Oslo Skatehall

The architectural signature of the building is conceptually rooted in the elements and movement of skateboarding, thus exposing the hall’s function. The structure is dominated by two distinct and contrasting volumes, one light and one dark, which share the same architectonic language. These two structural elements form cantilevers, inclined in opposite directions to the underlying terrain. Raised in the east and west, they create dynamic diagonal lines in the landscape.

  The main skating activity is situated on the lower level, which features a high ceiling giving ample space to custom-built skating elements. These were designed and constructed jointly by Glifberg+Lykke and IOU Ramps. A unique feature of Oslo Skatehall is the raised bowl, constructed in wooden materials. The structural elements of this burgeoning organic form can also be viewed from underneath. On the upper level, a separate viewing gallery spans the entire length of the hall, allowing spectators a clear overview of skating activities below.

There is a raw honesty to the materials selected, which creates variation in the surfaces and structures. Perforated aluminium sheeting in dark and light nuances covers the facades, ornamented with a surface pattern of Morse code symbols. These are a literal transcription of the 1978 law forbidding the use, sale and advertising of skateboards, commemorating the history of skateboarding in Norway.

Oslo Skatehall
Program: sport centre
Architect: Dark Arkitekter AS
Landscape architect: Rambøll
Interior skateboard elements: Glifberg+Lykke and IOU Ramps
Contractor: Varden Entreprenør
Area: 2,300 sqm
Completion: 2017