In 2014, The Central Bank of Norway appointed Snøhetta and Metric Design/Terje Tønnessen to develop the design proposal for its new paper currency. One and a half years after the release of the emblematic 100 and 200 notes, the new 50 and 500 notes have now gone into circulation.

Snøhetta’s design proposal explores the notion of the beauty of boundaries of the characteristic Norwegian coastline – the boundaries between sea and land, between land and air and between air and sea. By linking the coastline metaphor with a graphical expression inspired by ancient mosaic artefacts of colored glass or stone, the designers have translated this analogue art form into the mosaics of our time: the pixels...