Norway House is home to the Norwegian Embassy and several other Norwegian organisations active in Brussels. The building dates from 1968 and is located in the European district of Brussels. It has been rented by the Embassy or may years, and was in need of renovation. The renovation work was set in motion after the building was purchased by Statsbygg, the centre for management and maintenance of Norwegian state property.

The collaborative design by Norwegian architect, Hille Melbye, and Belgian Altiplan breaks with the bureaucratic style traditionally found in the European district. VK was responsible for the stability study for this project.

This building combines modern design with comfort, and the use of specifically Norwegian materials. Safety and security are obviously essential for an embassy, but much attention was also given to energy efficiency. The outer facade of the building was given an extra layer of insulation, and the windows were also optimised to reduce the amount of unwanted solar heat entering the building.

The building’s structure was also updated. The facade was extended using a glass addition, and an escape ladder was fixed to the concrete structure at the back of the building. This required strengthening of the structure in several areas. Several areas of the building were opened up to allow for the addition of a new stairwell and a prominent main entrance.

The majority of the Norway House is occupied by the Norwegian foreign services.