and meaningful job. Several of the changes are not necessarily commercially valuable, but still important in order to preserve the history of the building," he explains.

After many years of Stortorvet failing to make the most of its potential, Nenseth is pleased that Thon Eiendom can contribute to restoring it to its former glory and keeping history alive, while also giving the block and neighbourhood a boost.

"From the very start, Olav Thon made clear that we are to preserve buildings with pride. This includes telling the history of the property – after all, most Norwegians have never heard of the Kopp family." 

"A source of joy for future tenants"

Kristine Elisabeth Ervik agrees. 

"This magnificent building was originally constructed with very high-quality materials and unique customisation, so it's been important for us to include these in the renovation. We want the renovated building to be a source of joy for both future tenants and passers-by for many years to come."