The physical manifestation of Vestli, the characteristic staircase shaped terraced housing units are highly visible amidst the otherwise green surroundings. Constructed from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s by developer Selvaag, Vestli was planned as a car-free neighbourhood separating traficated streets and pedestrian lanes.

Following a period of negative development with challenges in terms of the living conditions in the neighbourhood, in 2017 Vestli was appointed as a new area for “områdeløft” – a public area-based initiative concentrating resources towards a place to improve living conditions.

This year they teamed up with Oslo Architecture Triennale for a partnership to explore the future potential of the neighbourhood’s main square and the possibility of creating an inclusive meeting hub for public services and for the municipality to meet its citizens (or the other way around). After a competition featuring architectural practices Lala Tøyen, Pir II, MMW and Fragment, the latter was appointed winner and is now developing a temporary community house adjacent to the square. In September 2022 there was arranged for å public meeting in Vestli, involving the neighbours in the development.

The community house project at Vestli is exhibited at the 2022 Oslo Architecture Triennale, as part of the exhibition Oslo in the Making. The house is planned to be completed in the spring of 2023.

Other contributors:

• Groruddalssatsingens delprogram nærmiljø
• Coop Eiendom Norge AS
• The Agency for Planning and Building Services, the City of Oslo
• The Agency for Urban Environment, the City of Oslo
• Fragment
• Lala Tøyen
• MMW arkitekter
• Pir II Oslo