3XN was put in charge of designing a new arena and masterplan in Norway's historic port city of Bergen. Located in central Bergen's Nygardstangen district, the arena will be a catalyst to revamp the area, which has long been disconnected with the rest of the city and its waterfront.

Nygårdstangen Utvikling — a consortium comprising of Olav Thon, EDG Property, and Rexir — appointed 3XN for the project. The Copenhagen-based firm will work with GXN and Arup on a design that will revive the area while remain considerate of its historic surroundings and UNESCO heritage sites. Opus Bergen will lead a feasibility study of the area. 

3XN hasn't revealed too many project details and only a few renderings, but so far, the urban arena masterplan will include new housing, hotel, cinema, and a police academy, and will connect to surrounding districts via public plazas and vibrant street scapes.

“In developing this new arena, we considered the characteristics of Bergen as it is now and envisioned how it can be in the future. In our design we have tried to solve the urban and infrastructural challenges by creating an arena in human scale using warm materials, taking the local climate in to account. We will change the area from a place for cars to become a place for people,” said Jan Ammundsen, 3XN Senior Partner and Head of Design, in a statement.

Other notable ongoing projects from 3XN include an undulating aquarium in Vienna and the International Olympic Committee Headquarters.