Kjersti Monsen
How do you design meeting places in-between buildings in Arctic Northern Norway?
This self-initiated project builds a new urban structure every year, continuously exploring how to respond to the region’s harsh climate and address the evolving needs of the local community. Using practice-driven, systems oriented design, the project organizes and manages the diverse range of stakeholders involved, ensuring that local input remains central to the design process. By prioritizing social sustainability through active engagement, the project delivers tangible outcomes that enhance community well-being while adapting to the unique challenges of the Arctic environment.
Where?
The space used is found together with local authorities and decision-makers.
What?
We decide the function of the space through public participation. We engage broadly by focusing on groups that do not tend to be involved in urban development processes (particularly youth, elderly, disabled, and immigrants). Participation is collated and presented through illustration.
Design
Local-based architects design the new space. Professionals with an experience of living in the high north.
Celebration
When built, all who have been involved are invited to celebrate. This is when we see if the spaces are a success. If we respond to actual needs, these spaces will be full of people – despite the harsh weather.
Results
So far, three spaces have been built.
Tromsø (2021) is a pavilion that responded to the need for a sheltered and visible meeting point at a mobility crossroads, where ferry, bus, and the pedestrianized city centre meet.
Hansnes (2022) is an activity park. Besides the youth club, which is open two hours a week, Hansnes has no informal spaces for youth. The strange-looking benches could be resting places for the elderly or slide–and–play areas for children. They have also been used as stages for award ceremonies for local fun runs. The elevated lighting makes it inviting during the polar night.
Vadsø (2023) consists of sheltered spaces for play and recreation. Vadsø wished to reconnect with the sea. A “gapahuk” provides warmth from the bring-your-own-wood fire pit and surrounding shelter structure. A small viewing point outside doubles as a stage during the popular music festival Varanger festivalen. The structures are based on forms found in Kven heritage, bringing the local indigenous peoples’ culture into a new urban structure.
Profile
Kjersti Monsen is the general manager of NODA. She is a trained architect with experience from Helen & Hard, 70N Arkitektur, and Asplan Viak. She has studied around the world, most recently taking programming and management subjects at UiT.
NODA is a membership association dedicated to promoting the significance of design and architecture. Its membership is primarily comprised of design and architecture companies in Northern Norway. The association emphasises the impact, profitability, and value of design and architecture for both business and the public sector through various events, such as seminars, workshops, lectures, courses, and exhibitions. noda.no