MSc Architecture, Royal Institute of Technology
Year 2, Spring 2024
Housing Studio, individual work
Year 2, Spring 2024
Housing Studio, individual work
INTRODUCTION
The construction sector plays a significant role in global emissions and material consumption. While many industries have made environmental and climate protection a top priority, the construction industry persists in its extensive resource utilisation and inadequate efforts to mitigate escalating waste production.
The practice of adapting, extending, and repurposing existing building stock was prevalent prior to the 19th century, as built structures embodied valuable resources and many hours of work. In Norway, the tradition of reusing buildings, either in fragments or as complete assemblies, dates back to the 6th century. Houses and their materials were particularly valuable, fostering a culture of repair, refurbishment, and reuse of resources. These practices started to change with the onset of industrialisation; supply had to meet the increasing demand, and construction methods became more efficient and fast-paced with new technology. Profitability and efficiency outvalued quality and longevity. Essentially, this shift put an end to the practice of repairing cities and their building stock.
Today, the prevailing perception regards buildings as disposable entities. Demolition has become a default solution once a building is no longer needed or outdated, and alteration is rarely considered. The resistance towards adaptation stems from various concerns, largely centred around the uncertainties and potential increases in time and cost.
While acknowledging the complexities of the practice of reuse, embracing the existing building stock and materials can result in remarkable projects. Utilising existing structures and materials more efficiently and prolonging their lifecycle within the supply chain presents a viable strategy for emissions reduction and optimal resource utilisation. Moreover, transforming existing structures for new purposes not only promotes sustainable development but also preserves their historical and cultural value. Rehabilitation and reuse allow for the integration of modern amenities while retaining the character of the original building and the collective memory and identity of communities.
APPROACH
Given the current prominent housing challenges in Oslo and the urgent need for the building industry to adopt more sustainable ways to deal with existing structures, it is crucial to address both social and environmental aspects in this Thesis proposal.
PRESERVATION
Post-war modernist architecture from the 1950s to the 1970s, though often underappreciated by the general public, constitutes a significant portion of the building stock in most developed countries. Despite their lack of widespread admiration, these buildings represent a valuable resource due to their simple structural systems and inherent flexibility, offering great potential for adaptive reuse and sustainable redevelopment.
Post-war modernist architecture from the 1950s to the 1970s, though often underappreciated by the general public, constitutes a significant portion of the building stock in most developed countries. Despite their lack of widespread admiration, these buildings represent a valuable resource due to their simple structural systems and inherent flexibility, offering great potential for adaptive reuse and sustainable redevelopment.
Moreover, the Økern centre holds significant historical and architectural importance. When the Økern high-rise was constructed in 1969, it became Norway’s tallest business and office building. Situated in an area with few prominent orientation points, the high rise has served as a crucial landmark for travellers navigating the area. Its presence has established Økern as a symbolic centre within a landscape dominated by infrastructure.
The high-rise further reflects international influences of its time, characterised by its curtain wall facades and simple structural system, and remains a notable example of post-war modernism in Oslo.
CIRCULAR REUSE
Considering the urgency for more sustainable building practices globally, and increasing interest and facilitation of reuse in building projects in Norway, the reuse of building materials at Økern can play a vital and intriguing role, both in terms of sustainability and the preservation of the building.
Considering the urgency for more sustainable building practices globally, and increasing interest and facilitation of reuse in building projects in Norway, the reuse of building materials at Økern can play a vital and intriguing role, both in terms of sustainability and the preservation of the building.
CO-ARCHITECTURE
The production of small apartments is a notable trend in Oslo today. This trend is driven by the high demand for housing in the city, where space is limited and property prices are high.
The production of small apartments is a notable trend in Oslo today. This trend is driven by the high demand for housing in the city, where space is limited and property prices are high.
In large-scale urban developments, this trend can lead to a lack of variety in housing types. Introducing shared living concepts in such a development can add diversity to the housing stock, and address some of the social, environmental, and economic challenges associated with modern urban living.
CONTEXT
The trafficked and industrial area of Økern is located in Oslo east, just outside the inner city boundary. The area’s history as a busy hub can be traced back to the 1950s; Økern became Oslo’s largest marketplace for agricultural products shortly after the Second World War and quickly established itself as a meeting place and an important hub with good opportunities for businesses.
Today, Økern is best known as a traffic hub due to its strategic location at the intersection of several key transport arteries. These include a bus station located next to the centre with 90 bus departures per hour, an integrated metro station with departures every three minutes, and multiple main roads passing through the area. This feature, together with Økern’s proximity to the city centre, highlights the area’s potential to become a new urban hub.
Over the years, Oslo city centre has been surrounded by various new urban centres, contributing to the city’s expansion. These areas include Skøyen, Majorstuen, and Nydalen. Økern, often referred to as ’the missing link,’ has been identified as the new centre in the east of the city as part of Oslo’s largest and most ambitious urban development plan, Hovinbyen.
Hovinbyen has been targeted as a site for mixed-use development, and several areas are currently undergoing rapid transformations from industrial to residential, commercial, and office spaces. Currently being the home of approximately 175,000 residents, the Hovinbyen urban development plan aims to accommodate an additional 70,000 people by creating 30,000 to 40,000 new residences. Around 1,350 of the new homes are part of the current proposal for the Økern Centre development. Additionally, the plan involves adding 2.5 million square meters of commercial space, which is expected to generate between 50,000 to 100,000 new job opportunities.
THESIS PROPOSAL
This project presents a proposal for Økern’s high-rise with an approach of promoting the preservation of the historical and architectural significance of the building. The current detail plan for the development is followed to a great extent in terms of building height and program, as well as keeping within the extents of the existing high-rise. The primary objective has been to achieve a significantly higher degree of preservation and reuse of existing materials compared to the developers’ proposal for the high rise. Other focus points are on the conversion from offices to housing and the rehabilitation process.
It is widely observed that the prevailing mentality in the industry prioritises new construction, which subsequently slows down the progress of the reuse industry. This project aims to serve as a demonstrative example of reuse, with the intention of normalising and promoting this practice within the field.
The external design strategy emphasises the preservation of the existing facades while integrating interventions that align with the original facade grid. Specifically, these include the incorporation of balconies on the short facades and the replacement of coloured glass panels with windows on the long sides to allow for additional natural light to new apartments. Existing facade materials that were removed as part of these interventions have been relocated to the proposed top extension to create a continuous facade, and a thorough relocation strategy with detailed calculations was produced as part of this process.
Additionally, the proposal includes the incorporation of timber and glass structures at both the top and bottom of the building, however the intention is for the existing facades to remain the focal point.
PROGRAM
Decisions regarding the proposed program are based on the current detail plan for the development, with one exception. Although the top floor originally is designated for housing, a decision was made to make this space public and accessible to the wider community in this Thesis proposal, due to the building’s significance and it being the tallest building in the area. Public functions can also be found on the ground floor, alongside programs for residents.
The remaining 20 floors consist of apartments of various sizes and for diverse target groups. Emphasis is placed on flexibility within the units, allowing for the adjustment of interior partitions to better meet the specific needs and preferences of residents. Furthermore, existing components found in the high-rise allow for three floors with reused components in the apartments, potentially in exchange for a reduced rent.
Lastly, the building core is preserved on all 18 existing floors to better facilitate potential future changes in the use of one or more floors.
CONCLUSION
COMPARISON
While achieving a similar number of tenants and livable space per floor, my aim was to introduce greater variety and flexibility in apartment types to accommodate a more diverse tenant profile.
While achieving a similar number of tenants and livable space per floor, my aim was to introduce greater variety and flexibility in apartment types to accommodate a more diverse tenant profile.
Further on, the thesis proposal achieves a higher degree of preservation by reusing the facades, the core, and other materials listed in the schedules. This approach results in total CO2 savings of approximately 530 tons, excluding the concrete primary structure which the developers also plan to reuse.
Instead of working against the existing and making drastic changes to fit a specific set of apartments, this thesis proposal seeks to work with and around the existing, and find ways to complement the existing building features.
PHYSICAL MODEL: EXISTING AND NEW
SCALE 1:20
