The studio believes that "the green shift" as a political project will radically impact our built environment. This should provide a platform to critically examine the position of our own discourse, inevitably resulting in a paradigm shift. 

The studio focuses on developing strategies for the sustainable development of small Norwegian towns, working with realistic cases in order to understand typical challenges. Many small towns of a similar size and function have developed in phases which carry characteristics of contemporary political projects. Arguably, they are not so much the results of cultural continuity and traditions, as they are of sudden and modern breaks with the past. If the shift towards renewable energy and increased environmental consciousness can be said to constitute a new such political project, happening in response to a popular awakening, it is imperative that we as architects engage with local municipalities now, while this is happening. Architecture and urban planning should in this context not be considered separate discourses. Buildings are environmentally determined objects, their raison d'être – economic, social, political - necessarily expressed in their physical form. As such, we will treat the architect as a generalist, interested in seeing sustainability across all scales. On a regional level: where should we build? On an urban level: how should we plan our towns and cities? And on a building detail level: how should we build our homes and our public infrastructure? 

 Our aim is to develop strategic building projects that can serve as exemplars for a new "aesthetics of sustainability" for the Norwegian small town. The proposals will be defined by a clear strategic purpose on a regional level, a defined building program that is in actual, realistic demand, a rational, sustainable and economic means of construction, and a seductive public image. Our role as architects is also to bring these things into a higher unity. A large part of the semester will also consist of reference studies, where the merits of various role model cases are discussed collectively in the studio.

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The course is part of the "Sustainable Architecture and Urban Studies" course series, a collaboration between the Institute of Urbanism and Landscape and the Institute of Architecture. The studio studies the effect of the "green shift" (det grønne skiftet) on Norwegian architecture and urbanism. 

The series envisions sustainable futures for Norwegian towns and rural areas. Projects are developed at several scales, from a strategic, regional level, and into highly detailed architectural proposals. In previous semesters we have developed strategic plans for Flekkefjord, Beitostølen, Gjersrud-Stensrud and Horten, in collaboration with local municipalities, developers, OBOS, Ruter, Bane Nor Eiendom, among others. 

This semester, we will continue our collaboration with Bane NOR Eiendom, a subsidiary of Bane NOR, the government agency that owns and operates the Norwegian railway network. Bane NOR Eiendom is in possession of all Norwegian railway stations, and is responsible for the development of a large amount of real estate throughout Norway.