Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects have won an international architecture competition to design “a new public centre” for the city of Stavanger, Norway.

Their successful proposal for Breiavatnet Lanterna envisions a large-scale urban redevelopment of the city’s park and the addition of a 101m (331ft) high rise of flexible space for restaurants, cafes, performing arts spaces, exhibitions, green terraces and offices. Multifunctional leisure facilities will be placed around a large amphitheatre staircase on the bottom floors, while a new public space will be created at the tower’s summit, boasting views of the whole city.

The 26-storey, 18,170sq m (195,500sq ft) tower has been designed with Scandinavian architectural references, which Schmidt Hammer Lassen said “will bring a timeless expression to the varied building structures in the area.” It will be integrated into the city’s urban fabric, with the main entrance facing towards Tivoliparken; a green space which is being transformed into “an inviting green park for pedestrians, providing new lines of connections in the surrounding neighbourhood and to the city.”

The international design competition was initiated by developers Base Property and Borderholm Aksjeselskap, who in the brief demanded “a timeless, high quality and sustainable development” that will attract major companies to Stavange and create a new public meeting place for the city. The other studios invited to submit designs were Eder Biesel, Snøhetta, Dark and UN Studio.

If planning is permitted, Schmidt Hammer Lassen will work with local architects SJ Arkitekter and construction firm Søren Jensen Engineers to realise their vision.