When Vestre first contacted BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) in 2019, the company wanted to build a furniture factory that could also be used by the general public – even those who have no general interest in manufacturing or furniture-making. Vestre wanted to inspire more people to become a part of the Green Transition. And they wanted to show that there is no inherent conflict between manufacturing industry and sustainability and climate concerns.
The Danish architects of BIG were chosen because their innovative designs are recognised internationally for never compromising on functionality. The Twist at Kistefos is another BIG project.
Photo: Einar Aslaksen
Can a factory become a tourist attraction?
Apart from building the world’s most sustainable factory, Vestre wanted the spectacular architecture, the visitor centre and the 74-acre recreational grounds to contribute to developing Magnor as a tourist destination.
From a bird’s eye view, the factory is shaped like a plus sign. Each of the four wings houses one specific part of the production process: ‘Warehouse, Colour Factory, Wood Factory & Assembly’. In fact, it was this functional division that inspired the design.
A lone tree is growing at the centre of the building, in an open courtyard. From here, visitors have a 360-degree view of all parts of the production process. Looking through the large windows and out from the green roof, visitors will see the surrounding pine forest as a part of the experience.
Local contractors, suppliers and consultants from Innlandet county were responsible for the construction phase, and the project was carried out in close collaboration with enthusiastic local residents and authorities. In this way, Vestre’s new factory at Magnor has created jobs and impacted on businesses throughout the region.
Photo: Einar Aslaksen
The result is a spectacular factory that meets the highest sustainability standards for industrial buildings, BREEAM NOR Outstanding. The Plus is Norway’s single largest investment in its furniture industry for decades, and it is a shop window for a sustainable and highly efficient onshore manufacturing industry.
Manufacturing industry as a part of the solution
Since the opening of The Plus in the spring of 2022, Vestre has increased its manufacturing capacity and exports of Norwegian urban furniture. The assembly works have been moved across the border from Sweden to Norway, and the factory at Torsby is now focusing entirely on metalwork.
Both in the local community and among staff there is considerable pride in the factory, which attracts much attention due to its non-traditional design. First and foremost, many are happy that it is possible for manufacturing in a high-cost country to be competitive in a global market.
Photo: Einar Aslaksen
This reflects one of the main objectives behind the project: to demonstrate that manufacturing can be a part of the solution – and that it is possible to create jobs and economic growth while also looking after the environment and the climate.
Self-sufficient in solar energy
In practice, thanks to its solar cells and locally generated hydro power, the factory is self-sufficient in heating in the part of the year when average temperatures are above 5 degrees.
On the roof, the mix of soils is based on the local forest floor, and close to 20,000 plugs were planted. In this way, natural local vegetation will gradually come to dominate the factory roof. A large proportion of the plants that have been bedded in helps to increase the biodiversity of the pine forest.
The future will tell if Vestre will also succeed in their ambition to become an arena for industrialists and climate activists to find a common purpose.
Brief facts about the project
The Plus: Urban furniture manufacturer Vestre’s new factory in Magnor
By: Vestre, The Plus, BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group and more.
Design disciplines: Architecture, Interior design, Landscape architecture
Recipient of the DOGA Award
This project has received the DOGA Award for Design and Architecture for its outstanding qualities, and for showing how strategic use of design and architecture creates important social, environmental, and economic value.
These are four reasons why this is an exemplary project:
- A factory with the smallest possible carbon footprint
The aim was to create a building that would have the smallest possible carbon footprint. Vestre commissioned a dedicated ecologist during the building process and has pledged to look after the natural world. - Local energy production
The plant produces approx. 670 MWt of solar energy. This makes The Plus one of the largest solar cell systems in Norway. Additionally, the factory also produces energy from mini turbines in the Vrangselva river. Together, these schemes provide an energy self-sufficiency rate of nearly 70 per cent. - Contributes to the local community
The roof of The Plus is open to the public all year, and the area around the factory is being further developed into a pleasant and attractive recreational space for the local community and visitors. - The world’s most sustainable furniture factory
The Plus is in a good position to become the first project of its kind in the world to achieve the BREEAM Outstanding building certification, which is the highest sustainability rating available. Vestre’s message is that even the manufacturing industry should be able to demonstrate exemplary world-class sustainability.
