Our challenge was to create an exciting, new activity centre for the teenagers of Bergen and to transform the old bunker in the Bergen Fortress into a lively space for the activity. Our research led us in a digital direction. Initially inspired by a positive spin on a ”hackers club”, we soon realised that this actually was a gap, and we saw the opportunity to create something new.

Our concept had the byline ”From the bedroom to the Bunker”; the goal was to get the techy oriented teens into a collaborative space. This is DIGS.

Digs is a place for the youth to connect over digital exploration in all forms, from the creative to the technical, from the virtual to the physical. We transformed the old bunker into a three story interactive digital haven and arranged the main themes as Sight, Sound and Code. The concept is that it is up to the users to create their own projects inside the walls of Digs. Some examples are: Projection mapping, Electronic music making, Creative Coding, Gaming, Graphic design, Product development and 3d printing.

The graphic identity is based on the contrast between the static and the dynamic. A squared modular grid lay the static foundation, and the graphic elements make it playful. Everything has the squared format so it can easily be linked up to create a huge variety of visual expression. 

The building is bold, playful and mixes dynamic and static space. Curved lines lead you through the different floors and elements like interactive screens and sensored lighting bring it alive. From the outside it keeps much of its old 'secret' bunker identity with just a few new elements to intrigue.