Semester/year: Spring 2010 Supervisors: Neven Fuchs-Mikac, Tanja Lie
With this project I seek to research parts of the city with different character that for various reasons normally do not get included in a process of densification.
These places are small squares, parks or fields with grass, parking lots, empty alleys etc - they can give an impression of having a function, but it is rarely utilized to the fullest. Oslo is a green city, and the green areas are sacred to most people, even if they are not in use, or not even maintained on a regular basis. I believe it is possible to maintain Oslo’s green profile in the development of the city. By questioning the sites usage, their urban and spatial qualities I want to challenge them and produce a potential for densification.
My strategy for the best exploitation is “habitation +” where habitation is a housing-related program, and the plus is addition of another program. This program can be something already present at the site, or other ensuring an improvement on the site. Improvement is sometimes just the acknowledgment of a programs presence to prevent “accidental” and unsolved spaces that never gets dealt with properly. A park or square should endure and encourage usage, and a designated car-park should be efficient. If it is possible to add dwellings in some sort and still enrich the site even further this would be a good formula for further development.
My project shows twelve ideas on such sites where different types of dwellings could be implemented. Four of them which are explored further, and given a certain habitational input.
The project won the Prize for "Excellence in professionalism" at AHO Works Awards spring 2010.