Snøhetta Transforms Oslo Coffee Showroom into élan Bar in Kvadraturen
In Oslo's Kvadraturen district, the architecture firm Snøhetta has reimagined a former coffee showroom into élan, a public coffee bar. This establishment is situated within the Sjøfartsbygningen, which was once the home of Magnat Kaffehus. The design by Snøhetta combines elements of Nordic Neo-Baroque with modern touches. The exterior showcases a façade of curved brick and oxidised copper, while the interior boasts a turquoise ceiling-mounted speaker installation and semi-circular timber seating. An oak counter, symbolizing coffee grounds, is central to the space, accompanied by a large menu board and Snøhetta's Array modular sofa. Additionally, a unique soundscape titled The Sound of élan was created by Jonas von der Fehr. élan can be found at Kirkegata 7, Oslo.
Key facts
- élan coffee bar is located in the Sjøfartsbygningen building in Oslo's Kvadraturen district
- The space spent the past decade as the showroom for Magnat Kaffehus, a commercial-grade coffee supplier
- Snøhetta designed the interior, blending Nordic Neo-Baroque architecture with contemporary forms
- The exterior features curved brick, oxidised copper detailing and fluted stone columns
- A turquoise torus-shaped ceiling-mounted speaker installation anchors the interior
- Corkinho supplied the heat-treated cork paired with the central circular oak counter
- Snøhetta's Array modular sofa, designed for MDF Italia, is used in the interior
- Jonas von der Fehr created the commissioned soundscape The Sound of élan
- Specialist contractor Henriksen Snekkeri executed the fixtures and fittings
- élan is located at Kirkegata 7, Oslo
Entities
Artists
- Peter Girgis
- Marlene Fenger Vedal
- Jonas von der Fehr
- Jonathan Bell
- Pernille Sandberg
Institutions
- Snøhetta
- élan
- Magnat Kaffehus
- Corkinho
- MDF Italia
- Henriksen Snekkeri
- Wallpaper*
- Beijing City Library
Locations
- Oslo
- Norway
- Kvadraturen
- Sjøfartsbygningen
- Beijing
- China
- Kirkegata 7