Jessheim Hage Wins Architecture Prize
The Architecture Prize for Ullensaker municipality is awarded for the second time following the initiative of mayor Eyvind Jørgensen Schumacher, who emphasized the importance of architects and developers going a little further to create good living environments. The award emphasizes that the project helps to revitalize the classic terraced house typology, and in that way appears as a model project for the architecture profession.
It was a great honor to walk around Jessheim garden with the winner's plaque for Ullensaker municipality's own architecture award after the ceremony in Ullensaker town hall. The nomination had not gone unnoticed by the residents, and young and old inhabitants we met were enthusiastic and happy that Jessheim Hage had received this years award.
The Architecture Prize for Ullensaker municipality is awarded for the second time following the initiative of mayor Eyvind Jørgensen Schumacher, who emphasized the importance of architects and developers going the “ekstra mile” to create good living environments. The award emphasizes that the project helps to revitalize the classic row house typology, and in that way appears as a model project for the architecture profession. In the jury's report, Jessheim garden is highlighted as:
"Thoroughly thought out and identity-creating for Jessheim, and ground-breaking in site development for the time it was built. It proves that you can achieve a similarly high degree of utilization with dense/low-rise buildings, as with block buildings, and is therefore an important concept, both for Jessheim and for other cities in the country.
In his acceptance speech, architect Erik Olav Marstein said:
“When we started work on Jessheim Hage, row houses as a house type was actually a form of housing that was a bit "out". “Row house” associations for most people were homes in repetitive and somewhat boring rows of houses that looked exactly the same. They were seen as a bit small and awkward, and were at best a temporary stop in a "housing career", where most had set a detached house as their goal and standard. With Jessheim Hage, we have tried to change this. We have organized the homes around green, car-free yards. We have designed houses of different sizes, shapes and colours, and set ourselves the goal that all residents, from 3 to 80 years of age, should be able to point out which house they live in and belong. At holidays, young and old can gather in the communal gardens to celebrate May 17 or light the Christmas tree. Jessheim hage has become a neighbourhood, a home for people. Site development in short! “
Read more