Furuset Competition Entries

Some Ramblings

No one asked for it (my opinion), but I'll give it anyway.

#006

‘300m Furuset’ uses an integrated transport strategy to underpin its main proposal of consolidating development around transport nodes. This tactic might just pay dividends. Their showstopper image, the bird’s-eye-by-night montage, illustrates the main concept of transport nodes as urban hubs clearly and succinctly, without the need for detailed, text-heavy descriptions.





This scheme has managed to successfully present their land use data, both existing and proposed, in a clear and engaging way by using various forms of graphic representation to illustrate their raw, base data (in abstract plan form, in plan, in aerial photos, in graphs, and in text form – ref. to page 16 & 17 of their pdf).









#007
‘Origo i Furuset’ also uses a simple (but nonetheless, strong) concept as their main structuring device, which shines through in their plans and perspectives. The bird’s eye perspective detail, especially, manages to adequately illustrate the ‘landscape’ and ‘human’ qualities of their open spaces (something that is quite often lacking in bird’s eye renderings).






The simplicity of their north-south/east-west axis is extremely clear (though, this is also something that shines through in the 'Futurum' scheme). The masterplan manages to successfully amalgamate the proposed built forms and circulation networks with the existing built forms. In doing so, they have transformed the role of these existing buildings; they are no longer remnants, but are integral to the new public realm (streetscapes and open spaces) within the proposed scheme. Very interesting!




#012
‘Blodomloppet’ caught my eye for its confident bird’s eye graphic, They have also managed to clearly elucidate the main idea of streets as the ‘blood stream’ (however corny it is!) on page 4 of their submission. I was taken by the image in the top right corner. It clearly illustrates their circulation strategy and its hierarchy within the existing suburban context. There is obviously some local knowledge coming into play here…






The curve linear street structure they have chosen to employ is very specific to suburban Norway, determined mainly by the topographic conditions associated with developing pockets within forests at the edges of existing development footprints (sustainability, what?!). They have managed to reinterpret this picturesque (very ‘romantic’ Norwegian), suburban idea of informal, curved lines and disappearing perspectives into an urban (European) image of strong street edges, sidewalks and on-street parking.

Their simple SketchUp diagrammatic model (‘De nya gatorna’) on page 4 also illustrates this idea well.

Unfortunately, as the competition entries are anonymous, and as the jury is still out, I am unable to attribute professional credit here.

Apart from the 'Futurum' scheme and the three others described above, the other 9 schemes were rather disappointing. But, hey, that's just my opinion. What's yours?

Cheers,

Paul