Innovations in Urban Hydrology at Holalokka, Norway

Holalokka, by Dreiseitl, in Oslo, Norway. Water has always served as inspiration for some of the greatest renovation projects, as is the case with Holalokka, bearing the signature trademark of Dreiseitl. This project was commissioned by the City of Oslo, Norway and had 13.3 Multiconsult as faithful partner. Covering an area of 2 ha (5 acres), it was completed in 2007 and it demonstrated once more how amazing the blend between urban hydrology and landscape architecture actually is. Holalokka was part of a larger scale restoration project of the Norwegian River Alna. In choosing the design elements, the talented team working on the project considered the importance of storm water management, using water as a central element of the new urban park and adding plenty of informal recreation areas as satellite elements.

Holalokka, Oslo, Norway

The main idea of the project was to release the beautiful Alna River from its concrete prison, bringing it to its natural form and thus creating one of the most incredible projects in the field of urban planning. Today, it is enough to look at the soft planted banks and at the pond areas, in order to understand what a successful creation is all about.

The Understatement of the Century To state that the architects and engineers working on the project had a unique perspective would be the understatement of the century. The concept of re-naturalization was primordial for this project, as it allowed for the creation of a unique habitat. What resulted was an urban park with amazing green spaces and plenty of water elements to satisfy the thirst of visual aesthetics of prospective residents. The interesting thing is that the water elements have been chosen so as to guarantee the sustainable management of the river at the same time. Water Elements, Signs of Finesse and Elegance Leonardo da Vinci once said that water is the driving force of all nature. Taking a look at the design of Holalokka, it is quite easy to agree with above statement. It is amazing how the natural qualities of the Alna River were restored, being blended into the urban area to perfection. The water elements appear as signs of finesse and elegance, completing the urban picture. Delicate pathways create a connection between the river and the local circulation, offering a wealth of recreation possibilities. Definitely Good Enough to Swim in According to the talented team that has worked on the project, the water matches the highest standards of quality, being so good that one could easily swim into it. With such thoughts in mind, the bathing pond and the beach were created as central elements of the park. It seems that every element has been considered with regard to the people who will be coming to this urban location – just take a look at the wooden deck, which represents the perfect place to get a tan. And if you are all about visuals, you will certainly enjoy the view from the wooden deck. You will have the opportunity to look straight at the cascade elements, which are wonderful to say the least. See More Projects Featuring Atelier Dreiseitl:

• How The Chicago City Hall Green Roof is Greening the Concrete Jungle
• Potsdamer Platz in Berlin Becomes a Sustainable Ecofriendly Urban Square
• How Bishan Park Became “The Central Park” of Singapore

Sustainable water management, one of the main objectives of the project This project becomes even more amazing once we stop and consider the way it covered the concept of sustainable water management. The paradox is that, even though there were a lot of technical aspects of water management to integrate into the urban park, this is not obvious when looking at how relaxed and attractive the atmosphere of the park actually is. Holistic Thinking Leads to Great Design Features The experienced team working on the project managed to combine the storm water management from the nearby industrial buildings directly into the river system. Moreover, rainwater was collected from the roofs and transmitted through the most interesting surface details directly to the biotope area. In this area, the rainwater goes practically through a cleansing process, being then slowly released for irrigation purposes. A Project That Speaks From the Heart In conclusion, Holalokka is the kind of project that speaks from the heart. Combining elements from both urban hydrology and landscape architecture, it is a bold design statement. On one hand, it promotes a relaxed park atmosphere, with water elements drawing attention wherever you go. On the other hand, for those with an eye for detail, it is all about sustainable development, using modern technologies for capturing rain and storm water. Interesting enough, from whichever perspective you decide to look at things, water remains the central element of this amazing project! Full Project Credits: Project title: Holalokka Landscape architects: Dreiseitl Partner in charge: Dieter Grau Project engineer: Andreas Bockemühl, Stefan Brückman Team: Ulf Glänzer, Jessica Read Client: City of Oslo Partner: 13.3. Multiconsult Area: 2 ha / 5 acres Completion: 2007 Show on Google Maps

Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design  by Alex Krieger
• The Urban Design Handbook: Techniques and Working Methods (Second Edition) by Urban Design Associates

Article by Alexandra Antipa Return to Homepage

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