DESIGN BACKGROUND

ARCHITECTURE IDEALS

MODEL AT BRYGGEN MUSEUM, PROPERTY STRUCTURE THAT SHARED THE URBAN ACCESS

In Bergen and many other coastal settlements, it was crucial to share the access to harbour and marketplaces between quay and buildings.

Also, the linear property structure programmed the building in an inter-esting way. Closest to the bustling urban scene the trade and storage happened - on the floors above offices and in the rooms in the back, the living quarters was placed.

I think I find traces of this also in modern Norwegian cities. A clear exam-ple in my opinion is the urban square x where several shops and cafes seem to share the urban access in a similar fashion.

This is interesting in a situation where Ganddal suburb is turned into a more dense and urban situation. Shops with small area or offices could be viable with lower rents and together several actors will contribute to a lively urban street.

MULTIPLYING URBAN ACTORS

URBAN SQUARE NEAR TOYENGATA IN OSLO, MULTIPLE ACTORS ON STREETLEVEL

ALLEYS AND PUBLIC PATHWAYS

PHOTO FROM BETWEEN THE PROPERTIES/BUILDINGS AT MEDIEVAL BRYGGEN IN BERGEN

PHOTO OF ALLEY IN BERGEN BY FLICKR USER “MERLIN”

Another urban or architectural feature I love and that I want to use again from medieval or pre-car Bergen is the alleys and public pathways in-between the buildings.

Combined with attractive pocket parks, some seating and well connected and in a network - this could make Ganddal more walkable than it is now.

Of course, with small detailing along the facade, these public pathways could also work as climatic shelter.

CLUSTERED BUILDINGS

SKETCH BY ARNE BERG OF OLD FARM WITH CLUSTERED BUILDINGS

In addition to a linear property structure and public pathways, I find the rural tradition and urban attrac-tion of clustering buildings interesting.

In most self-grown and not planned settlements, the building pattern do not follow easy geometric rules. This gives room for interesting spaces, both for private gardens and for climatic shelter.

Since some of the area at Ganddal is not planned either, I find it fruitful to use this ideal as well when looking at where and how to densify.

NO FLAT ROOFS

I believe that the local climate and weather system have given us and will in the future also give us a kind of autumn-all-the-time. There is always a risk of rain and the wind is always around you in Stavanger area.

This must give architectural answers. The flat roof is perhaps cheaper - but the roofs that are not flat are more adapted to the specific climate and situation at Ganddal and Stavanger.

SKETCHES ON VARIABLE ROOFS THAT ARE NOT FLAT. THE SKETCH IS TAKEN FROM WWW.MILJOLARE.NO

URBAN BLOCKS

Its also interesting for me to utilize a classic “building block” in urban planning, the urban block with hous-ing in 4-5 floors and internal courtyards.

This will also be an ideal for me when looking at Ganddal and how it could be densified in a good way.

PHOTO FROM WWW.DIGITALTMUSEUM.NO THAT SHOWS AN URBAN BLOCK IN NARVIK, NORTHERN NORWAY