Architecture firm Snøhetta has unveiled plans for a faceted office building in Norway, set to become the first in the country to produce more energy than it consumes.
Described by the design team as a "potentially world-changing office building", Powerhouse Telemark is expected to become a pioneer in sustainable energy use and a landmark for the small town of Porsgrunn.

"I hope we will be plagiarised and copied, replicated in all seven continents," said Norwegian real-estate developer Emil Eriksrød, 33.
"This building should do wonders in lowering the bar," he added. "If Porsgrunn has the customer base for such a building, just imagine how many other places have the same potential. There are tens of thousands of cities with a bigger population in the world."
Snøhetta's design is for a "diamond-shaped" structure. This form was generated by maximising the building's ability to function as a collector of solar energy, via a large area of photovoltaic panels on the south-facing angled roof.
Solar cells, heat exchangers and heat pumps will also produce electricity and heat for the building.

"Powerhouse Telemark will put Norway on the map when it comes to energy solutions and architecture," said Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, one of Snøhetta's two founding partners.
"The future is all about thinking big, bold and long term, and we need someone to pave the way," he continued.
"With its innovative s...