The Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has unveiled designs for The Plus, a new furniture factory for Vestre, a Norwegian manufacturer of urban furniture. Located in the heart of the Norwegian forest, the 6,500-square-meter open production facility will double as a public 300-acre park for hiking and camping. It will also act as a landmark representing the region's mission to establish a green manufacturing industry.

All of the materials for the project were chosen based on their environmental impact. The facade will be constructed from local timber, low-carbon concrete, and recycled reinforced steel. Renewable and clean energy were key to the design principles employed in the development of the final product. The design team claims the facility will have 50% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than comparable factories.

"With Vestre we have imagined a factory that is simultaneously front of house and back of house. The beauty of the factory is the clarity of its organization," said Bjarke Ingels in a statement. "Conceived as the intersection of a road and a production line it forms a large plus connecting everything to everything. The radical transparency invites visitors and hikers to enjoy the whole process of manufacturing while providing the workers the thrill of working in the middle of the forest." 

The building is a radial array of four main production halls, each reaching out from the factory's center — there is the warehouse, the color factory, the wood factory, and the assembly hall, all connecting in the center. At the center of The Plus sits the logistics office and exhibition center.

From all four sides of the building, visitors and staff are invited to hike around the facility and stride across its green roof terraces. The result is a space for sustainable production, public recreation, and architectural expression. Construction is due to begin this fall.