Snøhetta's proposal for Skamarken will return the Drammen River to the city

Snøhetta is one of two teams participating in Bane NOR’s design competition for the development of the Skamarken area in Drammen. The area designated for development is situated directly beside the river, north of the newly refurbished Drammen Station and the brand new bridge, and has, up until recently, been used for train sidings.

By laying a green blanket across the entire site and reintroducing islands and soft transitions, the design opens the area to recreation and experiences accessible to all, while increasing the green share of the site from 4% to a full 70%.

Unleashing the river's power

The Drammenselva has always defined the city as a transport route, power source, and meeting place. Historically, it featured soft banks with islands and canals that reached into the city and the surrounding landscape, but industrialization straightened the river, and hard edges became the norm. Islands and soft transitions will strengthen biodiversity and provide the city with new areas for recreation and experience.

Team Snøhetta, together with Asplan Viak and Bollinger & Grohmann, proposes a transformation that creates a junction between water and land through the introduction of islands and outdoor spaces, thereby strengthening biodiversity and providing the city with new leisure and experience areas. A form of urban development that does not merely urbanise, but unleashes the power in the river, in the history, and in the people living there.

"This is a unique opportunity for urban development in Drammen. It’s important that the central areas along the Drammen River are filled in a way that benefits everyone — with space for social gathering, activity, and natural contact with the river — while also being developed with respect for the site’s history, environment, and future needs. Skamarken is to become a grand hall, connected to Drammen’s pulse — a powerhouse in constant motion, says Anne Cecilie Haug, Senior Architect and Project Lead at Snøhetta.

Three gifts to the city

One of the challenges from Bane NOR Eiendom was that the design should give back three gifts to the city.

Team Snøhetta's gifts are:

An invitation back to the river. Skamarken gives the city new outdoor spaces along the water. Here, there is potential for a bathing facility, saunas, water play, kayak rentals, training areas, an amphitheater, and an outdoor stage. Initiatives that make experiences and nature easily accessible — and create comfort for both residents and visitors.

A gathering place. Skamarken is designed for people of all ages — from young families to youth, adults, and seniors. A place where everyone can feel at home, outdoors as well as indoors, with room for co-use and cross-learning, close to nature and the city's own history. An inclusive area that strengthens both the local community and the region.

A new landmark. Skamarken will become an identity marker for Drammen — a place that combines cultural and historical depth with innovation and high-quality architecture, landscape, and expression.

“This is a unique opportunity for urban development in Drammen. The central areas along the Drammen River must be developed in a manner that benefits everyone, creating opportunities for social gathering places, activities, and natural interaction with the river, while also ensuring that the area is developed with respect for its history, environment, and future needs. Skamarken will become a grand public space, connected to the pulse of Drammen – a dynamic hub in constant motion," says Anne Cecilie Haug, Senior Architect and Project Lead at Snøhetta.

An open and effortless stage

Skamarken has the potential to become a meeting place for both spontaneous experiences and planned events. Open ground floors with multiple entrances, thoroughfares, informal seating, and winding walls invite in and encourage gathering and activity.

Variable venues, featuring generous ceiling heights and acoustic performance, flexible surfaces, and robust material use, create an open and non-committal arena. Green roofs, trees, organic shapes, and permeable surfaces make Skamarken resilient against extreme weather — from heatwaves and floods to challenging wind conditions. Native vegetation creates a framework that lives with the seasons and requires minimal maintenance.

Material reuse

With its central location close to the new station and the new city bridge, Skamarken has a strong foundation to become a central meeting place with regional attractions. The conference hotel entails a transformation of the existing Statens hus. Brick becomes floor material, windows are broken and remade into new windows, and metal plates are given new life as interior walls. Clean masses, brick, and biochar from wood go into circular soil mixes on the roof.

At the end of the volume, a tower rises — a new and considered landmark for Drammen. A tower is the most efficient choice because its foundations and land use are minimized, while the quality of the spaces is maximized.

The top floor will be converted into a sky bar, and the long side facades are clad in curved timber, coloured deep red as a nod to the old factory buildings that stood here before. The facade facing north/east mirrors the river, the weather, and the seasons — giving the building a living expression in tune with the surrounding nature.

Future Built-innovation

Skamarken aims to be a hub for innovative solutions that contribute to the green transition. The project also aims to serve as a learning arena — with exhibitions and information that make sustainable practices visible and engaging.

The project aims to enhance Drammen's natural heritage by utilizing valuable species and to contribute to greenhouse gas reduction through locally sourced, circular components. In addition, flood and stormwater will be utilised as a resource via the reuse of rainwater in outdoor areas.

The design explores how surplus heat from the theatre hall and grey-water can be reused for building and water heating, and will employ low-emission materials and the reuse of existing building stock in the development.

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Kontakt

Ida Halvorsen Kemp

Marketing Communication Manager, Snøhetta Oslo

• ida@snohetta.com
• +4740872072