Legevakttomten

Illustrations: A-Lab

Legevakttomten

After the old ER relocated in 2023, there were no specific plans for this address. Years have gone by, and the once busy area is now too quiet and abandoned building mass invites unwanted drug related activities. The urban weave between Grünerløkka and city center has been fractured. With this in mind, A-Lab made a spontaneous pitch where we proposed reviving this area using student housing as a main engine to transform this block into to a place that is alive and vibrant.

TYPE OF PROJECT: Student housing
LOCATION: Oslo
CLIENT: Anker studentstiftelse
SIZE: 550 units
TIMEFRAME: 2024
PROJECT STATUS: proposal

Eyes on the street and reviving a historic street

Not only does student housing provide much needed accommodation in a trying renter’s market, but they also have the potential to do more. Students are an active user-group who creates liveliness throughout the whole entire day – from morning to evening, despite juggling studies, part-time jobs and leisure. They are active users of the city’s many facilities; both private, commercial and public. They function as our eyes on the streets and contribute to healthy social control, which increases the sense of safety, especially in abandoned areas with unsafe environment. The proposal revives this area by filling it with a combination of different functions - shops, hospitality vendors and inviting meeting spots on ground level will attract draw both residents and visitors to create a pulsating urban life.

The proposed project will also repair the damaged urban tissue by reestablishing the connection between Grünerløkka and city center. A new urban space by the Krohg bust and clearer pathways will make this area more accessible and inviting. At the same time the street of Storgata will be restored as a main axis as it historically was through active  facades and destinations.

Historical qualities

The core in the vision is to keep and further develop the lot’s historical qualities, as it is the strongest and most valuable feature. Existing building will be transformed and filled with new life, among these are student housing, a student ran house and the hostel concept “Bunks”. This will create a unique mix of functions and users, where students, visitors and the rest of the city can meet.  

Student housing is in this case actively utilized as a tool for maturement of place. The students provide energy, activity and foundation for further development, at the same time as they contribute to building up a social, cultural and economic sustainable urban environment. This model offers something more than just regular introverted residential housing for the old ER lot, but rather a catalysator for a more vibrant, safe and connected city.