#LANDSCAPING AND URBAN PLANNING PROJECTS
schmidt hammer lassen chosen for major urban development in oslo
danish firm schmidt hammer lassen has won an international competition to design a 87,000 square meter masterplan in central oslo.
named ‘eureka kvarteret’, the project seeks to combine the diversity of the existing settlement as well as creating a connection with the adjacent oslofjord. the plan will include a hotel and conference center, housing, retail outlets, offices, and a communal day-care facility.
the site is situated in close proximity to the city center, with the new district aimed at unifying the main street with the region’s numerous transportation hubs. the proposal responds to surrounding structures, with a multi-stage expansion that over time will allow activity to emerge between the built forms.
the rational scheme is articulated around a defined main street, connected across north-south and east-west directions. these routes divide the site into five clearly readable blocks. the positioning of high-rise and open block structures, generates internal passageways, shortcuts, and promenades — allowing for an extra layer in the hierarchy of the urban fabric. consequently, the flexible design can accommodate changing uses and functions.
‘we have proposed a framework that builds upon a basic idea about the space between the buildings,’ explains senior partner at SHL kristian lars ahlmark. ‘by creating a strong and diverse hierarchy consisting of streets, alleys, squares and plazas, we see a future city center that will become a catalyst for the dense urban development of skøyen. in this new center, everyday users or passersby will not only feel safe but also intrigued by the surroundings. by using the already existing qualities of the area, the central link to downtown oslo, the public transportation hub and the presence of the hoff river as natural drivers, we create a strong presence and interaction with the context’.
