The Plus Receives the DOGA Award
Vestre’s furniture factory at Magnor receives the DOGA Award for Design and Architecture for its refreshing contrast to traditional production facilities. The Plus—the world's most environmentally friendly furniture factory—is the largest single investment in the Norwegian furniture industry for several decades. Since the official opening last June, over 2000 visitors have attended our factory tour.
“A huge thank you to the jury for giving your thumbs up to The Plus and highlighting the fact that our facility has succeeded in becoming so much more than just an industrial building. Industry can be part of the solution to our climate issues, with safe, interesting and green workplaces and sustainable value creation,” says Thomas Sund, Vice CEO of Vestre.
The Plus is the largest investment in the Norwegian furniture industry for decades, and the factory will be a global showcase for sustainability and highly efficient manufacturing. Spectacular architecture by Bjarke Ingels Group, a visitor centre and a 30-hectare (74 acre) park is helping to develop Magnor as an attractive destination for visitors from all over the world. In this way, Vestre will inspire others to take part in the ‘green shift.’
With the help of a total of 20 consultancy firms and around 80 contractors and suppliers, we were able to complete the building project in 18 months during the pandemic. The Plus has already received a number of awards and topped several rankings:
The DOGA Award is Norway’s most prestigious acknowledgement to organisations and actors who use design and architecture to create value for the environment, society and the economy. It honours cooperation, interdisciplinary approaches, good processes and excellent handiwork. This is Vestre’s seventeenth award—we received our first Norwegian design award in 1987.
“With good use of design and architecture, this year’s winners create economic value, new workplaces and above all, better solutions for you and me,” says CEO Tor Inge Hjemdal of DOGA.
The jury’s statement
According to DOGA, the projects receiving the Award for Design and Architecture are the most exemplary ones, demonstrating how strategic use of design and architecture can have social value.
In particular, the jury highlights four reasons that The Plus project is exemplary:
- a factory with a minimal footprint
- local energy production
- a project that benefits the local community
- the world's most environmentally friendly furniture factory
The DOGA jury’s statement on The Plus:
“When building a furniture factory in the middle of a pine forest, it is particularly important to think of the environment. At Magnor, this is exactly what Vestre and the architect firm Bjarke Ingels Group have done. As the jury, we give our thumbs up to this facility, which exists in harmony with the forest and surrounding area. The DOGA Award for Design and Architecture is presented to The Plus because it is a factory with a playful, visionary formal language. The open design and visitors’ centre at the heart of the factory has created an attraction and encouraged a sense of pride in the local community. With its meticulous placement and use of wood, colour, light and air, The Plus represents a refreshing contrast to traditional production facilities. To other industrial players in Norway, all we have to say is: Be inspired!” the jury comments on The Plus.
- On 16 March, DOGA invites the public to a seminar day and celebration of the recipients of this year’s DOGA Award.
All photos: Einar Aslaksen
