This government building is host to two neighbouring municipalities in Norway. The interconnection of the two is addressed by the design of the interior staircase, which winds helically through a central void, connecting the departments and mimicking carved rock formations found in Norway’s landscapes.

The building’s exterior responds to the civic status and its location, where the façade is wrapped with the seven peaks that surround the city of Bergen. This strong identity is viewed from afar, becoming more open at ground level, with many public facing entrances.