STUDIO FOCUS

This studio focuses on the redevelopment of Gallery Oslo, a large structure developed in the early 1980s by LPO architects. The plot owner Oslo Areal estimates the redevelopment to comprise around 120.000 m2, and has invited five offices to develop proposals for the area, that will be revealed February 1st 2019. The Studio will collaborate closely with Oslo Areal, and use the proposals as a point of departure for critical examination of the area. Based on these discussions, Architecture = City: New Commons aims to develop a set of new and diverse proposals that explores the area and structure from different angles and approaches. 

BACKGROUND

Galleri Oslo is being demolished. As Norway’s most hated building, few have voiced support for preserving the building.  Rather, it has been regarded as a very very long mistake, that both in terms of volume, program and economical strategy thoroughly failed almost as soon as it was completed. 

However, looking into the competition won by a group of architectural students in 1982, we can understand the scheme better: The structure was originally part of a selection of unique building types tailored towards specific functions, within a «grand narrative» for the downtown core: The configuration included a large urban living room (byhall) where the population could meet (later Oslo Spektrum), A slim tower were visitors could stay (later Oslo Plaza), a mosque catering for spiritual needs in the multicultural city (never realized) , a perimeter housing block with a pedestrian street blending in to the adjacent city (later Smalgangen), and finally: A wall of infrastructure and commerce «protecting» its architectural siblings from the infrastructure and industry south towards Schweigaards gate and the harbor.  This became Galleri Oslo – A climatized shopping street and office structure connecting the station area with Grønland and integrating Oslo’s new bus terminal. 

NEW PREMISES:

Today the premises have changed: The redevelopment of Oslo S and the completion of Bjørvika/Bispevika, the spatial and programmatic division between the consolidated city of  an its  infrastructure no longer bear relevance. Quite on the contrary: Space Group’s main argument in their winning scheme for the Oslo S area was that the east west axis at large today was replaced, or at least is complimented by a north-south axis from the harbor to Vaterland. And while a blessed few argues for its conservation, the building is here neither seen to represent the cultural value, or representative of an architecture that needs to be preserved based on its architectural qualities. 

Rather, seen through the optics of the late 20th century political economy, Galleri Oslo manifested the euphoria of the 1980s property market, turning into an economical disaster as both shopping centre and real estate investment strategy. Similarly, its spatial concept, much relying on the increasing importance of Schweigaardgate as Oslo’s main infrastructural vein, was soon outdated by the time of its completion. These factors, together with the removal of the bus station and opening of the Akers Elva river, means that time is up for Galleri Oslo. However, a redevelopment that utilizes parts of the existing structure in new configurations can be a part of the studio’s discussions. 

STUDIO STRATEGIES

From an architectural point of view, the larger urban scheme developed by LPO displayed how and urban plan can be driven by an emphasis on the architectural object's role and performance within the urban morphology of the city. From the perspective of political economy, this also coincides with the emphasis of the «project» as basic unit in urban planning - From now on, urban development was «project-based», where the architectural object became the center-piece in new development schemes for the city. Similarly, the studio aims towards articulating strong architectural statements that perform according to the complex infrastructural, spatial and programmatic context of the Vaterland area.   

The Studio will focus on developing robust, multi purpose building structures and organizational schemes with emphasis on "new commons" for the city. Such commons include new indoor and outdoor public facilities (sports, leisure, education) that utilizes the potential inherent in the massiv infrastructural hub of the Oslo S area. The course aims to articulate large and complex but precise architectural proposals that can contribute to broaden and shed light on possible futures for the property, and present alternative strategies for urban development of the area. 

STUDIO APPROACH

The course will collaborate with plot owners Oslo Areal and Akershus Fylkeskommune, and an inhouse review of the invited competition proposals will be held in February as they are revealed, to kick start our design phase. Thus, the studio will both maintain an approach that discuss and develop the area autonomously within the studio framework, while simultaneously being informed from the events and development processes of the actual sites and involved actors.