COLLECTION OF SKETCHES AND MODELSBOOK 1 OF 3PLANS AND CONCEPTS OF SITE

FIRST THOUGHTSInitially, I fell for the idea of densifying close to the railway line - literally.

The very first thing I mapped out was where to be. I knew that I found the railway and existing detached houses interesting. But where could that be? And how? I also contacted the State Railways real estate developers and the authorities for railway infrastructure.

Prøv å sammenstille togbilder på en ny side og kun holde tidlige skisser på “First Thoughts”

I changed my mind. Something didnt feel right. I walked around Ganddal and started talking with people who lived and worked there. My approach changed. I ventured into participatory urbanism. I reached out my academic hand to 102 out of the 139 inhabitants.

The participating households was a guide for me, their inupt later gave way to concept models.

CHANGING MY MIND

Now my idea on the site was to take in consideration the destinations that the locals already had and used. This led me to strengthen and soften the existing streets and introduce some new links for pedestrians passing private gardens and properties.The school, the bus stop and the groceries shop.

With the strengthened connections between train station, shops, primary school and other destinations - I got a clear understanding and viewpoint of the site that did not change much.

READING THE EXISTING USE

COMPUTING THE AREAIt was important for me to also compute and digitalize the info I had. I early on made several digital models of the existing houses - and I also printed them in 2 measured batches for modelling, 1:500 and 1:200.

While working with computer, I learned to collect and systematize large amount of data. I also tried visualize different angles in virtual 3d-models. It worked complementary to site visits and hand sketching.

Here are some screenshots from the digital version of the study site.

After some weeks I got the feeling that I knew the area. I had talked with locals that lived there, talked with locals that worked there - and I knew what the authorities wanted and planned for the area. Programming the area seemed like the next step.

This was easiest for me to do by hand sketching. Here are the 2 most principal ones.

PROGRAMMING AREA

DEVELOPING A CONCEPT

It was important for me that the possible increased density of people, households, pedestrians and area use - could be distinguished into several zones. The increased pulse or beat of the site ought to be possible to be introduced in steps.

Also, wanting to keep things simple to present - I stressed for myselves that I only wanted 3 zones. I tried to develop 3 different zones, that still had a specific place quality but could be developed together. The central component between the zones would be the east-west connection.

UNDERSTANDING MOVEMENTSWhen the concepts of the site emerged - I also tried to understand the movements of the area. As many places, there was some strong paths and vectors of movement - other needed strengthening.

For me it was clear that the east-west connection between the school and the train station, between the doctors office and the park was to weak. The north-south connection was very strong, with the traditional road Jærveien and Jærbanen railroad connecting farming hinterlands south of the cities Sandnes and Stavanger.

SUGGESTING, TRYINGWhere should the extra apartments or houses be placed? Automatically on the larger properties?

I tried to merge the understanding of local hotspots with where sound and acceptable densification could happen. At the same time, I was trying to re-spect the design rules that the locals wanted - and my own principles for design.

It was clear pretty early that I wanted the school to “reach out” of the big box building across the street, so a school annexe came early. Also 2 of the east-facing gardens had a pretty nice landscape view, so I wanted to keep some of this available to the public.

STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SPACESWhen introducing a larger use of an area, its crucial to have the public amenities available and offered. If not the result could be that the everyday life will weaken and poor patterns could develop.

I wanted to introduce mixed use of buildings close to the main roads, existing shops and the school. In addition to this, I also tried to look at how the larg-est gardens could be developed into common gardens - on the road that kids walked to their school. Further, the increased density will give a greater need for shortcuts for walkers. I looked at where to connect the pedestrians and wanted to give more paths than there existed.

STRENGTHENING PUBLIC ROOMSWhen in Southwestern Norway, the ideals of urban situations from other climatic situations are not always easy to apply. Rooms for public use are also important when it is not sunny, pleasant weather.

I tried to introduce a school annexe and some restaurant rooms/dining rooms for locals. In addition to this, I also wanted a repair shop for bikes, cafe and business rooms close to the principal roads.

FURTHER PUBLIC ROOMS

UNDERSTANDING IN-BETWEENS

After zooming into some corridors or places where to intervene and add - I also got curious about the use of space.

I started looking into this - and found that not only walking distance to get there is important, but also the specific furnishings and physical scales of the in-betweens are important.

Boys and girls prefer different outdoor landscapes - and we all have varying preferences at different age. I will try to employ some of these insights when looking into the public spaces outdoors.

FURTHER COMPUTING

The computing process was part information gathering (reading reports), designing in architecture software and making graphic mock-ups of important traits of the site. I also made some analysis on the densification process and started presented what I knew and wanted to know.

DECIDING ZONES

After the research and design try-outs on movements and the site in general, I meant that some decisions ought to be taken.

I decided for 3 zones and developed exhibition panels for this. I tried to graphically and functionally distingguish them.

SETTING STEPS FOR DEVELOPMENT

I believe good design and good planning stands out in the long run. If so, the scheme or plan can obtain time depth, be absorbed into the society, accepted by locals and users.

One good way of achieving this, I believe is to anchor the change to the local experts - the people that live there. I wanted to create steps of development. My idea was that the first step started close to the school and the second step would be close to Kvernelandsveien road. The final step would be close to the new railway stop and existing shops.

I also wanted that the steps should be democratically or participatory started. But how to do this? Perhaps with apps, electronic voting or with crowd-sourced alternatives?

ZOOMING OUT AND CONNECTING

After a couple of talks with my tutor - I found that I had to zoom out further than the selected and loved streets close to the railroad track. I was advised to make a graphic and understand the area 5 minutes walk / 500 metres from the train station. I understand now, that this was important to anchor the pro-ject and to show that I understand the logistics and build-up of the Ganddal borough on an urban level - not only local level.

When I made the graphic of important streets and paths leading into the train station - I was urged to get further into this, to look at the sections of the paths and streets. I also looked into the different corridors and suggested public places and public buildings (or public programs in existing buildings).