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Hjertelia (NO)
A Seat at the Table A Model for Multi-Family, Multi-Generational, and Multi-Species Living ‘A Seat at the Table’ is a proposal that seeks to start a process in Hjertelia, where the needs of all actors in the ecosystem are considered. The site presents an opportunity to rethink the traditional hierarchies and the dichotomy between human and non-human. The goal is to create a neighbourhood where residents can live closely with nature and with their neighbours, and where the fabric of everyday life intertwines the natural cycles of the seasons, of the landscape and that allows all forms of life to thrive.
Core Values
The built and organic fabric was guided by a sensitive handling of the topography, daylight exposure, preserving key vistas and maintaining amenity for existing and proposed dwellings. The key was to create proximity between neighbours, to nature and to key infrastructure whilst striving for a balance between density and permeability, between the wild and cultivated, between rural life and the desire to stay connected to the city.
The act of coming together at a table is more than one of sustenance. It is a stage for the proliferation of ritual and culture, of sharing and meeting, of teaching and learning. It is the great equalizer — we all need to eat. In Hjertelia, everyone gets a seat at the table.
itats that are inclusive and sensorial, and that improve the local ecology, restoring the land to the benefit of all.
NONTRADITIONAL HEIRARCHIES
Symbiotic relationships between families, generations, and species are free to occur in this more equitable landscape, enriching the lives of all of those who want a seat at the table.
Breaking down traditional anthropocentric hierarchies opens up opportunities to create hab-
SENSORIAL EXPERIENCES
INCLUSIVE HABITATS
RESTORATIVE PRODUCTION SOCIAL SYMBIOSIS
HØ NE F O S S
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S TO C KH OL M The new Ringeriksbanan train line will dramatically reduce travel times between Hønefoss and Oslo, giving an immense opportunity to realize new ways of living in the city outskirts. The new community at Hjertelia is driven by the desire to create an alternative semi-rural lifestyle that is removed from urban life in Oslo, but maintains proximity to the connected and social town centre of Hønefoss. Hjertelia will capitalize on soft mobility transportation to seamlessly connect the new neighbourhood to the city and beyond. This way of living is set to be desirable to people of all ages and walks of life. ba nan to O t ur sl o e)
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A new soft mobility spine connects the proposed bikeway to the Gudbransdalsleden, and new programmes provide places to dwell and meet.
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A new typology of housing is developed with respect to the surronding natural qualities and topography. Taller, semi-detached forms provide a new way for residents to interact with the landscape.
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4. A New Ruralism
The surrounding natural qualities are knitted back together, connecting forest to forest and water to water in a criss-cross of new naturalized corridors.
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1. Work from the Ground Up
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Dramatic topography surrounding the site is sculpted by streams and surrounded by productive forest. The gently sloping plots of agricultural land provide a clean slate.
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7. productive landscapes
continuous green and blue corridors rejoin a landscape that has been fragmented by monocultural food-growing activity.
Tools for an Equitable Community The principles of A Seat at the Table are familiar and scalable, and thus can be applied to many other municipalities looking to develop in a similar way. The toolbox manifests the core principles into physical interventions in the landscape, the architecture, and the social environment. Depending on the project’s goals, they can be recombined and reprioritized to elevate the goals and potentials of the prospective design site.
permaculture practices will ensure that working the land helps restore it as well, while increasing biodiversity and innovation in local production.
2. raised buildings and walkways
8. soft mobility
raised buildings and key routes allow for “light-touch” impacts, with both humans occupying the same space simultaneously.
prioritized mobility for those traveling on foot or by bike, and removing reliance on personal motor vehicles.
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9. inclusive roofscapes
3. natural pathways
roofscapes become a facsimile of the natural tree canopy, contributing to green corridors, and providing temporary nesting for migratory species.
soft materials and proximity to nature on walkways to both physically and spiritually reconnect the land and its inhabitants. 4. blue landscaping
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10. living walls
slowing and retaining water in ponds and swales restores soil health and creates new spaces for water-based habitats, recreation, and learning.
the definition of a “home” expands to support non-humans, with features that support habitat restoration for plants, animals and insects.
5. community programs
11. common amenities
initiatives like community supported agriculture and skill- or resource-sharing builds a community of care that is non-commercial.
smaller, private indoor spaces are supported by larger communal indoor and outdoor spaces that integrate with the landscape.
6. meeting points
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12. diverse housing choices
open and accessible nodes for both natural and programmed interactions with both humans and non-humans strengthen social networks and attitudes toward nature.
a new architetcural typology enables a range of family sizes and types, and narrower, attached forms allow for more density with less impact on the landscape.
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1. Hub/Main Plaza 1.
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The development of Hjertelia is shaped foremost by the key landscape elements: the green corridors, the streams and storm-water management system, and the agricultural plots. This aims at preserving and enhancing the ecological values and biodiversity on site. Diverse housing typologies and public spaces for fifty (50) new dwellings are arranged in clusters in a pattern that follows the topography of the site. Community facilities and plots are shared by the local community and can also service residents from Hønefoss and other visitors.
2. Community Center 3. Lookout Tower 4. Aquaponics Facility 5. Sauna 6. Main Agricultural Corridor 7. Husbandry 8. Orchards 9. Mobility Node 10. Retention Pond 11. Bridge And Connection 12. Forest Trails 10m
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a mobility node and streetscape
b amphitheatre/”agora” gathering space
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50m
Small plot farming, permaculture and greenhouses contribute to biodiversity, building organic soil, and extending the growing season. These mixed modes of production, implemented in a smaller scale, also allow space for animal husbandry, benefiting the local inhabitants as well as wildlife.
Housing clusters are centered around core spaces that provide a sheltered micro-climate and different functions for the community. Small nodes are created to provide meeting places and rooms of play, thus connecting the community across generations throughout the site.
Natural site features are preserved (see the before section, below), and new landscape elements are added to enhance the productive value and biodiversity.
before section
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Resilient and Restorative Living in Hjertelia Green corridors weave between the building clusters, creating complex intersections between forest, undergrowth, agricultural plots, stormwater channels and
pathways. These lively zones allow for local wildlife and insects to cohabit the space with their human neighbours, as well as a safe path of travel across the site.
The housing clusters create a smaller scale within the community; where 10 to 12 families share a common space for gathering, playing and meeting. Dwellings are oriented in a south to south-easterly direction to maximise solar gain and are tightly knit to prioritise the green corridors and to provide a comfortable micro-climate protected from harsh winter winds.
The housing typology takes inspiration from a traditional barn form and approaches the site with a light touch. The intention is to minimise the built footprint, and by building on stilts the topography and permeability of the site remains intact. The house is habitable by all species; on the walls, in the roof and underneath.
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greenhouse
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4m 1:100
SCALE: 1 : 200 @ A1
ground floor a - 1 bed
b - 2 beds
c - 2 beds
d - 3 beds
e - 4 beds
f - 3 beds
g - multi-generation ground floor
entry
greenhouse option living
bed 1 bed 2 bath
green roof option
kitchen
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living
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bathroom
greenhouse
4m 1:100
SCALE: 1 : 200 @ A1
typology c: 2 bedroom long house
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