Schmidt Hammer Lassen Wins Oslo Masterplan Competition

The plan consists of a hotel and conference center, housing, cafes and retail areas, offices and a day-care center, all meant to evoke "a strong sense of community and urban life," according to the Copenhagen-based architects. Further, "The new district will unify the main street of Hoff, Sofienlund down to Karenslyst and Bestumkilen, with an open, comfortable and inviting appearance. It will show a strongly defined framework for urban life by linking the area with the main transportation hubs."

Planned to be realized in phases, the new neighborhood consists of five blocks created by north-south and east-west streets. The buildings placed on the blocks form "internal passageways, shortcuts and promenades, making room for an extra layer in the street hierarchy," per the architects.

Schmidt Hammer Lassen Senior Partner Kristian Lars Ahlmark explains the shaping of the project:
 

We have proposed a framework that builds upon a basic idea about the space between the buildings. By creating a strong and diverse hierarchy consisting of streets, alleys, squares and plazas, we see a future city centre that will become a catalyst for the dense urban development of Skøyen. In this new centre everyday users or passersby will not only feel safe but also intrigued by the surroundings. By using the already existing qualities of the area, the central link to downtown Oslo, the public transportation hub and the presence of the Hoff river as natural drivers, we create a strong presence and interaction with the context.