Europa City by Snøhetta

The scheme by Norwegian practice Snøhetta stands out for the strength of its lines. Like a section of land peeled away from the ground, it rises out of the farmland to offer a facility for everyone.

These rising lines of concrete, running alongside the harshness of the motorways, draw on the project's iconography and inscribe it on the façade in front of the metro. The triangle is then hollowed out by light wells, themed according to the requirements of the brief.

The Norwegian architects have chosen to fuse agriculture and culture in order to promote urban farming: "Agri-Culture". It was a bold gamble to propose growing cereals on the roof of this shopping centre, given the possible nuisances this could cause.

Snøhetta comments: "This concept brings together every form of urban farming, such as private plots, pick-your-own and biofuel production. These activities are fully integrated into the themes of Europa City. Local and regional produce, restaurants, shows, and cultural and leisure activities make up the rich and unrivalled iconography of this new programme".

The architects wanted to create spaces, programmed or not, open to the public around the clock.

The blanket of farmland soil would have improved the building's thermal resistance.

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