European architecture and town development competition for architects, landscape architects and planners younger than 40 years old.
Europan Norge is presenting 5 sites this year:
Bergen: Grønneviksøren
A unique site by the mouth of the Møllendal river at Store Lundegårdsvann and one of the last undeveloped central sites is the case for Europan 13 in Bergen. Here the municipality would like to develop a pilot project to actively mix different population groups, a different concept for sharing and for a sustainable lifestyle. The main question is: How can we live better, closer and smarter in Bergen?
The Europan competition shall result in proposals for a new residential building, as well as for the development of a new, young and cultural town district that is growing around the new Bergen Academy of Art and Design in Grønneviksøren. The municipality would like ideas on the use of the landscape and water, as well as innovative solutions for the development of a compact residential area with good communal areas and communal solutions.
Os: Osøyro
Dramatic growth is the starting point for Europan in Os. Osøyro, the centre of Os municipality, shall be urbanised and the Europan site comprises the inner part of the central area development. What role shall this area have in a scenario where the municipality's population doubles by 2040? What functions can the site house and how can the buildings and town environment create more value locally and regionally?
The municipality is open to a major discussion on the site, based on the municipality's values and local resources. The competition's area of influence includes a number of other development areas and the Europan participants will contribute to a discussion on the greater development picture in Os, including the place's new role in the region.
ØRSTA: The centre of Ørsta
The centre of Ørsta has been under activated for several years and is not integrated enough in the development of the local community. Central public functions are on the periphery and a large shopping centre has left much of the centre deserted. In addition, plans for a new E39 along the fjord have held the area hostage for a long time. The road is now redirected and a new opportunity has arisen.
The municipality would like proposals for a strategy that transforms the populated area's relation to the centre and that highlights the area's resources and qualities. How can the development in the region and the increasing symbiosis with the twinned town Volda inform the plans and how can local actors be given ownership of the centre and look upon this as their preferred arena for their activities?
Stavanger: Forus
At the heart of the Norwegian petroleum industry and on the border between Stavanger, Sola and Sandnes municipalities is Forus — one of the strongest energy clusters in the world. Driven forward by investments in the petroleum industry in recent decades, Forus has been subjected to enormous growth and the companies here generate 1/5 of the Norwegian gross national product. This growth is, however, based on a branch with an uncertain future.
Stavanger municipality owns a site in the actual epicentre of Forus. The municipality would like, through the Europan competition, ideas on how they can use this strategic area, as well as the new, planned east-west connection over Jaren, to point the way for a new type of town development in Forus. What type of urbanity ought to be developed in this area? How can Forus adapt to future that is less based on petroleum?
Trondheim: Strandveikaia
The Europan assignment in Trondheim is the 1st step in the development of the large transformer station Nyhavna. Strandveikaia is proposed as the local centre for Nyhavna's future residential area and as a link between Midtbyen and the development areas in the east. How can the distinctive harbour architecture from the second world war and a broad spectrum of independent culture actors be included in a new future orientated town district?
Nyhavna's proximity to Midtbyen and the traffic intersection makes the area very suitable for the transformation. An important task will be to examine how the harbour area can be developed over time and in a way that ensures that houses, businesses and harbour activities can cooperate for several years in the future. The Europan site will be the site where the ambitions for the Nyhavna development are decided; a launching pad for new ideas and guidelines.