|
|
||
|
(THE FOUNDATION FOR URBAN RENEWAL)
The Foundation for Urban Renewal was established on 21 December 1998 and has the following objects clause in the Articles of Association: “The object of The Foundation for Urban Renewal is to promote traditional architecture and urbanism. This is done both in Norway and abroad through investigation, projects and the dissemination of information, through cooperation with other organizations with similar objects, through exerting influence on public authorities and developers, and through other activities which are in accordance with the object of the Foundation.” BASIC CONCEPT OF THE FOUNDATION It is
self-evident that towns, smaller communities and buildings should be
designed to enrich the life of the individual and to encourage
constructive social activities among those who live there. But twentieth
century building development has to a large extent created chaotic towns,
depressing architecture and communities destroyed by traffic systems.
Solving these problems will require both creativity and renewed insight
into the traditional methods of approach that have proved successful in
the past. Through
its work, The Foundation for Urban Renewal wishes to contribute to
restoring continuity in the development of building style and urban
design. There is a need for a corrective to the desire of functionalism
and modernism to break with experience and tradition. This is because
modernism has created new problems rather than solving the challenges
society faces with regard to architecture and town planning, and also
because it is clear that traditional and local building styles appeal to a
need that is deeply rooted in a great number of people. Restoring
contact with our architectural heritage can for example mean moving
towards historical models through the use of established design systems
when building new developments in older parts of towns. Traditional
architecture can provide a wealth of ideas and elements which can be used
in diversified contemporary architecture. But
the point is not to reject all modernistic architecture in the same way
that many modernists reject all traditional architecture. The objective
must be to foster awareness of architecture and urban design so that the
best solution is chosen with regard to the case in question and the urban
environment under consideration. The
goal of urban development must be to fulfil a wide range of the needs of
the residents, including social and aesthetic qualities. To ensure that
emphasis is given to these needs, and to create a counterbalance to the
desire of the developers, politicians and architects for self-realization,
residents should increase their commitment and influence on decisions
which will affect local environments. ORGANIZATION The
Foundation for Urban Renewal is organized as a non-profit association
managed by a Board and with a manager who is responsible for getting the
activities under way. The Board is assisted by a committee which has
approximately 15 members. This committee gives feedback on the
Foundation’s projects and acts as an ideas bank for new activities. The
work of the Foundation depends on support from private sponsors and public
funds, e.g. cultural grants in connection with exhibitions and
arrangements. TASKS Activities
started or planned by the Foundation include: Encouraging
debates on architecture and town planning We
have arranged several discussion meetings in Oslo and Trondheim, and have
been active in public debates through newspaper articles and radio/TV
programmes. Exhibitions The
Foundation for Urban Renewal has organized several large exhibitions in Oslo
and one in Trondheim. These have been in connection with the international
touring exhibition "Urban Renaissance" under the auspices of the
organization A Vision of Europe, and a presentation of Norwegian projects
based on traditional architecture (e.g. Tullinløkka and Gamlebyen in
Oslo, and Bakklandet and Svartlamon in Trondheim).
Web-page Our
web site www.byen.org
is a comprehensive presentation of our ideas, both the theoretical aspects and through examples from Norway and
abroad. Lectures,
courses and study trips With
architects and other interested parties as target group, the Foundation
has arranged guest lectures (including lectures by Leon Krier and Andres Duany), a study
trip to England, and participation in congresses arranged by related
organizations. We aim to run courses on the practical aspects of
traditional architecture in the future. Alternative
projects The
Foundation took part in the public presentation of the alternative project
for Tullinløkka - Edvard Munchs Hall. We have also presented a project
for the placement of the collections in the Historical Museum at Sørenga
in connection with Middelalderbyen, a proposed development in Oslo. During
our exhibition in Trondheim in spring 1998 we showed our proposal for new
dwellings in appropriate style for Bakklandet in Trondheim. The proposal
roused great interest and contributed to the fact that Trondheim
municipality has so far shelved its plans for a modernistic new
development on the plots in question. Cooperation
with local residents groups Our
general experience is that active resident groups almost without exception
support suggestions based on preserving the distinctive features of the
area and creating new developments in a style adapted to that of existing
buildings. In connection with our proposal for the museum at Sørenga, we
have been in contact with local organizations in Gamlebyen, part of Oslo
town. In Trondheim we collaborated with the Svartlamon residents group to
present their alternative development plan for the threatened district. We
helped to finance the production of a video which was sent to all local
politicians to put forward the residents’ view on the demolition plans.
In the battle over the new development at Bakklandet we have been in
contact with the residents association, and have provided an exhibition
and other input for their arrangements. International
collaboration The
Foundation collaborates with groups in other countries who have similar
objectives. The most important cooperation at the moment is with A Vision
of Europe in Bologna on the development and presentation of international
exhibitions. A charter was approved during a conference in Bologna in 1996
at the opening of the exhibition Urban Renaissance “"
City of the New Renaissance". This is included in the objective for the
activities of the Foundation. In the near future, the Foundation will both
proceed further with ongoing projects and will be concerned with new
activities which will help us to reach our goals. For more information
please visit our web-page where there are also links to other related
groups in Norway and abroad. Those who would like to be kept informed of
our activities or who wish to participate actively in the work of the
Foundation can contact:
Geir Tandberg Steigan, Manager of The Foundation for Urban Renewal, geir.steigan@byen.org
Stiftelsen Byens Fornyelse |
||
|
||
Til første side | Bakgrunn | Nettverket | Arkitektur | Utstillinger | Prosjekter | Nytt | International |
||
