Henning Larsen has won a competition to design a state-of-the-art concert hall in western Norway. 

The new project, located in Bergen, will expand the city’s creative and natural landscape. The new performing arts and exhibition centre will invite for seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor, and the vibrant green plaza becomes an intimate communal space. 

The area, known as Grieg Quarter, will blend city, culture, and nature to become historic Bergen’s inviting new destination.

Henning Larsen's proposal, Kontrapunkt, was selected from among 32 participants, with five shortlisted finalists. Among the competing teams were Kengo Kuma & Associates and Mad Architects, Nordic Office of Architecture, Snøhetta, and Zaha Hadid Architects. 

The 24,000-square-metre music and conference hall will feature a theater and orchestra pit, an exhibition venue, a café, multipurpose rehearsal spaces, and a revitalization of the surrounding outdoor square. 

An addition to the existing Grieghallen, initially crafted by the Danish architect Knud Munk, The Grieg Quarter will establish a cultural venue, elevating the city's artistic character while preserving the rich identity of the present building. 

This represents a collaborative effort to enrich the city's cultural infrastructure, with urban centers investing in initiatives to enhance their appeal and catalyze urban progress.

"With the winning project Kontrapunkt, Grieg Quarter will emerge with an architectural design and functionality that will revitalize Bergen. This innovative design will not only rejuvenate the expansive area adjacent to Grieghallen, but also cultivate a dynamic urban hub," said Jury Chair, Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen.

"Its visually captivating and inclusive layout, coupled with the Music Theater's exceptional acoustics, will undoubtedly enhance the city's cultural landscape," Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen added.

The new concert hall will encourage unrestricted movement, exploration, and seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces. The hall will be built to accommodate 1,015 spectators alongside an additional 140 seats extending over the orchestra pit. 

Under the northern expanse of Edward Grieg’s Square, new exhibition areas spanning 3,570-square-metre will offer a dynamic canvas for cultural exploration and engagement. 

Integrated into the urban fabric, the foyer will offer dual access points— through the current entrance at Grieghallen’s first floor and a new entryway from Edward Grieg’s Square — forging connections with the city. Along Strømgaten, a sunlit café, complemented by a sheltered outdoor space, will offer an inviting ambiance. 

Adjacent to the common areas, will be a versatile rehearsal room, designed not only for rehearsals but also for multifaceted utilization, transforming into a venue for performances, conferences, and events. 

Featuring dimensions mirroring those of the main stage, 16x16 meters, and furnished with a telescopic amphitheater, the room will accommodate 140 seats.

Connected landscape

With its close connection to the mountains and water, Grieg Quarter’s outdoor square will feature local fauna and a water management strategy to support the local ecosystems and everyday visitors.

"In the design, we have focused on creating a vibrant new urban space in Bergen with many different uses that combines a present day-to-day life with outdoor serving and a cultural meeting place," said Eva Bergsodden, Division Manager Landscape and landscape architect, Norway, Henning Larsen.

The square is conceived as an undulating landscape creating a contrast to the existing Grieghallen's sharp, straight lines. The existing pavement is pulled all the way to the facade to create an inviting carpet that brings together culture and city life.

"We are so proud to have won this prestigious design competition. Grieg Quarter will anchor Bergen's position as a modern and ambitious city of culture," Kasper Kyndesen, Partner and Design Director, Norway, Henning Larsen. 

"By creating the framework for a setting where the city is invited into the space to enjoy the familiar and the new, the arts center will unlock huge cultural potential for Bergen and Grieg Quarter," Kyndesen added. 

Henning Larsen recently completed World Of Volvo with "forest-like canopy" in Gothenburg. The firm unveiled design for a circular timber office building prioritizing "biogenic materials and low-carbon design" in Prévessin-Moëns, France. 

The project is expected to complete in 2030.

Project facts

Project: Music and conference hall

Location: Bergen, Norway 

Expected completion date: 2030/31

Building size: 24,000 m²

Client: Musikkselskapet Harmonien 

Architect: Henning Larsen (services: architecture, landscape, urbanism, lighting, sustainability, wind and noise) 

Landscape Architect: Henning Larsen 

Architect of Record: Charcoal Blue (stage technology), AIX (stage technology), Thornström Brookfield Arkitekter (local architecture)

Engineer: Rambøll (services: structural engineer, MEP engineer, lighting, acoustics, traffic/transportation, wind and noise)

Indigenous Consultant: Schjelderup & Gram (kulturminne)

All renderings © KVANT-1. 

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arts center concept Henning Larsen