| PETTER
OLSEN, PIOTR CHOYNOWSKI, with JAPPE NIELSEN, GEIR HELLAND (consultants) This
project represents an alternative approach to the much debated outcome of a recent
competition, the second in the series, for one of Oslo's most significant central sites.
The city centre of Oslo is organized along a principal axis stretching from the Royal
Palace to the main Railway Station. The main buildings and institutions essential to a
civilised society, are arraigned along this axis.
The Palace, the University, the National Theatre, the Parliament and the Cathedral.
Slightly off this main axis, behind the University main building, two important museum
buildings were built around the end of the last century. The free space between them,
given to the city as a park for the benefit of its children, has become the object of much
controversy over the past years. In spite of the many proposals for its use and
development the space still serves as a parking lot.
This latest competition, its program reflecting almost total confusion, called for what
in effect would be an administration block for the two museums. T'he result of which would
permanently destroy the monumental potential of the site. It is not surprising that
submissions to the competition satisfied no-one, and that the debate continues. Rejecting
the program from this last competition as being irrelevant we propose instead that a
memorial hall in honour of Norway's greatest artist, the painter Edvard Munch, be erected
on the site. This building would be formed around, and be the embodiment of the very
central part of Munch's creation, 'Livsfrisen', 'The Frieze of Life'. This is not an
haphazard suggestion. It is intended that this should be a fundamental complement to his
thematically related great work in the decorations of the University Auditorium directly
adjacent to the site.
The frieze itself, composed of three groups of paintings: 'Love, Anxiety and Death', is
a reflection of the artist's concern with human destiny as well as being his existential
credo. It is also the core of Munch's lifework, with his most famous painting, 'the
Scream' as part of it. We propose that the bunding should have the form of a rotunda, a
form which expresses the timeless character and eternal validity of this work by Munch.
Further, that the detailing of the bunding should take up the language of the adjacent
University bunding, which in itself constitutes one of Norway's most important monuments
created by the joint effort of the Norwegian architect Christian H. Grosch and the most
celebrated architect of his epoch : Karl Friedrich Schinkel.
By placing this building between the two existing museums, we aim to fulfill the
composition which today lacks resolution and climax. A new axis, perpendicular to the main
route, leading from the cupola of the National Theatre, via the University's central
portico and auditorium within, to the new proposed Munch Memorial, will then be
established. By means of leading underground the street, which today crosses the site, a
new square could be created between the University Auditorium and the Munch's Memorial.
In order that a space of transitory nature be established between the Arcadian garden
of the University and the urban organism around, it is intended that this square be
finished in gravel or stone laid in a pattern and be bounded by columnar poplars. The
poplars would then partly screen off the two dominating back- elevations of the existing
museums, without concealing them. The bunding consists of the rotunda itself, domed in the
manner of the Roman Pantheon, where, on the Piano Nobile the Frieze will be exhibited
under the spherical dome.
The rooms attached to the main cylinder are intended for collections of the graphic
works related to the Frieze, and the decoration of the interior of the Rotunda will be
spartan in order to enhance the solemn monumentality of the building,in accordance with
the spirit of its intended contents. The two side pavillions will contain about 2000 sqm
office facilities and an underground connection can be established with the two museum
buildings.
Additional exhibition, meeting, storage, public arcades with shops, restaurants,
galleries etc and car parking facilities can be provided sub-terraneously by excavating
the total site - some 13.000 sqm.
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