The roof was installed in a narrow street beside the coffee cafe-and-more outlet in downtown Oslo. Its purpose was to extend the boutique area during the spectacular opening event. Under its cover was a stage, an action-packed entertainment programme and VIP guests.
"We used side skins on three sides, leaving the wall facing the boutique open," explains Oslo Audio's Erik Berg, who project managed the event for the locally based company. The side skins were carefully hung to cover only the top part of the 9m high MR4 elevation, and a 2.5m high ice-wall was constructed to make up the lower parts.
The challenges included fitting the structure in around two 9mhigh trees located right where the stage needed to be built, which entailed the top canopy being put on after the roof was hoisted up to its full height.
The structure measured 10m wide by 14m deep. In anticipation of potential snow loads, six Milos MT-2 towers were used for support legs.
"There's been heavy snowfall in Oslo this winter, so we really needed a roof with high load capacities" says Berg, "This is one of the reasons we chose the Milos MR4 - it's distinct arc shape roof is perfect for dealing with this meteorological condition". The roof was a special version of the 16 x14m MR-4 system Oslo Audio purchased last summer.
Inside the structure for the Nespresso launch, elaborate ice sculptures were embedded with the brand's latest products, and an intimate all-white stage facilitated performances by a host of leading Norwegian artists, reinforced via the overhung L-Acoustics ARCS PA.
(Jim Evans)
