If landscape comes first in urban and regional planning, and in building and public space projects, then nature becomes a driver. Landscape architecture brings human action and intention together with natural forces. Biodiversity, ecology, soil, water, plants and animals are therefore part of the project from the very beginning.

This is not a new idea. Earlier cultures have lived in close dependence on nature, embedded within it rather than apart from it. The principle is also reflected in § 112 of the Norwegian Constitution: “Everyone has the right to an environment that ensures health, and to a nature where productive capacity and diversity are preserved.”

Practising this principle means weaving human activity together with natural processes in the projects and places that lie ahead.

The exhibition explores what this can mean in practice across different scales, from the Oslo region to the schoolyard, and from food and play to soil layers and Arctic landscapes.

Among the themes explored are how the boundary of the Marka forest can develop into a rich edge landscape, how parks can function as living infrastructure, and how logistics areas can become places of regeneration. Water-retaining landscapes are considered in relation to the food they can produce, while the depth and layers of the landscape become a design tool. Municipalities and landscape architects explore a renewed coordinating role in urbanism, children are invited to become co-creators of landscapes in transition, and the High North offers new perspectives on how we can plan and shape places in response to rapid climate and environmental change.

Together, the projects ask: What does it mean to design with nature, rather than around it?

EXHIBITION IN TWO LOCATIONS

What if the landscape comes first? is presented at two locations during the Oslo Architecture Triennale.

A smaller part of the exhibition is shown at Sofienberg Church from 17 September to 1 October as part of the Oslo Architecture Triennale.

The main exhibition at AHO is open from 17 September and runs until 1 October.

SOFIENBERG CHURCH

17 September–1 October

Sofienberg Church
Rathkes gate 18, Oslo

AHO GALLERY

17 September–1 October

Opening hours
Weekdays, 08:30–15:00

Location
AHO Gallery
Maridalsveien 25, Oslo

Integrated Master’s Programme in Landscape Architecture, AHO–UiT, in collaboration with the Co-Regenerative Landscapes research group at AHO.

The programme on 24 September has been developed in collaboration between AHO and NMBU, bringing together teaching, research and practice from the two landscape architecture programmes through a seminar, a walking tour and discussions at Sofienberg Church.

SEMINAR - What if Landscape Comes First?

24 September, 09:00–13:00

Room A2, AHO, Maridalsveien 25, Oslo

PROGRAMME

09:00–09:10 – Welcome

09:10–09:30 – What if landscape comes first?
Line Oma, Secretary General, Norwegian Association of Landscape Architects (NLA)

09:30–09:50 – What if ecosystems shaped the city?
Elisabeth Sjödahl, Professor of Landscape Architecture, AHO
Eva Breitschopf, Plant Ecologist and Lecturer, AHO

09:50–10:10 – What if play could unfold with nature?
Silje Kolltveit, Architect MNAL and Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, AHO / Studio Sted

10:10–10:20 – Break

10:20–10:40 – What if Oslo’s park system became living infrastructure?
Nuno Almeida, Landscape Architect MNLA and Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, AHO

10:40–11:00 – What if landscape architects defined urbanism?
Marja Skotheim Folde, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, AHO
Fredrik van der Horst, Landscape Architect, AHO

11:00–11:20 – What if landscape practice came first?
Kjerstin Uhre, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, UiT The Arctic University of Norway

11:20–11:40 – Break

11:40–12:00 – What if the Marka border expanded into an edge landscape?
Karin Helms, Professor of Landscape Architecture, AHO

12:00–12:20 – What if we reimagined Oslo as a Hydropolis?
Sabine Müller, Professor, AHO

12:20–13:00 – Joint discussion

13:00–14:00 – Lunch break and further discussions

GUIDED WALK

24 September, 14:00–16:00
From AHO to Sofienberg Church

The walking tour is part of the joint programme between AHO and NMBU and is carried out in collaboration with Oslo Elveforum. The walk starts at AHO and follows the Akerselva River with Oslo Elveforum, before continuing to the rain gardens in Københavngata and Sofienberg Park.

1. Walk along the Akerselva River
Trygve Riis, Oslo Elveforum

2. Presentation of the rain gardens in Københavngata, approx. 15:00
Sally O’Halloran and Line Rosef, Associate Professors at the Department of Landscape Architecture, NMBU

3. Microhabitat safari in Sofienberg Park
Kaja Brendeland, Urban Tree Manager, Agency for Urban Environment
Wiel Haugejorden Rist, Landscape Architect, Bergknapp

After the walking tour, the group continues to Sofienberg Church, where there will be time to visit the exhibition before the programme continues with presentations and conversations throughout the afternoon and evening.

From blue, green and brown infrastructure to rain gardens, microhabitats and systemic change: through talks, site visits, presentations and conversations, 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 successful individual projects towards an approach to urban development where nature comes first?

At Sofienberg Church, projects pointing towards new ways of working will be presented, before landscape architects, researchers, planners, public-sector professionals and other stakeholders come together to discuss what needs to change in the planning and construction sectors.

PROGRAMME AT SOFIENBERG CHURCH

16:00–16:30 – Coffee and mingling

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

It is possible to take part in the full programme from AHO, join the walk from 14:00, or come directly to Sofienberg Church from 16:00.

Date: Thursday 24 September
Location for the final part: Sofienberg Church, Rathkes gate 18
Language: Mainly Norwegian. Some contributions may be in English.
Admission: Free

The programme at Sofienberg Church is also listed as a separate event in the Oslo Architecture Triennale programme.