Space Group is nominated for ‘best hotels and resorts’ in Architizer A+ awards for their hotel Clarion Hotel and Congress Trondheim – opened April 2012.

courtesy Space Group | photo by Peter Hebeisen

+ Architect's statement by Space Group

THE CHOICE OF THE STARS

Space Group is an internationally architecture office with offices in Oslo and Sao Paulo. Our favourite assignments are complex and challenging projects, where we can use our analytic skills and broad collective intelligence to solve 'the impossible'. We don't just design buildings, we design culture. Our mission is always to empower our clients and enhance businesses through intelligent projects.

courtesy Space Group | photo by Peter Hebeisen

The hotel at Brattøra redefines the classical atrium hotel typology to a new and strong identity. The rooms are arranged/organized in four highly rational structures all oriented towards the perfect view. The rotation transforms the atrium from an enclosed central space to a 3-dimensional star shaped lobby space.

Unlike the classical American and Asian hotel atrium where everything is exposed in a centralized and vertical, magnificent but one-dimensional experience under a glass cover – the lobby is here given a 3-dimensional and dynamic spatial experience with a programmed roof, and a sequence of shifts between glimpse and panorama, intimacy and spectacular exposure.

courtesy Space Group | photo by Peter Hebeisen

The hotel bears references to the local city fabric of Trondheim in the combination between the large structural lines and the small intimate 'ally'.

The hotel becomes a landmark without front or backside – but oriented towards the city and the fjord for optimal views in all directions. A lighthouse by the sea and inviting from the city.

courtesy Space Group | photo by Peter Hebeisen

THE LOBBY AREA AT GROUND LEVEL BELONGS TO THE CITY AND THE PUBLIC SPACE

The hotel room structure is 'dissolved' at ground level to increase the public accessibility at ground level. The openness secures good orientation from inside and out – and internally between reception, elevators, lobby bar restaurant, exhibition area and conference. Cross connections, shortcuts and moving of common functions into the adjacent squares are encouraged: outdoor dining at the south-west faced terraces by the Brattøra basin, pause areas in the park, exhibition and entertainment can turn towards an outdoor arena and representative 'red carpet' entrance with fountain and stone garden are facing the city.

courtesy Space Group | photo by Peter Hebeisen

SUPERSTAR LOBBY, the exceptional common space of the hotel connects all the public functions from ground level to the upper floors.

In the 3-dimensional lobby, the fireplace room, conference facilities and sky bar with roof terrace are shaped in a free form to take advantage of unique attractions towards the park, the Brattøra basin and the free view above neighbour buildings. The internal crystalline shape is fragmented, but vertical sacral – gives associations to dramatic ice formations with cliffs, rips and ice floes.

courtesy Space Group

+ Project facts

Title: Clarion Hotel & Congress Trondheim
Location: Trondheim, Norway
Site: Former industrial waterfront
Area: 35.000m2
Program: 400 hotel rooms and conference for 2.000 people, restaurant, sky bar and meeting facilities
Client: Star Property C/O Realinvest
Status: First prize, Competition 2006-2007, completed April 2012
Design: Space Group
Competition team: Gary Bates, Gro Bonesmo, Adam Kurdahl, Wenche Andreassen, Fredrik Krogeide, Naofumi Namba, Tim Prins, Minna Riska, Lotte Sponberg, Gerald Bliem, Grant Cooper and Nathan Smith
Project development team: Gary Bates, Gro Bonesmo, Adam Kurdahl, Anne Wodstrup, Fredrik Krogeide, Gesine Gummi, Claudia Laarman, Thomas Bang Jespersen, Jens Niehues
Engineering: Arup & Partners London
Fire: Reinertsen Engineering
Visualization: MIR AS, Luxigon
Landscape: Space Group, PLAN arkitekter AS
Model: Space Group
Structural engineer: Competition – Arup & Partners London, Under Construction – Dr. Ing. A. Aas-Jakobsen Trondheim AS
Photo credits: Peter Hebeisen, Ivan Brodey and Space Group (https://www.spacegroup.no)

+ All images & drawings courtesy Space Group | photo by Peter Hebeisen

The Seed is a new pendant lamp with an organic form that diffuses a warm light. The concept design also offers a two sided version that connects floor & ceiling with a light element inbetween. It's main purpose is to create a remarkable nice atmosphere for modern rooms. Perfect for a modern kitchen, living room, or bar/lounge/hotel/office/restaurant.

+ Designer: Joeri Claeys

courtesy Joeri Claeys

courtesy Joeri Claeys

courtesy Joeri Claeys

The award-winning architectural firm CetraRuddy designed the new 52,000 sq. ft. Lincoln Square Synagogue on Amsterdam Avenue and 69th Street, one block south of its present location. The synagogue recently held its first religious service in the new sanctuary and is officially open in February.

courtesy CetraRuddy | photo by Theresa Genovese

The new ground-up structure consists of three above-grade and two below-grade spaces along with extensive outdoor activity areas for educational and holiday uses. The synagogue contains a sanctuary space on the first floor, with pews that seat 442 congregants in the round, and a 160 person Beit Midrash, the House of Study, which serves as the primary place for learning within the synagogue. Additionally, the building contains secondary educational spaces, administrative offices and a 6,500 square foot banquet space to seat approximately 400 people.

courtesy CetraRuddy | photo by Theresa Genovese

Charged with blending synagogue architecture and traditional spirituality with the doctrines of Modern Orthodoxy, CetraRuddy began the project with a deep understanding of its congregation's mission.

The Hebraic consciousness of prayer, reflection, study and education formed the architectural and spatial concepts and the organization within the building. The idea was to create a 'journey'-a procession from the most public spaces to the more private spaces and the continuity from exterior to interior was a major influence in the design.

John Cetra, founding partner of CetraRuddy and design principal of the project.

courtesy CetraRuddy | photo by Theresa Genovese

Lincoln Square is a unique place within the Modern Orthodox movement. We have an extremely diverse group of congregants and offer an intimate and inclusive spiritual experience. Because our synagogue is at the center of our congregants' lives, we needed to create a technologically modern building that works within Jewish law and that develops an immediate spiritual bond and sense of community for all who enter.

Synagogue's Rabbi, Shaul Robinson.

It was our goal to design a structure that enhanced the cohesiveness of the congregation and connected congregants to each other. Moreover, the building had to serve all the countless daily activities-everything from prayer, children and adult classes, to numerous joyous events.

Theresa Genovese, associate principal at CetraRuddy and principal in charge of design and construction of the synagogue.

courtesy CetraRuddy | photo by Theresa Genovese

In response to both the spiritual and educational requirements, the CetraRuddy design team was inspired by Jewish symbolic references and inspirational imagery and spent significant time with the congregants to understand their needs.

These influences shaped our thought process on how to create a building which is both spiritual and public. With the completion of the project, congregants will experience the building each day and know they are in a unique place crafted for them alone and one that reflects the continuum of their heritage.

Cetra

courtesy CetraRuddy | photo by Theresa Genovese

The design of the façade and sanctuary were inspired by the form and curvilinear nature of the Torah, in addition to the pattern and movement of the prayer shawls and the elegant dance-like movement of the congregants as they pray. The selection of materials spoke to the history of Judaism-traditional biblical references such as Cedar of Lebanon wood were used along with rusticated granite, fabric-impregnated glass and burnished bronze.

courtesy CetraRuddy | photo by Theresa Genovese

The magnificent façade is composed of five ribbons of glass that represent the five books of the Torah. The façade's custom glass walls are interlayered with a glistening bronze tone fabric that begins on the exterior and wraps into the public spaces on the first floor. The sanctuary takes a circular form so that men and women can continue to sit separately yet face the ark and the Torah without visual interference. The sanctuary's ceiling is lit by 613 lights which correspond to the number of commandments in the Torah.

Guided by the symbolic references to the Torah and the nomadic tabernacle-tent structure, our mission was to convey the heart and spirituality of the congregation, and the warmth that radiates out to the surrounding community.

Cetra

courtesy CetraRuddy | photo by Theresa Genovese

+ About Lincoln Square Synagogue

From its beginnings in 1964 in an apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Lincoln Square Synagogue has grown into an institution that has become a model for Modern Orthodox Judaism. The Synagogue moved to its current location at 200 Amsterdam Avenue in 1970 and has developed into a diverse and vibrant Modern Orthodox Congregation that provides religious, social, educational services and outreach to the unique Jewish community of the Upper West Side of New York. The synagogue strives to be a model in the integration of Orthodox Judaism and contemporary life to the broader Jewish community.

+ About CetraRuddy

CetraRuddy is an international award-winning architecture and interior design firm driven by design excellence and creating one-of-a-kind architectural experiences. Intellectually crafted projects are developed with a unique design sensitivity, resourcefulness and commitment to client objectives. Throughout the United States and abroad, CetraRuddy applies a problem-solving approach to projects across various sectors including residential, hospitality, commercial, education and cultural.

CetraRuddy is known for their creative problem-solving capabilities and expertise in educational and institutional projects. CetraRuddy has a long history of working with such organizations, including Columbia University, New York University, Weill-Cornell Medical Center, Touro College, Carnegie Hall and Long Island University.

Founding Principals John Cetra and Nancy Ruddy have been providing quality design for 25 years. Along with four other highly accomplished Associate Principals; Brian McFarland, Eugene Flotteron, Theresa Genovese and Ximena Rodriguez; they contribute their sophisticated understanding of branding, technology and construction to each of the firm's projects, providing an unparalleled level of personalized service. With a staff of 60 talented professionals, CetraRuddy develops technically excellent and innovative designs, enabling the firm to meet the needs of today's most sophisticated clients.