Urtekvartalet

Photo: Are Carlsen

Urtekvartalet

Block development with mix users and extroverted qualities

Urtekvartalet is an area in Grønland that borders to Grunerløkka and city center. The project plot consisted of two buildings and a parking lot when A-Lab got involved. The transformation included both rehabilitation and building new. The project consist of three projects: Veksthuset, Fabrikken and Drivhuset. Where Veksthuset is the only project that was designed and built from scratch, while the others are transformation and rehabilitation. Urtekvartalet contains offices, a coffee shop, a school campus and grocery store. The mix of users and opening up the block structure to make public spaces and connecting it to the surrounding areas was important to make the project a generous one and give something back to its’ neighbors.

TYPE OF PROJECT: Transformation, office and school
LOCATION: Grønland, Oslo
CLIENT: Eiendomsspar AS
COLLABORATORS: Studio Oslo Landskapsarkitekter
SIZE: 17 000 / 24 000 / 5550 m2
TIMEFRAME: 2018 -
STATUS: Under construction

Render from idea pitch

Before…

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History

Producing, cultivation and advancement of knowledge has always been present in Urtekvartalet’s history and the development. Back to the days of King Fredrik VI, the original plan was to tie together the old downtown of Kristiania with Tøyen Farm, where the university was intended to be. However, the disentanglement of the Danish and Norwegian union put an end to these plans. Instead the Botanical garden, which is not far away from Urtekvartalet, was established.

The development of the plot between Urtegata and Norbygata happened first after a big city fire. The building closest to Urtegata was originally listed as a factory for woodwork in 1897, before becoming a paper factory in 1927. Around the same time a printing press was expanded in Motzfeldts street in 1957 and 1966. Eiendomsspar AS bought the properties in the 90s and renovated these. A-lab was involved in 2019 when Eiendomsspar wanted to redo the whole block.

The history of Urtekvartalet has been incorporated within the names of the buildings. Veksthuset is a nod to the history of cultivation, so is Drivhuset which both corresponds to the idea of greenhouses. And lastly, Fabrikken is solid acknowledgement of the factories that used to be here, and now is a factory for the entertainers of tomorrow.

Photo: unknown 1896. Factory fire on Urtegata 11-21.

Photo: Ole Walter for Eiendomsspar AS

The project area has several qualities going for it. It is centrally located, which makes it very accessible, regardless of modes of getting there. Transformation of existing building mass (and a grey-fill) in an area with eclectic mix of different architectural styles, allows for creative spatial and design solutions. The idea of making the block permeable is central to the project as it functions as another connecting vein - bridging the west side and the east side of Oslo. An inner passage connects the three buildings together and makes it possible to cross the block diagonally, thus creating a short cut for the neighborhood. Active and extroverted façades, with service amenities makes this area an interesting place to pass by and even stay. Benches and shelter from traffic makes the Diagonal a nice place to catch one breath. The idea of making an area with a lot of offices more extroverted and accessible to the public was central for the success.

The project mainly consist of spaces for offices and a school campus, this is also makes Urtekvartalet exciting as one gets a diverse group of users who normally don’t cross paths. Not least, the potentials of fruitful synergies.

Concept

Photo: Mikkel Lyng

All three buildings have a different architectural style and there are several reasons as to why. One being that the project contains both transformation, rehabilitation and new construction. The second being the functions. The SWECO head quarter needed a lot of space and some technical rooms, but the building itself, Veksthuset also houses other functions like cafes and a neighborhood office. So, the design and volume had to signalize all these facets. The vibrant color and the playful geometric form are meant to draw attraction towards the building, but also a beacon of Urtekvartalet. Fabrikken is a college reserved for the arts and design, it had technical requirements that had to be integrated into the design. Together, Fabrikken and Veksthuset, with their geometric and angular expressions, creates a sort of portal into the square and the diagonal from the Nordbygata.

Architecture

The Bee square

From Nordbygata you enter the Bee Square. Here depicted during its’ first winter. The square is where the office buiding to the left and the college campus to the right convene. Functions such as a convenience store and a coffeeshop creates more contact points. It is easy to recognize regulars and neighborhoors. The square offers shelter from the heavily trafficked Nylandsveien/Lakkegata and provides a calm space to catch one’s breath.

Photo: Mikkel Lyng

Diagonalen

The slit across the project site offers a short-cut across the block but it also breaks down the volumes of Veksthuset and Fabrikken. The Diagonal offers a different vibe to the conventional alleyways, due to the small scale and the irregular geometric shape of Veksthuset. The protruded pixels on Veksthuset also creates an interesting ground floor design as it marks different functions and services with the building’s footprint. The alley is furnished with benches and a story-telling trail. Printed on aluminum cubes are local stories about the area, and clues to the names of the block and the building.

The neighborhood

Due to its’ location, we knew we had to make a project that would give something back to the neighborhood. It is an inner-city area where many with social challenges seek out due to the many outreach services around the area, like Salvation Army. But Urtekvartalet is also set in the most vibrant and culturally diverse neighborhood in Oslo and it neighbors central boroughs. We wanted to make a project that all the neighbors felt comfortable using. Hence the upgrade of Urtegata and creating public spaces that is welcoming and offers a little break. Urtekvartalet also functions as a connector between the aforementioned neighborhoods and thus a portal from east to west.