From blue, green and brown infrastructure to rain gardens, microhabitats and systemic change. Through talks, a site visit, presentations and discussions, we explore what needs to change if nature is truly to become a premise for how we plan and build our cities.

How do we move from good individual projects to urban development where nature comes first? What needs to change in planning, design and construction, and how can landscape, water, vegetation and soil become fundamental premises for the development of the city?

The day begins at AHO with a professional programme on blue, green and brown infrastructure. From there, we move out into the city to look more closely at rain gardens and microhabitats in practice, before the programme continues at Sofienberg Church.

Here, projects that point towards new ways of working are presented, before landscape architects, researchers, planners, public-sector professionals and other actors come together to discuss what needs to change in the planning and construction sector.

Programme:

09:00–14:00 – Professional programme at AHO

Seminar on blue, green and brown infrastructure and how landscape can take on a stronger role as a premise for planning.

With, among others, Elisabeth Sjödahl, AHO, Eva Breitschopf, AHO, and Line Oma, NLA.

The programme concludes with a joint discussion and lunch.

14:00–16:00 – Site visit from AHO towards Sofienberg

Walk from AHO along the Akerselva river and onwards towards Sofienberg.

Along the way, we visit the rain gardens in Københavngata with Sally O’Halloran, NMBU, and Line Rosef, NMBU, before ending with a microhabitat safari in Sofienbergparken with Kaja Brendeland, Agency for Urban Environment, City of Oslo, and Wiel Haugejorden Rist, Bergknapp.

16:00–16:30 – Coffee and mingling at Sofienberg Church

16:30 – Welcome
Line Ramstad, Director and Curatorial Lead, Oslo Architecture Triennale

17:00 – Ring 3 meets tree rings: Hovinskogen as a vision for an urban forest at Økern
Marcus Liam Klevmoen McKelvey, NMBU, and Henrik Hæhre Ingebrigtsen, NMBU

17:25 – Just wild it
Kaja Brendeland, Agency for Urban Environment, City of Oslo, and Wiel Haugejorden Rist, Bergknapp

17:45 – Conversation with young landscape architects
Line Oma, NLA, in conversation with the recently graduated landscape architects who presented the projects.

18:05 – Break

18:15 – Panel discussion: What does it take to accelerate the green transition?
Moderated by Line Oma, NLA

The discussion begins with short perspectives on what needs to change at different levels:

What needs to change in the way designers and consultants work?

What needs to change at a systemic level, including contracts and specification standards?

What needs to change politically and at the municipal planning level?

What needs to change on the construction site?

With Kine Halvorsen Thorén, NMBU, Sally O’Halloran, NMBU, Henrik Gay Berntsen, NMBU / Agency for Urban Environment, City of Oslo, and Kathrine Omnia Strøm, NMBU / Norconsult.

The short contributions are followed by a joint panel discussion.

Approx. 19:00 – Café conversations
All participants are invited to join discussions in smaller groups.

19:30 – Plenary summary
Line Oma, NLA

19:50 – Closing remarks
Line Ramstad, Oslo Architecture Triennale

Practical information:

Date: Thursday 24 September
Starting point: AHO, or join us directly at Sofienberg Church at 16:30 for the final part of the programme.
Closing: The programme concludes at Sofienberg Church with beer and mingling.
Language: Mainly Norwegian. Some contributions may be in English.
Admission: Free

The event is part of the Oslo Architecture Triennale.