This Norwegian capital always ranks high on those livable cities list, but unlike other Scandinavian capitals generally does not have that high a profile. With the release of Gehl Architects study – Face to the Fjord – here’s a chance to see the city in more detail. And see is the word, not read – unless you are proficient in Norwegian.
But the pictures are worth the click:
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And for a summary, check the post on the Gehl blog, Cities for People.
Plus, here’s something that may surprise you if you think northern European business communities have a more enlightened approach to public space:
A goal that is becoming more apparent after the completion of this PSPL is the need to merge the needs and wishes of a growing, young, and diverse population with the pressures from business interests who desire to maintain the current car focused culture in the city.
… businesses should see that pedestrian traffic is statistically likely to bring in more customers. People come to the city to socialize and enjoy cultural activities. They visit shopping destinations incidentally, but because more pedestrians can move through an area in an hour than car traffic, more revenue is ultimately generated.
Project leader for Levende Oslo (Lively Oslo) Yngvar Hegrenes states: “I think that we now know that we need to cooperate better, if we want to see more city life. City life is not only shopping, or going to bars, or drinking coffee. You have to give people other aims, other goals, in the city center.
“I think they [business owners] see more clearly now that the former regime, which focused on as much parking as possible, will never create any growth in the retail or business district. We have a need for the space to be put to better use.”
Yes, Oslo is quite beautiful and liveable, though also rather expensive.
For reference, the building in the first photograph is the new Opera House, the centrepiece of the ongoing eastern harbour redevelopment; as far as I know, it’s the only building of its kind where a performance is just as likely to be held on the roof as in the theatre. (The western harbour has already been redeveloped into a beautiful mixed-use community with apartments, restaurants, business offices, and an art museum.) The second is right in the centre of town – the yellowish building to the top right is the parliament building.
The city has a strong metro system for its size, and has kept its trams running (though the current Italian-built vehicles are in bad shape), and electric cars are common even by Norwegian standards.
The housing behind looks surprisingly low density.
Looks awesome .. But: in the winter ? Might not be so glorious …
Bob: Scandinavia goes more for sustained medium density – even in small towns, significant numbers of people live in 3-4-storey apartment buildings – but you do get residential towers clustered around stations in the suburbs.