Since 2022, Vestre's furniture factory has had a new home: the wooden building The Plus in Norway, built by the Bjarke Ingels Group. Now, the production building has been featured in a book published by Hatje Cantz.
Photo: Ainar Aslaksen
In the midst of lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic, an extraordinary production building was constructed in Norway. Furniture manufacturer Vestre had the wooden structure built in the forest, about 100 kilometres east of Oslo. Originally, an industrial estate was planned there, which would have meant the destruction of the 30-hectare pine forest. Today, a forest park is being created around the new factory
BIG Plus
The name of the building is derived from its floor plan, with Bjarke Ingels Group grouping the four equally sized main production halls in a cross shape around a circular courtyard. Large windows allow daylight to flood in and provide views both inside and out. Passers-by are invited to watch the manufacturing process and climb the external stairs to the green roof terrace. The logistics office and furniture showroom are located in the centre of the Plus.
Photo: Ainar Aslaksen
Regional Ressourcen
The Plus is an extraordinary building: made from regional wood and the first industrial building in Norway to be awarded the BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ seal of approval. The basic structure of the 45 x 24 metre, column-free halls, which can be used flexibly, is formed by a skeleton of glued laminated timber. The beams are freely spanned over 21 metres. All surfaces are made exclusively of wood: windows, doors, walls and ceilings as well as floors and stairs.
Photo: Ainar Aslaksen
The Factory in the book
The Plus now has its own book. Although a monograph on a single building is unusual, in this case there is no chance of boredom setting in. If only because of the impressive photos by Einar Aslaksen. In addition to the extensive documentation in the new monograph, the newly published volume ‘Architecture and Climate Change. 20 Interviews on the Future of Building’ (Edition Detail, 2025) also features an interview with the German project manager of the Bjarke Ingels Group, Victoria Millentrup.
Sandra Hofmeister
„Making the Plus“, Marianne Preus Jacobsen, Annahita, Florian Böhmn (eds.), photos by Einar Aslaksen, 170 photos, 208 pages, Softcover, 211 x 289 mm, Hatje Cantz, Berlin 2024, ISBN 978-3-7757-5423-1
Photo: Ainar Aslaksen
