Unlocking the courtyard

In my diploma, the project takes place in the heart of Bergen city center, in a courtyard of one of the buildings on Vaskerelven. The area is filled with activity, from restaurants, bars, cultural venues, parks, cafes, and bakeries to grocery stores. Despite the lively atmosphere, with people rushing to work, meeting friends, attending concerts, dining out, or visiting the hairdresser, there are forgotten spaces and gaps between the buildings. I have chosen a courtyard in the city center, specifically in Vaskerelven, which is the most visible yet often ignored space.

The main goal of this project is to transform the forgotten courtyard into a vibrant and welcoming area that embraces both residents and visitors while respecting the privacy of those living in the surrounding apartments. It aims to bridge urban and local uses, creating a shared space that meets the needs of both groups.

The buildings surrounding the courtyard host a diverse range of businesses, including restaurants and shops. Although these businesses share the courtyard with the surrounding residents, their activities mainly occur within their respective storefronts, leaving the courtyard largely untouched. The project seeks to integrate these businesses into the revitalized courtyard, giving them the opportunity to expand their operations and create engaging outdoor experiences.

The parking lot is the "elephant in the room" for this project. It is a large area currently covered in asphalt and barbed wire fences. The concept of “Urban, Local, and Urban/Local” serves as a guiding principle throughout the design process. It acknowledges the inherent tension between the urban realm, characterized by its bustling activity and public accessibility, and the local realm, defined by its private and residential nature.

The design seeks to harmonize these contrasting spheres, creating a space that seamlessly integrates both urban and local elements.

Hevhus 

In this project, we were asked to delve into wood as a material, from seed to structure. During this period, my group explored how joinery could be used as part of a building and how to create a flexible structure.
The project “Hevhus” incorporates a blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern modular building techniques, focusing on sustainability and reducing environmental impact by exclusively using joinery techniques, eliminating conventional fasteners and adhesives.

The system follows standard measurements with a center-to-center distance of 60 cm and column spacing of 240 cm and 360 cm. Standardized elements are used in the construction, with joinery that can be done industrially without significant adjustments. When assembling multiple modules, a new module is added without columns where the connection occurs, as double columns are structurally unnecessary. In multi-story buildings, the column thickness decreases higher up. The structure is braced with several fixed walls that cannot be moved, including the bathroom walls.

We utilized three different joinery techniques within the system. The main beams are inserted into the columns and secured with a nail. The floor beams are joined with the main beam at half thickness, resulting in a 2” beam width. Another joinery technique is used to stack columns on top of each other. A key aspect of the joinery design is its ability to handle both compression and tension forces.

The lifecycle housing concept addresses homeowners’ changing needs over time. It prioritizes flexibility, allowing the modules to be easily adapted to changes in family size and lifestyle preferences. Whether it's expanding living space, adding rooms, or reorganizing layouts, this concept ensures that homes evolve in line with the residents' needs, increasing their longevity and reducing the need to move, thereby promoting stability and a sense of community.

From storage to stories 

From Storage to Stories is a project that places special emphasis on process, aiming to manage a blend of scales and approaches within a dynamic dialogue. It is structured to develop the skills necessary to look backward and forward while navigating productive synergies of analysis and design, thinking and execution, the map and the territory. The precise proposals that materialize will collectively establish a set of opportunities for how interstitial spaces can play a more prominent role in everyday urban life.

In our group work, we focused on a courtyard in the heart of Bergen. Currently, most courtyards in the city center are used only as escape routes or as places to store garbage. We aimed to emphasize how to invite both local residents and inhabitants while utilizing what already exists, opening up for better movement between the buildings.

A place to be alone - but togheter 

A place to be alone – but together is a project focused on youth and the importance of giving them a space where they can grow, feel safe, and have the opportunity to take on responsibility.

In my bachelor's degree, I chose to focus on youth and the importance of giving them a place where they could develop, have a “safe space,” and be given the opportunity to take responsibility. Currently, there are very few places in downtown Bergen where young people can hang out and participate in activities.
Of course, there are some such places, but most of them are located outside of the city center, or the few places that do exist here offer only a specific type of activity or theme.

I have personal experience with how important it is to have a variety of opportunities for youth. As a volunteer, I was given a lot of responsibility, which contributed to my personal development. Ungdomshuset 1880 offered not just one type of activity but everything from writing courses, cooking classes, concerts, and art-related activities. Today, Ungdomshuset 1880 no longer exists, and many have expressed missing such a space.

It was important for me in this project to include as many people as possible, both those who prefer peace and quiet and those who enjoy a lively atmosphere. The site we were assigned for our bachelor project is located by Store Lungegårdsvannet in Bergen.