Bekkelaget harbour bath in Oslo

Location Nedre Bekkelaget, Oslo, Norway

Client/operator Port of Oslo NO – 0103 Oslo www.oslohavn.no/en

Architect bar bakke landskapsarkitekter as NO – 0164 Oslo www.barbakke.no

Public participation process in collaboration with Léva Urban Design NO – 4014 Stavanger www.levaurbandesign.no

Parkour design Mikkel Rugaard Studio & Works DK – 2200 Copenhagen www.mikkelrugaard.com

Author bar bakke landskapsarkitekter as

Photos Tove Lauluten www.tovelauluten.no

Official opening June 2019

Construction costs NOK 35 million (EUR 33.8 million)

DEMOCRATIZATION OF THE CITY’S WATERFRONT

BEKKELAGET HARBOUR BATH IN OSLO

Bekkelaget harbour bath is a harmonious composition of green playscapes, bathing facilities, hilltops and groves just a short biking distance from the centre of Oslo. The project has remedied the problematic coexistence of residential neighbourhoods with the adjacent, busy dockland activities by establishing a rich and openly accessible park between them. The bar bakke landscape practice has made it possible through collaborative planning processes, public participation in collaboration with Léva Urban Design, and intelligent design choices.

The municipality of Oslo seized a historic opportunity when launching the concept of the “Fjord City” in the early 2000’s. The programme entails that the docklands will make way for modern urban development, with new residential areas, offices and public spaces, opening the city up towards the fjord.

While the Fjord City ends geographically just north of Bekkelaget harbour bath, the vision of restoring public access to the city’s waterfront persists and continues to widen beyond these borders. Initially, the plan was to simply establish a visual buffer zone between residents and the harbour area. But after an extensive participatory process, empowering nearby residents to take part in shaping their local environment, the size of and ambitions for the park began to grow. People’s wishes for open, green recreational areas, sports facilities, a parkour gym and a BMX track were all included in the design. Soon, the buffer zone grew to become a large public park, its main attraction being an eye-catching diving platform painted in Oslo

Harbour’s distinctive orange palette. The stepped pier and platform encourage its users to dip their feet in the water or opt for a refreshing dive into the fjord – regardless of the weather or season.

Preserving biodiversity Overall, the site design is simple, green and clean. Undesirable shrubs and invasive species have been identified and removed. Extra care has been taken to preserve existing trees; endangered plants have been mapped and preserved. Planted oak and preserved pine trees help to connect the green horizon from the islands in front with the park and hillside behind it. The outcome is a long band of greenery leading to the sea.

Reuse of materials from local industry New activities have been added to natural surfaces wherever possible. Where terrain adaptions were necessary, purposeful materials have been locally sourced, transporting material from a nearby railway to shape the terrain. An old power transformer station has been built into the terrain and its roof is now a surface for acrobatics in the parkour area.

The material choices are largely based on the reuse of local materials, supplemented with bespoke furniture made from railway segments and steelwork. Separating the docks from the park is a distinct and brutalist sheet pile wall, clad with railway sleepers in eucalyptus – good to lean your back against. Lower retaining walls of local granite divide the green space and form long, horizontal surfaces for seating. A winding gravel path connects the seaside attractions with places to sit back and relax; a hilltop has been furnished with steps and a fire pan for outdoor barbecuing and fjord gazing.

Urban renewal process For decades, large parts of Oslo’s coastline have been dedicated to dockland activities. By providing access to these areas, the lost connections between the city and the waterfront can be re-established. By providing an array of free-of-charge, low-threshold activities, this urban renewal process contributes to a democratization of the city’s waterfront. Bekkelaget harbour bath offers something for everybody, whether you are seeking challenging physical activity, meeting up with friends, or simply enjoying a break from city life while inhaling the salty breeze from the fjord.