Table of contents 1.
Mo and its youth. An introduction the the situation.
2.
Case area and summary of analysis
3.
Principles & theories -
4.
- Application to the case area
5.
Illustration plan and description
6.
The layers of the Project
7.
The student gardens
8.
The public park
9.
The use of plants
10.
Typology, size and materials
11.
The urban square
12.
The urban square
13.
Lights and safety
14.
Technical plan
15.
Summary & credits (link to video)
About Mo and its youth Mo is a small city found in the municipality of Rana in Norway. With 18358 inhabitants (as of January 2013) it is the second largest City in the county of Nordland. Mo has strong roots in the industry which gave work to inhabitants and allowed the city to grow to its current size. Early on the mining industry was the main source of income. However, in post war times the steel industry became the dominant source of work in the city. Mo prides itself on its industrial heritage to this day. The municipality of Rana has seen the need to develop a city center with aims to attract younger generations. Teenagers and young adults in particular have been pointed out in the municipal plan as target groups in the future development of the city of Mo. ‘Kunnskapsparken Helgeland’ (KPH) is an organization working in conjunction with the municipality of Rana towards making Mo a more attractive place for youth. According to KPH approximately every third youth in Nordland leaves the county. Many of these leave to study elsewhere. In 2013 the educational facility Campus Helgeland was opened in Mo. The college level education found in this institution now boasts 800 students with a goal of another 200 by the year 2017. The Helgeland educational facility is one of the major actors which makes Mo attractive to younger generations. The municipal plan states that students traditionally are strong users of the city core and its functions, and they also contribute to urban live and activity. It is here presented a need for student housing and affordable housing to make sure they are able to keep the newly educated youth to remain in Mo. In addition, the municipal plan for city development states that the city core is unfit for further residential development (map on the right) due to the lack of recreational areas among other reasons. Not considered approperiate for new residences Development area for culture, service industry and offices
Municipal plans (excerpt)
150M
Case area
analysis The Talvik park is the largest park in the central area of Mo, it is also one of the least used. Within a 300-meter radius one finds the city centre and all its commercial stores and functions. In addition, campus Helgeland and a middle school is found nearby. There is a large variety of potential users of the Talvik park due to the short distances and accessibility to nearby areas. This demands a plan which allows a broad variety of activities and functions. The decision has been made to move Moheia vgs to the outskirts of the city to join with two other high schools. This removes a group of people from the city centre, but leaves a large area open for development. The area has not yet been given a new function but it is described in the municipal plan as a development area for culture, service industry and offices (see map previous page). There was recently a political decision made concerning the centre for youth (ungdommens hus) , which stated that the centre is to be closed in the future. A repositioning could help activate the Talvik area.
ZONES AND FUNCTIONS
The Talvik park is found north-east of the city centre of Mo i Rana. Historically the park contained a hospital for people with tuberculosis, which we can still find a trace of through the memorial placed in the north end of the park. We find a large amount of trees here and there are several large lawns. Few people use the park actively and the children from the nearby school bypass the park rather than walk through it. Within the park there is a single residence with an entryway which crosses through the park. There is also a nursing home found facing the western entrance. According to the municipal plan the future function of this park should be informal activities such as for instance sunbathing and ball play.
Mo center
DISTANCE AND ROADS
The talvik park
Mo Ungdomsskole Residential area Industry Moheia vgs Talvik park Residential area
Meyer park
150M
Center for retail
Valuable areas
Residential area
Green area
Educational facilities
500M
P 250M
P
P
P
P
P
P P
P
P
P
P
P P
P
P
P
P P
P P
P
There are short walking distances from the Talvik park to several nearby functions. The park and its surroundings are mostly devoid of cars.
150M
Principles & theories Talvik park
Moheia vgs
Campus Helgeland Urban design Many people in Mo own up to several cabins, and prefer to travel to these during the holidays and weekends. They utilize their personal gardens during the weekdays to achieve their recreational needs. As a result, the public parks are not cared for and are left unmaintained and unused. The parks in the city core needs to be remade to create a urban mood rather than attempting to compete with the other recreational arenas for the outskirts (check correct)
Building dense structures is a sustainable way to increase housing, while maintaining short and walkable distances. In addition, it allows for residences which cost less and result in an economic sustainability. This in turn arranges for social sustainability through the fact that a varied group of people from many ages and social classes can afford to purchase or rent housing. As these new buildings will be closely connected to the green structures of the Talvik park the residents will be an active element which will help attract more people. As stated by Jan Gehl: People attract people.
Public space
Semi private
Another crucial part of sustainability is the preservation of recreational areas and green spaces. It is important to emphasise that the removal of the high school near the Talvik park will allow a densification in the park which can be replaced by new public areas.
By extending the public area into the now released area formerly taken up by the school, we will in fact increase the public space. Afterwards, new buildings will be placed to form a new, urban setting to surround the park in its endpoint.
Student residences
Student center
Urban design
The new spaces found where Moheia VGS used to stand can be design with an urban palette similar to the square outside Campus Helgeland, which is a popular public area. Elements that bear resemblance to the downtown square can be placed here to make a connection between the areas. Both areas will be tied together through the Talvik park and the upper student residences.
Two new pathways based on existing paths found in the Talvik park will be fundamental elements in shaping the new rooms. One line will be direct and function as a line for traffic and necessary movement. e.g. visits to the shop, going to school. The other pathway will hold an organic shape. Its curves will help define new rooms with different sizes and qualities. Some public, other will have a higher degree of privacy. The pathway will also function to collect water from the case area and lead it to a retention pond at the bottom of the project site.
- Applied to the case area A development in the Talvik park should not have to deal with expropriation of nearby houses, although some properties will be affected to some degree. As the public spaces of the Talvik park are pulled further into the new urban structures of the east end of the map we need to ask what kind of structure we will find in this area. The goal is to build a new structure which can mirror that of the urban square of Campus Helgeland. A defining element in this new square is a new Student centre, which can contain facilities for the former house of youth from Mo. The red shape represents the new building structures for affordable housing and office structures. The reasoning for this kind of structure at this particular spot comes down to the discussion of public and private. If we were to build private residences within the Talvik park this would demand a higher degree of private outdoor areas as well. Building these structures at the edge of the case area will grant the opportunity to create a well-defined urban space whilst still sustaining a private area for the residents. This placement synergizes well with the municipal development plan for the area. The orange shape represents student residences. Building these in the park will require less private space compared to building apartments. Another important point is to place the students as close to both the city core and the green areas of Talvik park in order to grant access and activity.
Pathway Pathway Pathway
Public space Retention basin
Student residences
Student square (urban design) Affordable housing and offices
Pathway Campus Helgeland (urban design)
The dashed lines symbolize a free flowing set of pathways which connect the accessible roads of surrounding residential areas. This is important because the future park will function as a recreational walkway for all the residents of Mo. By making connections through the park rather than only focusing on the park internally we activate a much larger set of paths and loops which can be used for recreational walks.
Pathway
Pathway
150M
Campus Helgeland has been used as a reference for both its building typology and its outdoor spaces
In the Fornebu project in Oslo, water was used as actively as an element for recreation and play
There are several qualities found in the Talvik park which can be preserved and buildt upon
The new student residences in Ă…S have been used as a reference for sustainable building.
Illustration plan 1:1000
The new Talvik park connects to form a pathway with several intersections and new rooms to create a series of perception sequences. As the park in its current state holds a large number of valuable trees, alleys and lawns, many of its qualities will be preserved and built upon. As Moheia VGS is moved out of the city, the remaining land can be used to form a different kind of public space to supplement the green Talvik park. The square is made up of surrounding new buildings and a soft edge towards existing residences. This edge is strengthened through a row of parking and trees with seating underneath. The concrete groundcover allows for other activities as farmers markets, music shows, stands and ball play. The project contains a set of new buildings and an extension of the existing park. In contrast to building down and removing areas, the result of the project is a larger stretch of coherent public spaces. The new student residences are placed in the existing directions of Talvikparken bosenter and
the private house. These new buildings meet the Student centre to form a new public space with a more urban design. The large quarter building to the southeast is a new apartment building, which defines a room and allows for a separated, private outdoor area for the inhabitants. The new pathway integrates water management and leads water from all the corners of the project to a retention pool at the west end of the project area. This pathway is three meters broad and its shape plays off the existing terrain and the joy of motion. The existing vegetation is supplemented with additional trees in order to make a series of smaller rooms and pathways which can be experienced in different sequences. In accordance with the municipal plan the park will allow a broad spectre of informal activities and events. The path is lit
up during the evenings and nights. In addition to the recreational pathway there is a new shared space street implemented to the south end of project site. This road allows cars and emergency vehicles to access the student residences, if necessary. This shared space road will help define an edge which allows existing residences to maintain their privacy. The student residences, visitors to the student centre and residents of the new apartments will all be able to park in a new parking centre at the bottom end of the map.
The layers of the project Roof terrace Green roofing Private space (green space) Student society (youth house) Apartments (70) Student residences (96) Office functions
About water management: Water handling begins at the highest levels of the project; the roofing of the buildings. Sedum floriferum roofing will be utilized, and will retain 20% of falling rain and slow any additional water during its course. The reasoning for green roofing is also of an aesthetic quality given to the vista from the student centre. (source) Cut and fill: The densification requires construction work and removal of soil. All buildings require cellars for storing facilities. There will be a certain amount of soil which will be reused in the project area. The student residences will require a large amount of fill to create an elevation which defines a semi private area around the buildings. This also allows for water management, as all new slopes lead to the water ditch, which follows the curved path.
Building zone Model extent Pathways
Green space Private space Urban space Semi private Private property / Talvik bosenter
Working model - Used for sun/shade studies and shaping rooms and structures
Roads and paths As earlier mentioned this project does not require any expropriation of buildings but some properties will be reduced. The most defining element in this aspect is the new shared space road which cuts into existing private properties. Shared space is a concept based on the attempt to reduce the demarcation, or segregation, of vehicles and pedestrians. This includes the removal of curbs, road marks and traffic signs. This road is primarily meant to grant access to the buildings for emergency vehicles and people moving in and out. All other pathways in the project are pedestrian pathways which are broad enough for maintenance - and emergency vehicles to gain access. The working model The final layer of the diagram to the left shows the working model used for testing building qualities, typologies and their relations to the public spaces and internal qualities. This analysis is not presented in this assignment but was crucial to determining which typology was best suited for the project.
The Student gardens The student gardens feature a variety of shrubs and trees which bear fruits and berries. This ties back to and plays off the functional garden which is very typical for Mo i Rana. The gardens are not only areas for recreation and leisure but also function as a sustainable source for fruits and berries. This will strengthen the function of the garden and invoke sense of ownership and care. The different types of vegetation also benefits local animals and birds, which strengthens biodiversity. There are two sets of pathways passing through the gardens. The large ones are public pathways and are separated by hedges to secure the students privacy. The others are access paths to the student residences. Along these inner paths we find bicycle parking’s and ramps to grant access to the buildings. 1:1000 (a3 format)
1:500 (a3 format)
25m
Example plants for the student gardens: Apple Black currants Currants Gooseberry
Malus ‘haugmann’ Ribes nigrum Ribes rubrum Ribes uva-crispa
The public park The existing green structures of the Talvik park are to be preserved to a large degree. Some trees will have to be removed in order to give room for the new pathway and the retention basin. Besides this, there will be new plantings with the same species already present in the park in order to strengthen some of the alleys and clusters we find today. As the municipal plan states the main function of the park will still be informal activities. The way new vegetation is used in the park attempts to structure into smaller rooms, which can be used to varying purposes. The new pathway passes through new rooms and structures when combined with the new student residences. Some of the newly planted trees in the park will grow to become valuable defining characteristics. However, some of the old and quite large trees in the centre of the park will have to be removed. These trees cause a lot of shade and have a rowdy and unorganized look.
1:1000 (a3 format)
A set of retention basins are found at the west edge of the park
Example plants found in Talvik today: Birch Rowan Spruce Maple
Betula pendula Sorbus aucuparia Picea abies Acer platanoides
The use of plants There are four new nodes of plants which bear varying colour themes throughout the year. These will function as articulating elements and are visible from multiple angles of the park. They will contribute to activating the park and drawing people through the scenery as they resemble each other and contrast existing vegetation. By concentrating new plants into these four nodes we keep the maintenance cost lower than it would be by planting larger fields. In addition shrubs and trees last longer than summer flowers which there are plenty of in the city centre.
A B
C
D
A B
Laburnum watereri ‘Vossii’ Potentilla fruticosa Weigela florida ‘Korea’
Prunus padus colorata Ribes alpinum Fagus sylvatica
C
Cercidiphyllum japonicum Spirea ‘little princess’ Kolkwitzia amabilis
D
Fagus sylvatica purpurea Malus torringo var. sargentii Cotoneaster lucidus
Typology, size and materials The student residences The student residences are made in low blocks of three stories. The indoor layout is inspired by the new student residences in Ås called ‘Palisaden’. The buildings reflect the surrounding building structures through the wood materials, which is used in the typical single housings we find in Mo. The aim is to make the buildings appear as a natural part of the park and integrate the facades to the organic structures. The buildings also structure several rooms and separates the shared space road to the south and the walkway in the park. The elevation combined with the green hedges and trees help distinguish the immediate surroundings of the buildings as the students recreational area whilst allowing for passage through the two walkways. The colours, which separate the different blocks, are drawn from the many colours of Campus Helgelands facade. The five buildings take up 752m2 and house 96 students. Consisting of three stories, these buildings have a total area of 2256m2, which includes staircases and hallways. As all buildings have ramps and are accessible with wheelchair one third of the apartments are universally designed. The nearby parking house will contain parking spots for the students.
cafe, rehearsal rooms for music and presentations, conference rooms, study rooms, a stage, and several of the facilities found in the former ‘ungdommens hus’ of Mo. The building forms an active facade towards the urban space outside. The cafe on the first floor will have space for outdoor service. A suggestion for the design is presented in this assignment, as the building should have a design which makes it a visible landmark and clear part of the campus and its outdoor spaces. The afforable apartments: The structure of the new apartment complex is made to make sure all apartments receive sunlight. The quarter typology was chosen as it enables a clearly defined separation between private and public areas. In addition, it generates a clear end and definition to the urban space outside. With an average apartment size of 70m2 the internal 5000 m2 divided over 4 floors will contain 70 apartments. (note: this is not including staircases, elevators and hallways therefore some apartments will be removed).
1:1000 (a3 format)
Sun/shadow study 11th of June 15:00
20th of March (Equinox) 15:00 (right before the sun sets)
The student center The building takes up 500m2 and is three stories tall. The total indoor area is 1518m2 with an additional 233m2 of accessible roof terrace. The building contains a
PUBLIC PATHWAY
SEMI PRIVATE
PUBLIC PATHWAY
SEMI PRIVATE
PUBLIC SPACE
50 Meters
The urban square Large concrete slabs will define the groundcover of the urban square at the east end of the project site. The student centre will get a small area outside to run a small cafe with outdoor service to help activate the large space. A row of trees combined with a row of car parking’s and seating in granite create a soft edge towards the existing housing found on the west side of the area. Beyond this all edges are clearly defined by buildings of minimum two stories. A water fountain inspired by the Campus Helgeland logo is placed within the urban space. The structure elevates with each line from the drawing, creating a combined seat and water element. A pump pulls water from the bottom point all the way back to the start to generate a continuous flow of water. As it is raining, the water will overflow and run its course into the connected waterway, leading to the retention basin at the bottom of the park. This element is meant to function as a clear connection to Campus Helgeland. 1:1000 (a3 format)
The urban square A large open space allows for many informal activities. The fact that the square has a hard groundcover also allows for a large array of arrangements like concerts, farmers markets, flea markets and celebrations of many kinds.
Lights and safety One of the major problems in Talvikparken today is the lack of coherent lighting. Poor lighting may cause people the feeling of unsafety and uncertainty, often resulting in a bypassing of the area all together. As Mo lies in the Northern part of Norway there are long nights and little sun during the winters. Lighting is therefore an important factor not only in making an area accessible, but also usable and appealing. The new light poles in the student park have been placed with 20 meter distance which makes the entirety of the area properly lit up during the evenings.
Technical plan 1:1000
Contour elevation
Asphalt
Spot elevation Lightpole
Concrete
New tree Existing tree
Concrete slabs Youth House / student center
Waterflow Bicycle parking
Student residences (96)
Parking spot
Appartments (60)
HC-Parking spot
Existing terrain
Outdoor serving
Proposed terrain
Offices
Line for 0,5m contour (level of detail)
Painted Asphalt Vegecol sandcover Format: A3 1:1000 meters
50m
Credits:
Summary The municipality of Mo has acknowledged the need to focus on an urban development within the city core. The focus on making Mo attractive for youth is a primary goal in the municipal plan. This project has attempted to create a liveable, attractive affordable and sustainable environment for youth and students within a short distance of the city core. As the project is finalized, it will result in student housings for 96 students, 65 affordable apartments, A new house of youth combined with a student center, an urban square and a longer stretch of public space which communicates with spaces in the city core. In terms of the
blue green aspect the park preserves many characteristics of the original Talvik park and develops these further, while managing water from the entire case area and utilizing this as a resource. The Talvik park is one of the largest green areas in the city of Mo, and will remain as such. However, the impression of the park will be changed from a green and relatively unused public space to a green, urban and active part of the city. As a living place for youth with social meeting places, recreational areas, arenas for activities and residences for livability the new Talvik student park is a sustainable generator of urban activity. In essence, the project is an extention of a student campus.
If you would like to see what the park could look like, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njqw_WFce2k&feature=youtu.be
MUNICIPAL PLANS: http://www.rana.kommune.no/organisasjon/planer_budsjett_regnskap/Documents/Kommunedelplan%20byutvikling. pdf WIKIPEDIA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo_i_Rana GREEN ROOFING: http://www.miljodirektoratet.no/no/Klimatilpasning_Norge/Bibliotek/Erfaringer/ Gronne-tak-er-ingen-nyhet/ LITTERATURE: Gehl, Jan & Svarre (2013) How to study public life, Washington, DC, Island press. Gehl, Jan (2010) Byer for mennesker (english: Cities for people), BogvĂŚrket.