Link | STEFANIA ADDIS

In the past, Fornebu’s airport activities used to provide connections between places worldwide. Our proposal for the development of Oxenøen Bruk consists of a structure which connects micro-societies to each other, and secures that communitarian spirit and individuality thrive side-by-side with the magnificent surrounding nature. Link connects past and present, nature and urbanity, as well as residential and office program. Informal gathering of “houses” Since 1920, Oxenøen Bruks development history has left behind visible traces of ambitious yet unpretentious architecture: an informal gathering of “houses” in close contact with nature and breathtaking views, including buildings by Oslo Town Hall architect Magnus Poulsson, as well as the famous headquarters for Norsk Skog by Lund & Hagem. Could we use this informality as a quality for the future development? Spatial City The French architect Yona Friedman describes in his Manifesto from 1958 “Mobile Architecture” a vision for the architecture of the 20 th century which is to respond to the upcoming needs for identity and flexibility by uniting the ideas of city as an infrastructural network and individual space customization into ‘The Spatial City’ – a 3 dimensional grid structure. Could the ideas behind the ‘The Spatial City’ inspire us to invent an urban development model which can secure a high-quality working and living environment in close contact with nature, while in the same time providing the necessary degree of flexibility to meet the shifting market demands for residential and working space? Modularity Link proposes an urbanizing strategy based on a modular structure that supports maximum flexibility, securing maximum adaptability to specific residential and office program requirements and percentage changes of residential and office space. Mini-societies 15 blocks of two or three levels and equal length are stacked on top of each other according to a pattern that secures exclusive and unique views of nature and Oslo fjord. The stacking of the blocks creates a vertical village with 15 mini-societies, connected to each other by means of a series of common and private outdoor spaces on all levels. Organizing the program in blocks contributes to creating a well-defined structure at a human scale related to the scale of the existent structure, which offers a wide range of possibilities for interaction, thereby providing a sense of safety, mini-neighborhoods and community. A network of public spaces The angled position of each block secures a high degree of privacy for each program unit, while the stacking of the blocks creates a network of public spaces all the way up. The open courtyards allow for connections to public green spaces towards north and south. Towards south, a plaza creates connections to the existing building structures and arrival area. Privacy and social contact All the blocks have balconies all the way round, thereby ensuring that nature is always close by for both residents and employees. The balconies contribute to creating a good working environment, while in the same time offering private extensions of the dwelling areas on both sides. The modular façade structure, reminding of the elegant wooden frames glass façade structure of Norsk Skog Konserncenter, features ‘open’ modules – sliding doors for easy balcony access, and ‘closed’ modules – which enable natural light control and different degrees of openness according to the different needs for natural lighting and privacy of each program. The balconies are extended with private terraces in the residential blocks offering exclusive water views. Courtyards, public terraces, balconies and private terraces offer multiple possibilities for a varied and rich outdoor life, common activities and social interaction between mini-neighborhoods protected by the dominant winds. Identity Link unites a variety of micro-environments and space for social co-existence and community, intimate private spaces and quiet life within an informal and lively building structure with urban qualities. Link’s human scale, simple materials and modest monumentality add up to create a remarkable building structure with a strong identity which signals the strength of the network as a sum of individual positions in constant exchange. Flexibility The blocks are carefully dimensioned to ensure optimal natural light conditions for both programs. All the blocks are accessed by means of cores which also provide access to the terraces and the underground parking level. The size of the blocks, together with the disposition of the cores and the load-bearing facades, allow for a variety of residential and office space typologies and sizes: one-level apartments, duplex, triplex, open-space office, office-cubicle, etc. The blocks also provide a large amount of exclusive corner office and residential space. The flexibility of the structure allows forpercentage increase and decrease ofoffice and residential space: increased residential space will offer the possibility of establishing residential units in the lower part of the structure in direct contact with the surrounding landscape, while increased office space will offer the possibility of extending the office program in the upper part of the structure with amazing views towards Oslo fjord and Holtekilen. Sustainability A series of features including modularity, positioning of the building mass, local CO2 neutral and energy efficient materials, integrated sun cells, rainwater gathering and recycling, along with the block structure supporting social interaction and exchange provide Link with social, environmental and economic sustainability.