C20 Is Supporting the Local Campaign to Save Erling Viksjø's 1969 Y-Block
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C20 is supporting the local campaign to save Erling Viksjø’s 1969 Y-Block government offices. James Simpson explains wh y it is a key work of Norwegian modernism Oslo mast erwork I saw the Y-Block in September 2017 on my way like. The work of I M Pei in Washington and Qatar back from a Building Limes Forum conference in and nearer home, Richard Murphy’s Carlo Trondheim. Despite my saying that I was not a Scarpa-inspired work in Edinburgh are among natural admirer of modern architecture, Siri the exceptions. I don’t think I have ever fallen in Hoem and Linn Willetts Borgen of the Norwegian love with an office block before. But Erling National Trust persuaded me to visit the Viksjø’s astonishingly beautiful building, government quarter in Oslo to see the Y-Block. combined with his adjacent high-rise block seem As a student in the 1960s I had modernism to work in a way that most British attempts to thrust down my throat, and when I graduated do the same thing simply don’t. Argyle House from the Edinburgh College of Art I never wanted beneath Edinburgh Castle, whose demolition few to hear of ‘Corb & Mies’ ever again. Since then, will lament, comes to mind. what I have learned about the problems of Why (apart from its mural by Pablo Picasso rusting steel and algal staining on unprotected and Carl Nesjar) do I admire the Y-Block so concrete and stone cladding has increased my much? I cannot comment on how well it knits in scepticism about the durability of much modern with the surrounding fabric of the city, but as a construction. I don’t think new buildings should free-standing work of architecture, its shape, its be photographed for architectural magazines scale and its proportions give it a sense of calm until they are at least twenty years old! repose beside its standing neighbour. The While I have come to enjoy much pre-modern ‘naturbetong’ exposed aggregate concrete that work of the early 20th century – William Viksjø devised with Sverre Jystad, and which Emerson’s Victoria Memorial in Calcutta and inspired Picasso and Nesjar, looks well. Almost some of the wonderful Art Deco work in India, as important, the building is so well detailed that for example – I still find most modernism hard to it shows little of the staining and weathering that destroys the appearance of so many modern Erling Viksjø’s Y-block buildings. It would be a tragedy for Norway and (1969) in Oslo’s for the history of world architecture if it were to government quarter be demolished. Sa ving the Y-block What to see in Oslo Last year C20 wrote formally We hope to run a C20 trip to the city next to support the local campaign year. Birgitte Sauge and Siri Hoem suggest to save Viksjø’s building some C20 highlights to look out for Part of our letter period. Working with the engineer demolition. Restoration is possible, reuse (allowing public access) and was part of a new private suburban Sverre Jystad, he co-invented a Picasso’s artworks have both the new Embassy has helped to development on the slopes of C20 Society urges the Norwegian material and process known as survived intact, and concerns about the revitalise a previously little-visited Vettakollen, with fine views of the Cabinet to reconsider the proposed Naturbetong which was patented vulnerability of the roadway beneath part of the city. Oslo fjord. The row of three demolition of the Y-block by Erling in 1955. This allowed drawings to part of the building could be addressed Demolition of the Y-block would semi-detached houses was designed Viksjø. We regard it as a major work be inscribed on both interior and by sensitive interventions which represent the loss of a highly by Arne Korsmo in line with of C20 architecture of international exterior fair-faced concrete surfaces themselves could facilitate future use. significant cultural asset. post-war ideas to replace the significance, for the architectural at a monumental scale by very In London, security concerns Relocating the murals would not detached single-family house with quality of the building itself, and for carefully controlled sandblasting. after 9/11 led to the consideration be sufficient, given their crucial dwellings grouped in clusters. the murals by Picasso on its facade He was the first recipient of the of major alterations and possible relationship to the public realm, Korsmo was perhaps influenced by and in its lobby. It also makes a very prestigious Betongtavlen award demolition of Eero Saarinen’s US and the Picasso murals in the the Schindler houses in Los Angeles positive contribution to the diverse from the National Association of Embassy building. Nevertheless, we adjacent Highrise building (1958). he saw on a US trip. cityscape around it. Norwegian Architects and the put it forward for listing in 2007, and We understand that both the Erling Viksjø was a distinguished Norwegian Concrete Association. were very pleased that it was listed Y-block and Highrise were scheduled Bakkehaugen kirke architect with a particular expertise He received this honour twice, in at Grade II. The final result has been for listing in 2011, and urge you to Ove Bang and Erling Viksjø, 1959 in working with reinforced concrete, 1961 for his Bakkehaugen Church very satisfactory. There is now a consider confirming listing now. A 1938 competition was won by Ove and in pioneering decorative and in 1963 for Tromsø Bridge. new US Embassy at a different We also urge you to seek beneficial Bang, but building was delayed by concrete finishes in the post-war We appreciate that the terrorist location, where there is space to reuse of the building, for government WWII. In 1958, it resumed with attacks of July 2011 remain very address security issues, and the purposes or otherwise. It would be modifications by Y-block designer Picasso’s mural current in Norwegian consciousness, Saarinen building will shortly open tragic if it was not preserved for Erling Viksjø. The triangular form ‘The Fishermen’ on the but we do not feel that this as a hotel designed by David future generations to appreciate (above left) recalls traditional Y-block’s street facade difficult issue is best addressed by Chipperfield. It will have a beneficial and enjoy. Norwegian wooden churches. The interior has fine murals by Kai 1920 to 1940 wall paintings of Norway and Oslo Dahls gate by Frithjof Reppen (early Fjell and Carl Nesjar, made in Update from Siri Hoem between the wars and during 30s) are an example of Norwegian sandblasted natural concrete Ekeberg Restaurant occupation, as well as commercial functionalism. In Westye Egebergs and coloured glass. After the Norwegian cabinet’s Lars Backer, 1929 activity in the city and the rise of the gate (Victor Schaulund, 1930) are 2014 decision to demolish the Backer was an Oslo-born architect labour movement (see below right). four seven and eight storey Villa Schreiner Y-block, and the completion of the and pioneer of modernism. He also apartment blocks built around an Sverre Fehn, 1963 new government quarter zoning designed the Skansen restaurant Villa Stenersen octagonal space and visible from This house for the economist plan in 2017, an application to (1927), sadly demolished in 1970. Arne Korsmo, 1939 large parts of the city. Per Schreiner is single-storey, demolish was submitted by Nordic The Ekeberg was originally painted This house for the financier and art built of pine, brick and concrete. Architects last December. The brown to harmonise with the collector Rolf E Stenersen has been 1950 to 1970 The walls are not load-bearing, justification for demolition is based surrounding forest, but when it restored to its original colours and and it recalls Japanese houses on the alleged security risk, due was restored recently (by Melby materials and is open to the public. Three houses at Planetveien with its sliding doors and glass to a road passing underneath. Arkitekter and Radius Design) its The glass, steel and concrete facade Arne Korsmo, 1955 within a natural setting. In January the National Trust owner insisted on ‘modernist’ white. and supporting columns show the Christian Norberg-Schulz was a of Norway objected, pointing influence of Le Corbusier’s Villa post-modernist theorist who as St Hallvard church and monastery out deficiencies in the planning Kunstnernes Hus Savoye (1925) and Mies van der a young architect was part of Lund & Slaatto, 1966 process. Preservation has not Gudolf Blakstad & Herman Rohe’s Villa Tugendhat (1929). The Norway’s modernist movement. His This massive square brick and been considered as an alternative Munthe-Kaas, 1930 glass bricks on the first floor and own house in Planetveien (no 14) concrete building encloses a (as required by the Planning and The Kunstnernes Hus (or Artists’ over 600 glass cylinders in the roof circular church with a monastery Building Act) and no environmental House) is still an art gallery. provide filtered lighting for the art and parish room. An unusual impact analysis of demolition and Blakstad and Munthe-Kaas were collection. Nearby is Villa Dammann feature is the suspended ceiling in reconstruction has been carried for several decades one of Norway’s (1932) in Havna Allé by Korsmo with the form of an inverted cupola. out. The advice of the heritage largest architects and designers. Sverre Aasland. They designed authorities has been ignored. An original architect’s model of the many of the houses in this street. 1980s The demolition application has building is shown top right. resulted in a new wave of protests, Public housing projects Rådhusgata 23B and a letter from ICOMOS (the Rådhus 1920s housing developments in the Jan & Jon, 1986 international body advising Arnstein Arneberg and Magnus neighbourhoods of Ullevål Hageby When post-modernism was at its UNESCO on World Heritage sites).