The studio course sets out to explore the dynamic tidal zone in northern Norway using the 24-kilometre coastline around Tromsøya as the central case. This zone, known as “fjæra” in Norwegian, is not only home to some of the most diverse and productive ecosystems in the north, but also holds great culture-historical value. The tidal zone provided different resources used in the traditional household and was an important interface between sea and land. In the northern sea-culture where agriculture and fishing were interweaved or integrated, the landing place or “lendinga”, where the boats came ashore or left for sea, was often regarded as the most important place on the farm. As such “lendinga i fjæra” can be regarded a symbol of the fishing-farmers way of life, a place of public significance in northern Norway. In many cases, these landing places were shared by several farms, forming a common or “allmenning” that would function as a social arena.

The tidal zone in northern Norway continues to be of great importance today, although more modern forms of living almost entirely have replaced the traditional sea-culture. The zone is still home to valuable ecosystems, despite the fact that human interventions, such as land reclamation to sea, compromise their diversity and productivity in many cases. The interface between sea and land still holds public significance, although recreational activities might have replaced work-related activities. However, all in all, the tidal zone seems to have lost cultural significance as a public domain since the middle of the 20th century. 

As part of the studio course, students will be asked to investigate how the tidal zone can gain cultural significance as a public domain through design interventions that not only meet the needs of contemporary life but also reflect on and take into account the rich natural and cultural heritage of the tidal zone. A field trip connecting various coastlines around Northern Norway will allow students to get acquainted with different types of tidal zones and understand the Tromsøya fjæra from a larger perspective. The idea is to work with design interventions that might be relatively modest in scale while addressing changes and processes on a larger scale. Working with material qualities and atmospheres linked to the continuous changes in the zone – a zone in flux – will be a central task throughout the semester. Students will be asked to formulate a landscape architectural program informed by the site. Rather than superimposing a given program on to the site, the idea is to develop the program from the site itself.