'As' is a municipality part of the Oslo region whose population will double in the next 25 years. An important reason for this development is the expected growth in the Oslo region. Besides that the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), the university located in As, expects a strong growth the next coming years.

The area surrounding the train station of As will play an important role in these future developments. Not only due to the fact that it has been the heart from which the municipality has grown in recent years, but also because this site is seen as the gateway to the university, which is located a few miles away from the station. At the moment a couple of buildings are located on the site; the house of famous Norwegian artist Odd Tandberg, the villa Asheim House and an office building.

In the near future As will transform from a village in a rural setting into a small city. The proposed urban strategy is to clarify the borders between rural and urban in order to strengthen the qualities of both the countryside and the city.

To create this border, a green cultural corridor is introduced that makes a connection between the centre of As and the UMB. This corridor is car free and will guarantee a safe and fast connection for pedestrians and cyclists. Moreover this corridor will also house the public program, which will be needed at the moment when the city will expand.

Perpendicular to this corridor a high-density housing strip is proposed that will anticipate to the high demand of houses in the near future.

The starting point of this new development is located directly next to the station on the intersection of the green corridor and the urban strip. On this site program of both UMB and the city will be brought together within a walled garden, a hortus conclusus

SUMMARY

Location: As, Norway

Client: Municipality of As, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB)

Area: 20.000 m²

Program: Entrance pavilion, Tandberg museum, artist in residence, sculpture garden, theatre, Learning centre and congress area, student housing, parking

Architect: Office Jarrik Ouburg & laura alvarez architecture

Team: Laura Alvarez, Jarrik Ouburg

Status: SECOND PRIZE

Europan 12, International competition 2014