BERGEN (NO) 1

ORIENTATION: The three new urban blocks are

oriented NW-SE to reinforce the existing urban

conditions, introducing a strong connectivity be-

tween the mountain and the water. This config-

uration is also crucial to enhance the light con-

dition on both the public space and the dwelling

units.

COMPOSITION: The urban layout is com-

posed by four new buildings: three large paral-

lel blocks of different typologies, and one slen-

der building oriented NE-SW, elevated from the

ground and overlapping the other buildings.

STREETS: The space between the buildings is

defined by 25m wide car-free area, to allow the continuous relationship with the buildings and

the park.

PARKING: All the parking area is placed at the

first floor, inside or in between the buildings. This strategy allows to reduce the construction’s cost, while providing the right flexibility for future changes.

Sharing is about connections. We are increasingly

more connected through our screens and simultane-

ously disconnected from our direct surroundings. We

share more than ever before, but there might be phys-

ical component in the equation which we cannot yet

fully grasp. Is there still a need for connections that

rely on other senses than just the eye?

We propose a building complex that provides a deep

connectivity throughout multiple layers of the scheme.

The complex consists of four separate buildings that

are all interconnected. The connections are both spa-

tial and functional, achieved by integrating circulation

systems with different types of (semi-) public functions

and a wide variety of dwelling units. These spatial-pro-

grammatically connections will ultimately result in a

highly increased number of physical human interac-

tions.

Very Important in the scheme is also a certain level of

flexibility in order for the connections to establish and reinforce themselves, meaning that once a connection

has been established, it can grow and adapt to the

specific needs.

A significant portion of the traffic streams, (roads, parking, entrances, vertical circulation) are incorpo-

rated into the buildings themselves. Two of the build-

ings provide a central vein of connections that house

year round activity. Another has raised communal

gardens with again a central pedestrian street, this

time exterior. All circulations intersect common func-

tions and extra care has been given towards spatial

quality.

Devoid of any functional necessities, streets have

now become something more like plazas. This free-

dom of the space in between buildings may elicit a

sense of communal ownership and can provide safe

places for children to play and other activities to take

place. This freedom also entices the connections be-

tween the open space and the built space to be re-

defined and challenged as the plan process though time and new connections are made.

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Masterplan scale 1:1000

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BERGEN (NO) 2

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Interior Parking3 interior parking spaces with con-nections to the main circulations above, in total 168 parking spots. P1 = 58P2 = 62 (of which 28 private garages)P3 = 48All garages support 2 way traffic and have the entrances to the south west side of the plan, close to the main artery.

Flexible StreetsThe streets are wide (25 meters) and car free, becoming more like plaza’s. The orientation is south west to north east for maximum sunlight. The relationship with the surrounding buildings is flexible and the street can adapt to the demands of the citizens. Here we show vegetable gardens, but think about lunch terraces, playgrounds, parks as well. We encourage placing glass houses which can be used for farming, get together, bicycle storage, etc. The facades and entrances of building A, B and C have flexible relationships with the streets and can change accommodating shops or private residences.

Children day care centreOne such a function as mentioned in no. 2 is the children day care. We have purposefully not designed a separate building or playground area for this, but have assigned a large ground floor space inside building A accompanied by semi protected outdoor space. There is a strong connection with the street and because this already has a safe character (no cars) it would be very easy to accommodate for playgrounds. Depending on the weather the groups can choose to stay inside, go outside outside, go outside inside (greenhouse), or even use up more space elsewhere in the buildings. The connections should become very dynamic.

Connected CirculationIn building A and C central streets provide access to the dwelling units and public functions, as well as to the outside streets. These streets receive plenty daylight from glass ceilings.In building B the inner street is widened to accommodate for gardens and access from the backside. The

raised gardens and back entrances will strengthen a sense of community. The front end now becomes more flexible in use. For building D we have designed long gallery access, enjoying and focussing the views over the lake towards the centre of the city and also leisurely connected with royal roof gardens.4 elevators, evenly spread out, function as vertical nodes and highlight the main access points to all the buildings.

Other FunctionsAll buildings have the capacity to accommodate high quality spaces for other functions. Here we suggest a cafe / bookshop that creates a slightly more intimate atmosphere related to the river.

Elevated poolA special mention for the sports centre on the 4th and 5th floor which incorporates a 50 meters swimming pool hovering over the pump station and protruding towards the lake. With magnificent views towards the city and the surrounding landscape. The pool also hovers over the bicycle path and reenforces the sport character of this lakeside park.

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Building AA hybrid building incorporating different functions and various dwelling types of different sizes, ranging from approx. 50 m2 up to 150 m2. Spanning the roof of the central street are a number of courtyard dwellings with extraordinary depths (30 meters). Some of the courtyards are completely private, others are used as the main entry points and vertical circulation. All the courts provide light into the central enclosed street of approx. 6 to 7 meters wide which is on the first floor (2nd Norwegian). The central street also gives access to studios, duplexes and other more complex shapes of dwellings.

Building BThe main premise for this scheme is flexibility. Again the raised street is providing access from the backside. It is now widened to accommodate for gardens and outdoor communal spaces. This access scheme allows the terraced houses to be split horizontally and have two access points, one at the back and one at the front. The lower part can become a shop, restaurant, office, etc. Or it can be used as part of the dwelling. Each terraced house has a private car garage, accessed from the main car park. If there is no car, this space can be used for other functions.

Building CThis is a hybrid much like building A, but it has reacted differently to the direct circumstances. Situated closer towards the lake, the scale responds with a slightly larger gesture and a few floor levels were added at the head. As a result private courtyard typologies are no longer viable and these have been replaced with staggered balcony units with optimal sunlight orientation. The building becomes more of courtyard typology although the central street still has a permeating light ceiling.

Building DA long (250 meters) horizontal slab lies on top enjoying the excellent views to the water on the north/east and the green of the cemetery on the south/west. The living rooms of these dwelling units stretch from facade to facade to benefit maximally of that. If you feel the need to be outside for a bit, you can choose one of the many roof gardens situated on top of the other building volumes. A few of the higher situated units will enjoy private balconies.

Key Numbers

Floor Density Ratio: 1.89Built mass: 34.800 m2of which exceeding 4 floors: 24.6%Dwelling Units (DU): 174Net DU size range: 45 m2 - 185 m2Average Net DU size: 88 m2Gross Commercial floor space: 3.500m2

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BERGEN (NO) 3

Section scale 1:350

0 2 5 7 10 12 15 M

The duplex can be found in various shapes and sizes. The access is always from the central street at the 1st floor level (Nor = 2nd). From here a staircase lead either up or down usually somewhere close the the exterior facade where the floor is withheld in order to experience the double height ceiling and allow the light to pierce deeper into the dwelling. The wet core divides a front and back side. The inhabitants are free to select what side becomes more private.

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Features:Small unit for a single or couple. The small units are always placed next to the cores in order to allow a short pipe connection for the larger unit next to it.

Building D:

Three floors slab with a mix of gallery access and corridor typology.

The spam between the cores is 37 m, thus all the units have been designed with a specific attention for the wet-rooms.

Features:Medium size unit with one master-room and one double room.

Features:Medium size unit with one master-room and one single room.

Features:Large unit with three bedrooms and a large living-room

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0 2 5 7 10 M

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0 2 5 7 10 M

0 2 5 7 10 M

0 2 5 7 10 M

Features:Large living area with double-hight space which connect the kitchen/dining room at the first floor, with the living room at the second floor. The house is intended for a family that aims to live in a large and conformable environment.

Features:Entrance with a flexible space that could be use as shop, office space or a living area. The house provide three bedrooms, a large living area at the second floor with direct access to the garden area.

Features:Two families house. This configuration provide one small unit with only one bedroom and another unit with three bedroom. Both units have access to the second floor communal garden.

Building B:

Row Hoses with elevated park.

A few larger courtyard units stretch the full length from facade to facade. A staircase leading from the central street to two or three units at a time give access from the inside of the courtyards. Usually a generous reception space and the kitchen are situated around the central courtyards. Other smaller courtyards might have a more intimate character. Again the levels of privacy will depend according to the user. It would not be unthinkable to incorporate some type of home business at one end of the unit.

Finally we can identify a studio type. These will receive light from a small courtyard or a skylight related to the courtyard above. Although the studio is small, the different lighting conditions provide different ways of using the units.

Hybrid buildings A and C

The central street gives access to all dwelling units which are stacked in a complex puzzle. No units are identical, but we can distinguish similar types.

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