E

1 VARDØ_NORWAY 0 EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 2 DEAREUROPANCONTENDERS

For the fourth time EuropanNorwayinvites Europe’syoung voices to contribute to the discourse on Norwegianurban development.Threesitesin ,TrondheimandVardøare on thetablereadyfor a critical explorationandbroaddiscussion.

Europan has two main intentions. Firstly it offers cities and developersnew and innovativesolutions. Through the competitionthecitieshavetheir futures assessedandnewand oftenunexpectedstrategiesemerge.Eachmunicipalitytapsinto the bright mindsof youngEuropeanarchitectsandcandirect their ideasandvisionsto a localcontext.Secondly,Europanis anopportunityfor youngarchitectsto leap-frogthe oftenlong andtediousroadto the first ever built project.Thismeansthe competitionfunctionsboth as a research lab and a tool for realizationofnewideas.Europanrepresentsacompetitionform that insteadof dictatingthe outcomeembracesvariationanda holistictakeoncity development.Also,to participatein Europan means,for bothcity representativesandarchitects,to joinan constantlygrowingnetworkof peopledevotedto the issuesof city development,urbanplanningandarchitecture.

OsloandTrondheimareinprocessof realizingEuropanprojects fromE7,E8andE9.Thefact that TrondheimandOslocomeback OSLO withnewsites,isasignthatEuropanisanimportantcontributor to the Norwegianurbandevelopmentandarchitecturedebate. Europanhas introduced new methodsand new voices and providednewandsurprisinganswers.

In a time whenwe are facinga necessary,comprehensiveand critical review of how we haveorganizedour society,where the climatechangesandthe financialcrisis are extremealerts of a wrongcourse,it is nowwe needthe newvoicesthat can introducenewroads- newopportunities.

Goodluckwith Europan10!

MarianneSkjulhaug

Principal,BergenSchoolofArchitecture VicePresident,EuropanNorway VARDØ EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 3 CONTENT

DEAREUROPANCONTENDERS...... 02

CONTENT...... 03

INTRODUCTION...... 04

URBANCONTEXT...... 05-09 STUDYAREA...... 10-14 SITE...... 15-18 SOCIALCULTURALCONTEXT...... 19

PROGRAM...... 20-21 COMMISSIONFORTHEWINNER...... 22

LISTOFILLUSTRATIONSANDDOCUMENTS...... 23

EUROPANNORWAY...... 24 EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 4 INTRODUCTION

Cedanttenebraesoli - darknessshallgivewayto the sun.The experiencesandaconceptthatfurther developstourism.Asthe mottoin Vardø’scoatof armhasa forcefulmessage.Asa place new structures of the HighNorth is beinglaid out, Vardøcan sweptin darkness2 monthsof the year,exposedtocoldwinds nowfindits role, a role that is yet to bediscoveredanddefined. from the Arctic anddramaticallylocatedonan islandfar north Vardøneedsaplanfor howto connectto theenergyaboutto be eastinNorwaythisforcemustclearlybepresentinthelifeblood unleashedintheregion. of its inhabitants.Vardøisbyallmeanswalkingthetalk. -a strategy for developmentofthe harbourarea. NorthernNorway’soldestandNorway’seasternmosttownwas Partly deserted after the downfallof the fishing industry, a oncea prosperoustrade centre with strong ties to ,a rethinkingof how the harbour area againcan be the ’s regionalstrategicpoint.Butin recentyearsthe placehasbeen advantageis necessary.Howcan the area’s emptybuildings hit harddueto the changesinthe fishingindustry,previouslya becomeapart of the city’s strategy?Howcanurbanspacetie cornerstoneof thesociety. new andexistingprogramtogether.Is it possibleto bring out the potentialthat canbefoundin the meetingbetweenlandand As the new mapof the Northernhemisphereis drawn, Vardø water? CanVardøestablishnewarenasfor locals,short time canagainfinda strategicrole.Thetownwantsto useits proud workers,tourists andpossiblyglobalnomads?Vardøasksfor a history,uniquelocation,strikingsceneryandstronglocalculture strategy that discusseslocationsandconceptsfor a newtown to repositionitself regionallyandinternationally. square,a swimminghallanda smallaquarium.It alsoasksfor ideasfor re-useoftheformerfishfactory“Proden”andabetter Tobetter understanditspotentialVardøasksfor: useof urbanspaceandcommunicationthroughoutthe harbour area. -proposals for innovative strategies that can trigger new activity in the town. Vardøneedsto rethink its role in a newcontext.Globalization, Vardø needs to develop a credible plan that turns its regionalization,newdistrict policies,mobilityandnewtechnology disadvantagesinto an advantage.It must find niches and can either becomean advantageor disadvantagefor Vardø. alternativesanddevelopastrategythat supportsnewinitiatives Vardøisat the pointof a newbeginningandhopeswiththe help andideas.Themunicipalitywantsto createanimageor a brand from participatingarchitects in Europanto identifynew ideas that can attract businesslookingfor uniquelocations and andprojectsthat canconstitutea newandnecessaryplanfor thefuture.

Vardøseenfrom south. EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 5 URBANCONTEXT

Thehistory of Vardøgoesbackto 1307 whena fortress was builthere.By1700it haddevelopedintoa tradingcentreandan importantpart of thePomortradenetworkbetweenRussiaand NorthernNorway.Fishinghashistoricallybeenthe dominating activity in Vardø,but changesin the industryhas dramatically transformedthetown.

Population figures for Vardø Municipalityhas decreased significantly(20%)duringthepast10years.Someofthedecline is causedbybirth deficit, althoughthe mostimportantreason is migration.In1970the populationwas4,500.Todayitis about 2,200.15yearsagoVardøhad14fishingfactories,todayit only hastwo.

In1982Vardøwasconnectedtothe mainlandbyNorway’sfirst underwatertunnel.Travellingbetweenthecity andtheharbour, industryareasandairport at the mainlandgota lot easierand othertownsin theregionbecamecloserintermsof traveltime. Althoughthemunicipalitythoughtthe tunnelwouldopenup for new possibilities,the populationwasshrinkingdrasticallythe first yearsafter thetunnelwascompleted. Proudhistory. VardøisFinnmarkCounty’soldesttown,from 1700.

Architecture Vardøisuniqueinthesensethatthetownhassomanybuildings that are built before1945.Onethird of the buildingswereleft intact after the bombings.Fewbuildingsfrom before Second WorldWararepreservedintherest of thecounty. Thefinal planfor the reconstructionof Vardøwas adoptedin 1946.Sincea third of the housesin Vardøwere intact a good part of the streets from the previousgrid plan outside the centrewasmaintained.Thecentralareasweretotallydamaged andhenceneededanewplan. Post War Reconstruction.Vardøas we see it todayis plannedaccordingto strict zoninganddominatingaxis. From the plan for reconstructionof Vardøone can see that all the idealsfrom BSR(BurnedPlaces’Regulation,anoverall schemefor rebuildingtowns in NorthernNorwayafter WW2) are presentwith strict zoningandthe useof axisas important features. Themainaxis in the Vardøplanis a park axis that includesKirkegataand the TownHallsquarewith the church as end motive.Themost importantinstitutionsare locatedin this part of town.Otherinstitutionsare locatedoutsideof the centre. Theexceptionis the high schoolwhich is locatedin the western Vågen.Onlyin the centre we see mixedprogram buildings(shops/housing),especiallyalong Strandgata, the shoppingstreet. Theindustry is locatedmainlyin the harbourandseparatedfromtheresidentialareasandareasfor businessandoffices.The“Allmenningene”,wherethefishermen pulledtheir boats on land, were savedin the reconstruction plan.Thesewere importantmeetingplacesearlier and today theseurbanspacesgiveaccessandviewto thewater.

Theaimof the post war reconstructionwasto bring Northern townsupto the samelevelasthe standardof other Norwegian towns.As a result the housesbecamelargerandhadrunning Someof the remainingfew. Vardø’sfishingindustryis nolongerwhatit used water,toiletsandelectricity.SinceGardencitiesinEnglandwere to be. EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 6 the great role models,all the homeswere built on a separate plotwiththepossibilityofgardening.Itwascommonwithduplex housingthatin timecouldturn intovillasasthehousingdemand was covered.Vardøtoday lacks housingtypologysuited for singleswithout families.Thestreets and residentialareas in Vardøasweseeit todayare consistentwiththeinitialplan.The finaloutlayof theValenaxis,however,differs.Theplanincluded a trapezoidal-shapedspacein front of the church and also a parkwhichneverbecamerealized.

Climate Vardøis ’sonlytown in the Arctic climatezone.This meansthat the averagetemperatureper monthneverclimbs aboveten degrees.Understandablythishasconsequencesfor Vardø’svegetationand wildlife. Vardø’sonly tree died some yearsago.

Vardøis extremelyexposedto wind.Vardøhas the stormiest daysin Norwayandnocity in Norwayhasgreater mediumwind speed:8.2 m/sec. Thewindis especiallystrong on Valenand Strandgatawherethestreetscapeworksasanicywindtunnel. At the end of the axis. Vardøchurchmakesthe endmotiveof the Valenaxis Predominantwindisfromthesouthwestinwinterandnorthwest wheremostpublicinstitutionsarelocated. of thesummer.

From23 November21Januarythe sun disappearsunderthe horizonandfrom 16 May29Julyis themidnightsunpresent.

Fish Fish used to be the main industry in Vardø,but today you hardly see any larger fish boats in the harbour and there is almost no industry left. However,fish together with public sector still remain the dominantactivity in the municipality. Themodernizationofthe fishingindustriesin the 50s andthe changesin ownershipto the fish in the 90s led to changesin manyofthecoastalcities.Modernfishingindustryis todayoften detachedfromthecoastlineofwhereit operates.Butthereare examplesof localactivity, and a growingRussianfish market canspellgrowth in the coastalareasof .The remainingfishingindustryin Vardøisnowmostlylocatedonthe mainlandintheSvartnesareanextto theairport.

Publicsector Themunicipalityis the mainemployerin Vardø.As a part of Norwegiandecentralizationpolicy, the State Compensation OldFinnmark.VardøhasseveralexamplesofbuildingsbuiltbeforeWW2. Officeis locatedinVardø.

Militaryandmonitoring MilitarypresencehascontinuedinVardø,butafter thecoldwar the amountof Norwegianmilitarypersonnelhasbeenreduced to a minimum.Todaythere is no military presenceat the old fortress. In1998a majorUSradar systemwasinstalledat the easternsite of the town. Saidby the Americansto be a radar aimed at spotting space debris, Russianshave complained that it is aimedat them.Vardø’suniquelocationseemsto be interestingalso for other types of monitoring.TheNorwegian Coastalserviceis locatedherewith a 24 hourmonitoringofthe seatraffic from the Swedishborderin thesouthto theRussian border.EvenSvalbardiscloselywatchedbytheservice.Swedish aviationcompanySaabhasinvestedinVardø.Saabisplanningto Globalattraction. PeterZumthorandLouiseBourgeoishasmadea monument for witchhuntingto bebuiltinVardø. developVardøintothecentrefor oceansecurityin the Barents Seaarea. EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 7

Tourism NationalTouristRoutesinNorwayisplanningaprojectdedicated Todaytourismis basedmainlyon CoastalExpress’dailyvisits to this historicaleventlocatedcloseto thefortress. Theproject of about1 hour.Thetourist relatedinfrastructure consistsof is designedbyarchitectPeterZumthorandcontainsasculpture a hotel,a guesthouse,arestaurant,two Snackbarsanda pub. of worldrenownedartist LouiseBourgeois,herlast commission Thereare alsoguestbedsontheislandjust northeastof Vardø before she retires at age 97. Theproject is an international and in Hamningberg,afishing villageon the mainland.Niche event, bringing together two leadingpersonalitiesfrom the tourismis amarketthat mayhavepotentialinVardø.Thenature, world of art and architecture.It will meanincreasedinterest the architecture, the uniquehistorical atmosphere,fish, rich from tourists andattract art andarchitectureinterestedfrom bird life, winter life andthe midnightsuncanbeusedin various thewholeworld. conceptsfor tourism.Wintertourismis a growingmarket,and Vardøcouldhaveanadvantagehere. Future Recent years the northernmost areas of Norway have Vardøhasasetoffestivalsthatalsoattract tourists.Forfurther experiencedsomewhatof a renaissance,at least in terms informationhavealookin thesection“SocialCulturalLife”. of publicattention. Thedevelopmentof the has The Millenniumpath, designedby the Norwegianarchitect triggered newoptimismin this part of Europe.Hopesare that office Cubus,is a nationalproject for the Countyof . the developmentofthe RussianShtokmangasfield,the worlds It constitutes the central tourist route in Vardøconnecting largest,will createnewactivityevenin Norway.Inthe longrun the CoastalExpresswith different historical hotspots in the a developmentofthe Norwegianpartof the BarentsSeais also westernpart of the harbour.Thepathendsin the areain front anticipated.Theprospectsof oil andgas activity in the region ofthetunnel.Thereareplansfor connectingthepathwithanew haveledformerskichampion,nowturnedinvestor,BjørnDæhlie culture route goingon the western part of Vardøpassingthe to investsubstantialsumsin the harbourareaat Svartnes.The fortress andthenewMemorialtotheBurningofWithes,making planis to developitintoa basefor petroleumactivity.TheVardø it a roundtrip ontheisland. communityhaslaunchedastrategy for positioningitself in the developmentof the East Finnmarkpetroleuminfrastructure, Vardøwasthemainlocationfor witchburningduringthemiddle emphasisingitsgeographicaladvantageasthe closestpointin ages.Witchesfromtheentireregionwerebroughtto Vardø.The NorwaytotheShtokmangasfield.

Outin the streets. Vardø’spopulationlookingfor a bargainor a conversation. Beback in an hour.TheNorthernExpressstops in Vardøeveryday,bringing tourists andtravellersto town. EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 8

Skagen Skagen "Hasselneset" "Hasselneset"

Engelsvikaschool Engelsvikaschool "Vestervågen" Vestervågen/ "Vestervågen" Vestervågen/ NordreVåg NordreVåg "Lushaugen" "Lushaugen"

Oldhospital Oldhospital Oldferry dock Oldferry dock

Vardøhusfortress Vardøhusfortress Citycentre Citycentre

"Klondyke" "Klondyke" Thechurch "Bussesundet" Thechurch "Bussesundet" "Valen" "Valen" "HeklaDefence" "HeklaDefence" Theschool Theschool "Vardøhallen" "Vardøhallen"

Thetunnelopening Thetunnelopening Østervågen Østervågen "Globusen" "Globusen"

Workingplacesata earliertime "Russevika" Todaysworkingplaces, "Russevika" Østervågen/ especiallyredusedontheharbour Østervågen/ SøndreVåg "Steggelneset" SøndreVåg "Steggelneset"

Harbourareatransformation.Asthe fishingindustrydisappeared, buildingswereleft emptyor changeduse.

VARDØ GROWTH 1955-2008 +6% Population growth in %/year

+5%

+4%

+3%

+2%

+1% NORWAY:4 737 171 (2008)

0

FINNMARK:72 399 (2008)

-1%

-2%

-3% VARDØ:2190 (2008) POPULATION IN VARDØ : 1955-2008

5 000

4 500

4 000

3 500

-4% 3 000

2 500

2 000

1 500

Shrinkingcity. VardøislikemanyothersmallplacesinNorthernNorway experiencingapopulationdecrease. EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 9

Closestpoint.Vardøisworkingto takepart in thedevelopmentofanEast Finnmarkinfrastructurefor oilandgas.(Source:VardøPromorAS) EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 10 STUDYAREA

Thestudy area consists of the two harbour basinsand the found.Decayis clearlypresent in parts of the studyarea and surroundingland. The area stretches from the piers in the bear witnessof the changingtimes.At the sametime the area north to the tunnelopeningin the south.Thepiers mark the is strikingly picturesquewith manyhistorical buildingsand a northern basinwheremost of Vardø’sformer fishingindustry closenesstonatureandlandscapethatis unique. waslocated. Tothe west the studyarea followsKaigata,with residentialareasto west. Tothe east the area is limitedalong Thestudyarea includesindustry,shopping,publicinstitutions, Nordrelangata.Strandgata,themainshoppingstreetin Vardø, tourist infrastructure, openlandscapeandhousing.Thestudy runs alongthe harbourareaonthe easternside.Hereonefind area is thus a cross section of Vardø’s urban structure, mixedusebuildingswithshopsonthe groundfloor andhousing landscape,historyandnature. in theupperstoreys.

Theeasternandwesternparts of the islandare tied together bytheValenareawhereonefindsmostof thepublicinstitutions in Vardø.The TownHall (1955) is symbolicallylocatedhere andat the endof the Kirkegatatheiconicchurchfrom 1958is

StudyArea

Site EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 11

Skagen "Hasselneset"

8

3 2 9 Engelsvikaschool 5 Vestervågen/ "Vestervågen" NordreVåg "Lushaugen" 7

Oldhospital Oldferry dock 12 11 1

10 Vardøhusfortress 4Citycentre

6 "Klondyke" Thechurch "Bussesundet" "Valen" "HeklaDefence"

Theschool "Vardøhallen"

Thetunnelopening Shoreline Østervågen "Globusen" Naturalshorelinewithslatestone Naturalshorelinewithsand Filleduparea Stonewall "Russevika" Woodenwharf Østervågen/ Buildingonpoles "Steggelneset" SøndreVåg Concrete/wall 500m

A

Mainroads Accessbyboat

1 Rescueboat 2 "Dampskipkaia" 3 Refinementoffishat VardøUppersecschool 4 Privateharbour 5 Boathouse 6 Crabs EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 12

Winddiagram,Vardø fromBalsvik

winter and summerwind

winterwind snow

fog

summerwind January May September February June October March July November April August December

Winddiagram,Vardø -yearlybasis, RAINFALL 1970-80 1970-80 70 m/m NW N 60 50 NE 40

30 20 WHOLEYEAR: MIDDLE 540MM 10 0 JFMAMJJASO N D TEMPERATURE 1970-80 NW E 10 C

5

0

SE -5 WHOLEYEAR: MIDDLE1,1C

-10 JFM AM JJ AS O N D SW S VARDØ

66 EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 13

Skagen "Hasselneset"

Engelsvikaschool

Vestervågen/ "Vestervågen" NordreVåg "Lushaugen"

Oldhospital Oldferry dock

Vardøhusfortress Citycentre

"Klondyke" Thechurch "Bussesundet" "Valen" "HeklaDefence"

Theschool "Vardøhallen" A

Thetunnelopening Useof areas Østervågen "Globusen" Publicbuildings Industry/production B Commercialuse Dwellings "Russevika" Mixeduse,dwellingsandcommercialuse Østervågen/ Nature "Steggelneset" SøndreVåg 500m

Kindergarten

School Footballground Hoppbakke

Kindergarten Parkat the culturehouse

Kindergarten Churchyard

Churchyard Pavilion School

Sportsfacilities

Greenbelt Smallamountofgreenbelt Housingareasandotherbuildingswithgardens Greenbeltincludingrockandshoreline Parkarea/ churchyard/playground/ sports facilities/publicbuildingwitha lawn

62 500m EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 14

Skagen "Hasselneset"

Krutthuset

Engelsvikaschool

Vestervågen/ "Vestervågen" NordreVåg "Lushaugen"

Oldhospital Oldferry dock

Vardøhusfortress Citycentre

"Klondyke" Thechurch "Bussesundet" "Valen" "HeklaDefence" Memorialto the Burningof Witches Theschool byPeter ZumthorandLouiseBurgeois "Vardøhallen"

Thetunnelopening Østervågen "Globusen" Plannedextensionof MillenniumPath Tourism Existingtouristattractions "Russevika" Touristattractionsunderplanning Østervågen/ Potentialareasfor tourist inustry "Steggelneset" SøndreVåg 500m 55

Norhernbasin Easternpier EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 15 SITE

Thesite is the innerpart of the harbour.Themainfish industry usedto be locatedat the eastern part of the site. Thereare industrybuildingsfromdifferent historicalperiodsin the area. Thebuildingsinthenorth easternpart of the site (MartinOlsen Bruket)are of historicalimportanceandmaybepreservedasa costalculture centre. Thetransformationof the area is going slowly. Oldbuildingsforfish industryare mostlyempty,waiting for newprogramor thefishindustryto return. Themunicipality of Vardøhasboughttwo of the largest emptyindustrialbuild- ings,oneof themlocatedin the site area,“Proden”,to possibly undergoatransformation.Therehavebeensomeactivities,such as exhibitionsandconcerts in this buildingthe last years but thereis nopermanentuse.Thebuildingmightbetransformedto VoiebruketandProden. alowcostculturecentre,for tourist industryor somethingelse. Therearealmostnopublicareasinthefront of theharbour.The accessanduseof theseafrontwillbeimportantto discussasa first stepfor transformationofthearea.

Thesouthernpart of the site includestheValenarea,the terri- tory that connectsthe easternandwesternpart of the island. TheTownHallandthe communitycentrewith the oldswimming poolare locatedin this area. Themainpublicspacealongthe axisupto the churchconnectsthe buildingsandthe two parts of thecity together.Thevisualcontactbetweenthetwoharbour basinsis importantfor the readingof the landscapeandthelo- cationof the TownHallin the city structure. Therehavebeen plansfor anewswimmingpoollocatedbetweentheexistingpool andtheTownHall.Theprojecthasbeenturneddownbythepoli- ticiansandtheynowlookfor a newlocationfor the swimming pool.Therehavealsobeenplansfor a newpublicsquarecon- nectingtheareaaroundtheTownHallwiththeinnerharbour.

Thewesternpart of the site occupiesdifferentprograms.The Millenniumpathruns alongthe areafrom the dockfor the Cos- tal Express,“Damskipskaia”,tothe southernendin front of the TheTownHall. tunnel.TheMillenniumpathwasfinishedin 2005andthe Infor- mationcentre closeto “Damskipskaia”ispart of the project.A pier witha smallaquariumofglassdirectlyin theseaanda land basedbuildingwasoriginallya part of the Millenniumpathbut wastakenout of the projectbecauseofa limitedbudget.There are still discussionsfor newlocationsandconceptfor a small aquariuminthecity althoughthefinancialpartis still uncertain.

Theuppersecondaryschoollocatedat the westernpart of the innerharbourhasa curriculumin fishing,cooking,andserving. Theschoolcouldhaveastrongerlinkto thegeneralsocietythan it hastoday.

ThePomorMuseumislocatedinagroupofhistoricalbuildingsin the innerharbour.Themuseumislinkedto the Millenniumpath InsideProden.Theformerfishfactoryhasbeenusedfor various andis togetherwith thefortress oneof themostvisitedtourist purposes.Hereastemporaryart gallery. attractionsin Vardø. EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 16

MARTINOLSENBRUKET(PRIVATE) NORTHERNEXPRESSQUAY

TROMSFISK(PRIVATE)

VOIEBRUKET(PRIVATE)

PRODEN(PUBLIC) TOURISTOFFICE

NORTHBASIN

PRIVATE

VARDØHOTEL GASSTATION MILLENNIUMPATH A AT G PRIVATE SHOPPING D N A R T STRANDTORGETS

UPPERSECONDARYSCHOOL

PRIVATE

KA IG AT A BRODTKORP- PARKEN MIXEDUSE(PRIVATE) POMORMUSEUM MIDTBYEN MIXEDUSE(PRIVATE) STATECOMPENSATONOFFICE TOWNHALL CHURCH

STUDENTHOUSING KIRKEGATA

TOWNHALL SQUARE EXISTINGSWIMMINGHALL VALEN COMMUNITYCENTRE

FORMERNORGESBANK(PRIVATE) EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 17

Sandvika

M . Jo hns S an d v ik v Tan e dbe ie rgg n VESTERVÅGEN a

M e Fi llo 5 Vestervågen/ skerg mv 2 ata eie V n K NordreVåg

Sk ag ve ien ta Vi a Holmb nk G SKAGEN 3 oegat el a ta "Dampskipskaia" Ho aiga nn K a ing Policestation at sv Roald g å Amun al gg dsen it at s Ga p e a os at H G Hs lda io m V "Proden" k a Mey ns m d ergata le e sø i rf g L e a e n s t Gat an tg a Milleniumpathns m a rse t ta nde m . Gu A . M E S sbense Thehotel ns GFirestationate G a ør at n Useof areasin city centreg Va n N rn ngber e o e Citycentre ggata g dr tv a r ys Highschool at e KKK K B Publicbuildings ai e BBB g r rø at S g dk a t g Commercialbuildingser ar a ga n Grønv et ta d 1oldgata "Brodtkorp g N Closedcommercialbuildings te a o a te at r ta sjåene"G a d a er S Industry ig s G ø eeer n s al n n e n n d n a g e g r re atF in s g e ClosedindustryB g es n n a r tn n a Kirkegata t B pe in o N e e p gs r f r ki ga D o Church g Warehouses SSS ta tj g d a ri TownHall et Gate F S DwellingsEgede NNNilsenss ø Gate n ongens Brodtkorps Gate d K r S Emptydwellings a e k t K L o a ri a lel TverrveienTveTvererrvrveei een g s n g s ti g aa Socialdwelling e aa g t ln n a a e 4 t t K . e S 5 r G Prinsens 7 o a Gate V kg te 250m E a Tingstuugugata ta EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 18

M. J ohn sen

3 Ta ndb erg n gat

M e Fi llo 5 skerg mv 2 ata eie V n K

Sk ag ve ien ta a Holmb G oegat l a ta Ho aiga nn K a ing t s Roal ga vå d Amu al gg ndsen it at s Gate p e a at G Hs lda io m V k a Mey ns m d ergata le e sø i rf g L e a n s t ate n tg a ns G a a rse tm ta nde m . Gu A . M E S sbense ns Gate G a ør at n g Va n N rn ngber e o e ggata g dr tv a r ys K at e K a B i e B g r rø at S g dk a t g er ar a ga n Grønv et ta d oldgata g N te a o a te at r ta G a d a er S ig s G r n s al ø e e n n n nn a g e g d re atF in s g er B g es n n a r tn n a Kirkegata t B pe in o N e e p gs r f r ki ga D o g S ta tj g d a ri et s Gate F S Eggggede Nilsen ø Emptybuildings Gate n ongens Brodtkorps Gate d K r S a e k t K L o a ri a le PartlyemptybuildingTverrveienTveTvererrvrveei een g s n g s ti g a e a g t ln n a a Emptybuilding e 4 t t K . e S 5 r G Prinsens 7 o a Gate V kg te 250m E a Tingstugata ta EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 19 SOCIALCULTURALCONTEXT

Demographics Vardøhasalwayshadpeoplelivingin thetownfor shorter peri- odsof time.Seasonfishermen,militarypeopleandyoungstate officialshavecomeandgone.ThroughhistoryNorwegiansfrom theentirecoast,havesettledin Vardø.Vardøhasa historyof beinginternational,withPomortradefrom theeastandwith fishermenandpolarexpeditionsfromalloverEurope.Today Vardøhasabout4%immigrants.

TheNorthernareasof Norwayhavelongbeenassociatedwith mysticismandnaturebyNorwegiansinthesouth.Peopleliving hereis saidto somehowbecloserto naturethanothers.But themodern“Finnmarking”isverymuchsimilarto anyNorwe- gian.Moderncommunicationhereis rankedamongthebest in thecountryandyoungpeoplehavethesamehopesfor self realizationastheir southernpeers.

Festivalsandlocalinitiatives Lackingtheentertainmentinfrastructureof larger places, peopleinVardøareusedto organizetheirownsparetimewith festivals,sport activitiesandculture.Tobesucha smalltown Snowmobilefun. ThelandscapeinVardøopensfor excitingrecreation. Vardøcanfeatureanimpressivelistof activities.Thetown hasmanychoirs,onewhichona tour managedtoenterRussia 40m duringthecoldwar withoutlegalpermit.Themanyorganisa- tionsandactivitiesbearwitnessof a strongparticipationinthe communallife.Someoftheseeventsshowthat Vardøcanplay a role in a larger contextandit is a signof localinitiativeand 10m abilityto organizeculturalandcreativeevents.Hereare but somefewof Vardø’smanyactivities:

- Pomordays Pomordaysare Norwegian-Russianmarketday,whichis held Snowybattleground.TheofficialYukigassenplayingfield. everyyearthelast weekendinJuly.Thesedaysare filledwith manydifferentculturaleventsfor youngandold.Thereis live musicandpeoplecometo townfrom allover.

- Yukigassen-“Thegreat snowballbattle” ThewordYukigassenisJapaneseandmeanssnowballthrow- ing.Thisis animportantsport in Japanandhasbeenadopted with greatenthusiasmbyVardøwhichnowhoststheEuropean championshipeveryyear.

- BluesinWinterDarkness InNovembereachyearthefestival“Bluesin thewinter dark- ness“is heldin Vardø.Itis a cooperationbetweenNorthTav- ern, VardøHotelandNaustet.Thefestivalis intendedtofathom a widerangeof Vardø’spopulationwithits variedprogram.

Readytoattack. Yukigassenplayerlookingfora target. EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 20 PROGRAM

To better understandits potentialVardøasks for proposals alltheway.Investorsarealreadybeginningtoeyeapotentialand that dealonehandwith the overalldiscussionof development thetownwantsto useits proudhistory,uniquelocation,striking in Vardøandon the other with the harbourarea andhowthis sceneryandstrong localculture to repositionitself regionally as a consequencecanbe developed.Thecontendersshould andinternationallyfornewprogram,tourismandevents. thereforerespondto thefollowingtasks: -a strategy for developmentofthe harbourarea. -makeproposalsfor innovativestrategies that can trigger Basedon the directions suggestedin the overall strategy, newactivity in Vardø. contendersshouldmakeaplanfor adevelopmentoftheharbour. Vardøneedsto developacredibleplanfor the future. Howcan Partly deserted after the downfallof the fishing industry, a urbanplanningbeusedas a successfultoolin a shrinkingtown rethinkingof howthe harbourarea againcanbe to the town’s such as Vardø?Thetown must find nichesand alternatives advantageis necessary.Howcan the area’s emptybuildings anddevelopastrategythat supportsnewinitiativesandideas. becomea part of the city’s strategy?Whatnew programcan The municipalitywants to create an imagethat can attract these structures contain?Howcan urban spacetie new and businesseslookingfor uniquelocationsandexperiences. existingprogramtogether?Isit possibletobringoutthepotential Vardøneedsastrategyfor newindustry,newtypesof tourism, inthemeetingbetweenlandandwater?CanVardøestablishnew and projects that underpinits strong coastaltraditions. With arenasfor localfestivals,localinhabitants,shorttimeworkers, limitedfunding,Vardømustthinkminimalinputmaximaloutput tourists andpossiblyglobalnomads?

Vardøandthe BarentsSea. EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 21

Vardøhopes to identify new ideas and projects in the - Proden,afishfactorybuiltinthe70s,nowleft unused.Ithasbeen competitionthatcanbecomepartofthefuturedevelopment. usedsporadicallyforexhibitionsandeventsinrecentyears.Vardø Vardøis lookingfor a strategy makesthe harbour area Municipalityownsthis buildingandasksfor ideasfor reuse that a generatorof new activity anda tool that links Vardøto canhelpregeneratetheVågenarea. growingnetworksandnewprocessesintheregion. Thestrategy shoulddealwith the followingthemesin new - A town squareor a new conceptfor publicspace.Plansfor a andinnovativeways: town squarehavebeendiscussedin Vardøfor a long time. The townneedsaspacethatcanbeanarenafor shiftingactivitiessuch - A re-connectionbetweenthe town andthe sea through as festivals,market daysandconcerts.Thiscouldhelpturn the physicalaction and a new program that utilizes sea and harbourarea into an arenafor culture, history andnewactivity. nature. All contendersshouldcarefullyconsiderthe challengeof harsh climateandchangingseasons,butalsothe potentialin developing - New and better public space. Vardø needs new and a winterarenafor thetown. functioningsocialarenas,both in door andout door.How canonedeveloptheharbourintoa socialarena? - An aquarium.In connectionto the MillenniumPatha Barents aquariumwassuggestedbuilt.Proposalsshoulddiscussalocation - Infrastructure. The area needs an overall idea for for thisprogram.Theproject,apierwithasmallaquariumofglass infrastructure that connectsalreadyestablishedroutes directlyin the seaanda smalllandbasedbuilding,wasoriginally such as the MillenniumPathto new infrastructure that a part of the Millenniumpathbut wasunrealizeddueto a limited increasesthetraffic in theharbour. budget.

- Theemptybuildings.Howcanonebringout the potential - A newswimminghall.Themunicipalityhaspresentedplansfor in the emptybuildings?Howcan emptybuildingsbecome a new swimminghallnext to the existingonein the Valenarea. a part of the city’s strategy?Whatcan possiblyfill these This did not receive political support, however.A new location buildingswithnewlife? couldunderpinVardø’suniquelocationandgivesomethingbackto the street life andalsoopenfor newprogramthat couldattract - Identifyingnew program: Findingnew content for the tourists. Thecore functionfor the swimminghallis a 25 m pool, harboursuchastourism,education,cultureor sport. butcontendersareinvitedto seeif thisfunctioncanopenfor other programsandspin-offeffects. Vardøhaspresentedasetofprogramsforthetownthat the competitiondealswith. Thenature, locationandconcepts Endnote of the followingprogramshouldbe discussedas part of Darknessshallgivewayto the sun,cedanttenebraesoli. As the a wider strategic planfor transformationof the harbour northern hemisphereisenteringinto a newlight, a possibleand areaandthetown.Contendersareinvitedto discussthese unexpectedturnof Vardøiscomingcloser.Its newunderstanding programsandnewones.Emphasiscanbechosenaccording is yet to be foundandVardøjoiningEuropan10 is a part of this to suggestedstrategy. rethinkingprocess.

Youareherebyinvitedto contributethat discovery.

EasternVågen EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 22 COMMISSIONFORTHEWINNER

Winningproposalsare supposedtobe a preliminaryprojectto be usedas a foundationfor further plans.VardøMunicipality plansto use Europanto identifynewprojects andstrategies, findthepotentialintheharbourarea,andbasedonthat promote a future developmentthere.

The preliminaryproject is also important in the process of convincingotherpartners,investorsto contributeintorealizing newprojects.VardøMunicipalityintendstoengagewinningteam to developthenewplansandideasfurther.

Preciouslandscape.71%of Vardø’slandscapeisprotected.Thewildlifefoundhereis unique. EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 23 LISTOFILLUSTRATIONSANDDOCUMENTS

VARDO-N-C-M1.dxf Forfurther inquiries: VARDO-N-C-M1.pdf www.vardo.kommune.no www.yukigassen.no VARDO-N-C-AP1.jpg www.vardopromor.no www.myvardo.com VARDO-N-SS-P1.jpg www.bluesivintermorket.no www..no VARDO-N-SS-P2.jpg www.barentsobserver.com VARDO-N-SS-P3.jpg www.barentsinfo.org VARDO-N-SS-P4.jpg www.husbanken.no VARDO-N-SS-P5.jpg VARDO-N-SS-P6.jpg Sources: VARDO-N-SS-P7.jpg Allanalyticalmapsarebasedonmapsfoundin VARDO-N-SS-P8.jpg “StedsanalyseVardø”(2005) VARDO-N-SS-P9.jpg byRagnaFagerliandNatalieStabellHofsli VARDO-N-SS-P10.jpg VARDO-N-SS-AP1.jpg VARDO-N-SS-AP2.jpg

VARDO-N-SS-M1.dxf VARDO-N-SS-M1.pdf

VARDO-N-PS-P1.jpg VARDO-N-PS-P2.jpg VARDO-N-PS-P3.jpg VARDO-N-PS-P4.jpg VARDO-N-PS-P5.jpg VARDO-N-PS-P6.jpg VARDO-N-PS-P7.jpg VARDO-N-PS-P8.jpg VARDO-N-PS-P9.jpg VARDO-N-PS-P10.jpg VARDO-N-PS-P11.jpg VARDO-N-PS-AP1.jpg VARDO-N-PS-AP2.jpg

VARDO-N-PS-M1.dxf VARDO-N-PS-M1.pdf VARDO-N-PS-M2.dxf VARDO-N-PS-M2.pdf EUROPAN10VARDØ_NORWAY 24 EUROPANNORWAY

co/ 0047 Schweigaardsgate34D 0191Oslo NORWAY

[email protected] www.europan.no

EuropanNorwayBoard

KnutEirikDahl ProfessorinUrbanism Presidentofthe Board HeadofDahlUhreArkitekteras Memberofthe EuropeanCouncilandExecutiveCommittee

MarianneSkjulhaug Masterof Architecture VicePresidentoftheBoard Principal,BergenSchoolofArchitecture

HildeBøkestad Masterof Architecture RepresentativeforNorwegianUniversityofScienceandTechnology FacultyofArchitectureandFineArt

LeneEdvardsen Masterof Architecture Director,InternationalRelations HusbankenHammerfest

RandiWøien Masterof Architecture RepresentativeforNationalAssociationofNorwegianArchitects Architectat LPOarkitektur& designas

MarianneRyeBeck Masterof Architecture RepresentativeforCenterfor Design,ArchitectureandBuildtEnvironment ProjectLeader,NorskForm

PeterHemmersam Phd,Masterof Architecture RepresentativeforOsloSchoolofArchitectureandDesign

EuropanNorwaySecretariat

EspenRøyseland Masterof Architecture ProjectDirector,0047

ØysteinRø Masterof Architecture, ProjectDirector,0047