The first part of the new facilities opened in 2018 near the existing Fossli hotel. The hotel (720 m above sea level) is a family-run business that was established in 1880. From the new parking lot with a small service building – all in the contemporary, architectural look and feel of the Nasjonale Turistveger – you soon reach the place it is all about: the edge of the valley with a network of subtle yet easily identifiable trails and viewpoints that offer dramatic views into the canyon from high above the valley. The network is connected to two locations: the hotel on the east side of the waterfall and one on the north side. The construction of several larger and smaller platforms allows visitors to spread out over the area and gives many of the places an intimate feel. The structures have been incorporated into the landscape so well that it is easy to be enthralled by the environment, despite the size of the platforms. You cannot help but lose yourself in the thundering and crashing beneath you. The water plunges down almost 200 metres in the small gorge.
Close to the grand Vøringsfossen
Global cities of the future
Enchanting landscapes
An extraordinary garden in Nantes
good hope for Cape town
navy yard becomes city park in St Petersburg
extremes
The journey by car between Hotel Fossli in Norway and Khayelitsha in South Africa is almost 15,000 kilometres. An enormous distance not only in terms of kilometres, but also landscape, climate, culture, wealth, human conditions, safety. In the township of Kayelitsha, architects and landscape architects are working on a pilot project: a schoolyard is to be transformed into a sustainable hub, a test bed or example of what a safer and greener living environment could look like, with trees, with good water management and food production.
It's an environment surrounded by fences, because it's a dangerous place. If you go outside, don't be surprised if you're held at gunpoint.
Another kind of dangerous is the environment of the Vøringsfossen, one of the biggest waterfalls in Europe. One false step and you could fall into the deep ravine. That’s why they are making secure footpaths, bridges and viewing platforms. Moreover, these works are an ode to the immense beauty of the Norwegian landscape.
I’ve never been to a township and I don’t know if I want to. I admire architects and planners who work there. I have been to
Vøringsfossen, and for sure I would like to go there again. It seems perverse – the rich and the poor, the struggle to survive and at the same time to enhance beauty. I guess we all know it. And
will keep thinking about it. This fourth e-zine of scape will help you with that.
Harry Harsema
norway's icon
close to the vøringsfossen
At the edge of the silent, vast and imposing Hardangervidda plateau we descend into Eidfjord, surrounded by tall mountains. Overwhelmed by the immense beauty of the Nordic landscape, we arrive without realising it at one of the most important tourist attractions of the country: the Vøringsfossen. Halfway between the plateau and sea level in the fjord is one of Europe’s highest waterfalls. Vøringsfossen lives up to its name: proud (vyrd) waterfall (fossen). Yet it is easy to miss. From the road, only the much smaller waterfall on the other side is visible. To discover Vøringsfossen's beauty, you have to go to viewpoints at the Fossli hotel, situated a little further away at the top of the fjord. There, a special trail with several viewpoints reveals the grandeur of the waterfall. Further away toward the east the plateau gleams, in the west the impressively deep valley stretches towards the sea, beneath you the swirling ribbons of water.
The complexity and immensity make Vøringsfossen a tourist attraction, and it has been included in the famous Norwegian Scenic Routes programme. It is one of the three ‘icon projects.’ The programme was started in the late 1990s to open up the country's 18 most beautiful natural landscapes to the public. The aim is to improve the experience of nature as well as the quality and safety of these tourist routes. Architecture plays a key role. The Norwegian architects firm Hølmebakk won the design competition for Vøringsfossen in 2009. Their design creates a new experience of the river and the waterfall. The concept consists of a number of viewpoints, bridges and footpaths that will eventually form a continuous 900 metre walk from Fossatromma up to the Hotel at Fossli. Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk: ‘I think it was the stair bridge that appealed to the jury… it was an important piece that made the walk around the ravine shorter, and certainly more dramatic’ (in A+U). The idea of a bridge over the waterfall was inspired by a well-known Norwegian fairy tale, Three Billy Goats Gruff, in which the billy goats walk over a bridge above a waterfall where a troll lives.
Part one of the project has been completed and reveals the amount of love, dedication and subtlety that was poured into the construction of this route. Due to the architecture and use of materials – concrete, gravel and sandblasted stainless steel – the route appears to float above the surface, at times making way for the rocky ground. The colour palette has been adapted to match the environment and the grey, damp and often foggy weather. It is a complicated project on a difficult terrain with height differences, irregular ground surfaces and damp conditions. Several models were created and measurements made using a terrestrial laser scanner, yet testing and adjusting on location remains necessary. As a result, the architects can often be found on the terrain working with ropes, wooden laths and so on. One Hølmebakk’s rules was that the geometry of the viewing platforms should ‘snap’ on to the edge, so that if you are standing by the railing, you look 150-200 metres straight down the cliff. Using elements made of sandblasted stainless steel allows adjustments to be made on the spot. The construction is being carried out without blasting work or the removal of indigenous vegetation.
The project will be carried out in three phases. Phase 1 has been completed: the higher area near Hotel Fossli. Phase 2 is currently under construction. Part of this is the spectacular footbridge which will be installed next May. Phase 3 will start in 2021: the lower area.
Project Vøringsfossen Waterfall Area
Location Vøringsfossen, Eidfjord, Norway
Design 2009 – ongoing
Implementation 2009 – ongoing
Commissioned by National Tourist Routes in Norway
Photos Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk (CVH), Rickard Riesenfeld (CVH), Per Berntsen, Norfilm, Daphne de Bruijn
Designers Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk AS
with Rickard Riesenfeld, Hilde Rostadmo, Anette Bringsverd, Quentin Le Guen-Geoffrey, Lone Sjøli, Jan Martin Klauza, Stefan Hurrell, Niklas Lenander, Halvard Amble, Elisabeth Øymo, Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk
Technical consultants Kristoffer Apeland AS (structural engineer), Finn-Erik Nilsen AS (structural engineer), Aalerud Hamar, Multiconsult (HVAC), IBR elprosjekt, Multiconsult (services engineer), Multiconsult (geology), Multiconsult, Structor (traffic), Holo Consult, Villvin landskap (vegetation)
Contractors Mesta AS, O L Kythe AS, Consolvo AS
The second phase will create a connection between the lower lying Fossatromma (650 metres above sea level) and the area near Fossli. The waterfall will be crossed by a spectacular and poetic footbridge, directly above the crashing waters. The bridge, probably the most striking element of the whole project, is due to be completed in May 2020. For the less adventurous, an alternative route via the old bridge further upstream will be constructed. In addition, the network of footpaths will be expanded and small terrain stairs, safety railings, fences and smaller look-out platforms will be built. Because of the cost and the work schedule, as much as possible will be prefabricated in winter and installed in summer. Phase 2 will be opened to the public in June 2020.
The third phase involves the Fossatromma. There, the existing parking lot along the road will be redeveloped and several buildings and facilities will be added to the area, including a cafe. This will become the western entrance to the area. A footpath towards the footbridge will be built and, in addition to smaller look-out platforms and bridges, another two main viewpoints will be added. One of those, the most westerly one, will also be accessible in winter. Phase three starts in 2021 and should be finished in 2024.
Five future global cities –
What is happening in the global cities of the future? We all know that Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro and Mumbai are booming. But which cities are surpassing these megacities in terms of
their growth, innovation and creativity?
Journalist Stephanie Bakker and photographer Yvonne Brandwijk are the creators of a web documentary that presents stories about five upcoming global cities, with contributions from
pioneers, visionaries, trendsetters and young talent. A fashion designer from Kinshasa, a chef from Lima, a visual artist from Yangon, a programmer from Medellín and a world-famous
dancer from Addis Ababa. They are impressive stories with beautiful images and sound. The cities central to the documentary have never taken growth into consideration and have never
thought about effective organisation of the urban space. This has always happened organically. Future Cities shows that cultural and creative development can lead to sustainable
development.
Go to Future Cities
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moving pictures
Le Jardin extraordinaire
Recreating the Nantes of Jules Verne
Who is not familiar with the Grand Elephant from ‘Les machines de l’ile’ in Nantes? Similarly, the Estuaire art trail is another one of the more well-known attractions of the bustling port city on the west coast of France. But many new
projects are being developed, too. One of those is Jardin extraordinaire, designed by
Phytolab. This unusual garden was built within the abandoned quarry of Miséry de
Chantenay and is surrounded by 25-metre high cliffs which offer a beautiful view of the Loire. From one of these cliffs an impressive waterfall emerges, spreading a light mist over the tree
ferns, banana trees, papyrus and lotus that thrive in this moist climate. It is an El Dorado for the more than 200 types of plants that have been planted here and which benefit from the
micro-climate of the quarry, protected from the wind and facing south.
Many of the projects in Nantes honour the memory of Jules Verne, the father of science fiction, who was born here almost 200 years ago. Johanna Rolland, mayor of Nantes: “We wanted an
extraordinary garden, a garden that recreates the Nantes of surrealism, the Nantes of Jules Verne. The first phase of Le Jardin Extraordinaire is now open to the public. And plans are afoot
to build stairs and viewing platforms along the cliff walls.
Enchanting landscapes
Japanese landmarks reflected
‘Seeing the universe in a tiny thing’ is, according to Sandie Macrea, director of Room Artspace in London, typically Japanese. She is referring to the very precise, yet strange and melancholy
miniatures of the Japanese artist Takahiro Iwasaki (1975). The scale of Iwasaki’s work varies – Out of Disorder (Yonomori Line), for example, is so small that telescopes are used to magnify
the works. Iwasaki’s materials consist of everyday objects such as rolls of duct tape, toothbrushes and flowery kimonos, as well as human hair. He creates intricate, colourful cranes from the
strings used to bind books. His delicate handwork conveys the vulnerability of an urban or industrial landscape, whilst at the same time telling us something about how these places are
connected with the people who live there. Even if these places are not at all appealing, even if they are forbidden zones, such as Fukushima after the tsunami and nuclear disaster of 2011.
In the Reflection Model series Iwasaki focuses on iconic,
historical Japanese landmarks. The title refers to the reflection of these buildings in water – this reflection becomes tangible in the scale models. For this Iwasaki used raw cedar wood,
which further enhances the dream-like effect. An overview of his work was displayed at the Venice Biennale in
2017. In the short documentary Enchanted Landscapes, Iwasaki discusses his work and art connoisseurs reflect on his
fascinating oeuvre.
an observation
by silke rainen
This preview is optimised for desktop viewing and not supported by your smartphone or tablet. Click here to download the pdf.
former military island in St Petersburg
New Holland restored
New Holland, the old island in Russia’s St Petersburg, is one of the city's most important monuments. Tsar Peter the Great had this ‘city within the city’ built in 1719, for use by the navy. To transport materials for shipbuilding, he had Dutch engineers dig a series of canals with a triangular island in between, which soon came to be known as New Holland due to its resemblance to Amsterdam.
In the second half of the twentieth century, the area became disused and fell into disrepair. West 8 restored the ‘landmark’ and gave it a new urban function: the island is now open to everyone who is looking for some relaxation and entertainment in the middle of the crowded city.
On the north side of the island, the green promenade along Admiralty Canal has been renovated. New pavilions and benches to rest on have been placed among the trees. In the middle of the island is the basin where barges once moored and unloaded their cargo of shipbuilding timber. This basin has been renovated and a new balustrade and light fixtures have been installed. The inner basin now serves as a public space thanks to the system of pontoons, and turns into an urban beach during summer. Two bridges across the basin create a safe through-route for visitors.
The metal foundry is built in de 19th century. Around the terrace a herb garden has been planted, which is used by the new restaurant located in the foundry. With over thirty species, the garden is a heaven of colours, smells and flavours. The coming years will see further restoration of the buildings and the island will be enriched with new functions.
Project redevelopment of navy yard into a city park
Location St Petersburg, Russia
Masterplanner and Landscape Architect
West 8
In collaboration with Spectrum Group; PJC Light Studio; Linda Bird; Ludi Architects; Sergey Bukin; Richter Spielgerate, Alexander Frontov and Architects; Demtra LLC, SZTK LLC, VM LLC
Commissioned by New Holland Cultural Urbanization (run by New Holland Development LLC and ANO New Holland, part of Roman Abramovich group)
Area 7.2 ha
Design 2013 – 2016 (phase 1); from 2016 (phase 2, 3 & 4)
Implementation 2011 – 2025
new issue scape #16
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DOSSIERS
UNCERTAINTY
How can we deal with unpredictability in urban planning and design? What kinds of tools and techniques are needed. What shifts in thinking?
BEAUTY
The theme is perhaps the most important building block in our discipline: beauty. What is it? What makes it so difficult to talk about? Why is it so elusive?
ESSAY
THE CITY AS OASIS by Thomas Sieverts
The encroachment of wild plants and animals into the urban landscape – reinterpreting and redesigning the city as a Noah’s Ark for biodiversity in a world of shrinking species numbers.
PHOTO ESSAY
UTOPIA by Sebastian Wells
PORTRAIT
Architect Arna Mačkić, born in Yugoslavia, is partner in the Dutch based office Studio LA. Many of their projects are concerned with mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion, refugees, collective identity and the public domain.
REVIEWS
THE HIDDEN GARDEN
Amager Bakke (Copenhagen), Lace Garden (Amsterdam), Lowline (New York), Nemos Garden (Ligurian Sea), Villa Senar (Weggis), Sacca Sassola (Venice Lagoon)
Contributors /
Lisa Diedrich, Andrea Kahn, Silke Rainen, Marieke Berkers, Christel Lindgren, Daphne de Bruijn, Harry Harsema and others
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Ezine 4 / 2019
Text
Silke Rainen, Daphne de Bruijn, Harry Harsema, Martine Bakker
Translation & Text editing
Sara Butler, Jackie Harsema
Design, concept & realisation
Daphne de Bruijn
Published by
Blauwdruk Publishers
