Walks+Talks: Bjerkedalen Park
A walk through the award-winning Bjerkedalen park, about the landscape design, from materials and pathways to its connection with the Hovin stream. The local park in the district of Bjerke has been given a new lease of life as part of the Groruddalen investment project. The aim is for the park to continue as a recreational area for all residents, and for it to be easier to use all year round, including after dark.
The pavilion in Bjørkedalen Park
Building denser cities has become necessary to accommodate a growing population. We must find new solutions for transport, climate, housing, environment and health. But building too dense can also hinder the good solutions. A city that works is a city that raises the quality of life of everyone who lives, works there or is visiting. A city must be organized so that the time for families goes up and that work, culture and recreation are easily accessible. Elderly people will get out of their everyday lives and visitors will discover the unique experiences the city has to offer. There are many answers to what is needed to achieve a viable neighborhood. A mosaic of factors must be put together. A park is a positive element that can make a big difference. Here we will tell the story of Bjerkedalen park. About how the area in which the park is located has developed, about the work of planning and building the park, what it contains and thoughts about the future of the park. This small, green park valley has been revived and become a new place, but we recognize the historical traces of the landscape and buildings. And maybe it is possible to see and experience how the social life and culture that was here in the past are brought into a new era.
Statue
The Hovin Stream was piped through the Økernbråten area in the 1960s and the valley was wiped dry. The valley floor was paved, a kindergarten was built, and a single play area was built here. Down on the Nordalveien a ramp was built which closed against the road and on the upper side of the ramp was a popular splash pond. In the first years, a comprehensive social cohabitation was established on Økernbråten. The housing associations had their own corps that played when children and adults boarded trains in the local area. Several gatherings were held in the valley such as corps competitions, where corps at nearby schools participated and summer parties for children. It was also an area that was actively used as a play area both summer and winter. After several years of poor maintenance, the area lost momentum and the former pond was left as an empty paved area due to leaks.
View to the pound
At the bottom of the park we have built a large park pond and to provide good habitats for fishes we made the depth in the middle 3 meters. We also created a sandy beach for the pond to swim in. The first season in 2014 was the bursting summer weather and summer drought, which made the bathing pond incredibly popular with school kids, who ran right here after school. One day, the whole plant was marred by an unregulated and terrible sewage spill, which put a stop to the fun. Afterwards, the Water and Sewerage Agency has taken responsibility for repairing leaking pipes, which means that man-made sources of pollution are now gone. Water samples show that there is now excrement from the birds, which is the main problem; so, do not feed the birds if we are going to swim in the water!
At the top of the park
What sets a park apart from any other greenery? It is especially the quality of the tire that makes a green area accessible and can be perceived as a park. We worked a lot to create a hierarchy of walkways from the small path of 2.5 m to the central Promenade, 5 m wide, which is the park's backbone along the creek. The slight 5% rise makes the 300-meter promenade ideal for strolling. The secondary park paths go around the park as an upper gallery with 4 clear viewpoints
Park Pavillion
In the middle of the park is the terraced park pavilion with amphitheater, which is a perfect meeting place. The park had never been so popular, had it not been for the Pavilion, which gives you a place to go. Here you can enjoy a delicious meal in the middle of the park. The pavilion contributes greatly to the fact that Bjerkedalen park in a short time has been so well received by users of all ages. The space in front of the cafe has good microclimate. There is room for 50 café guests inside and many more about the patio are counted.
IFLA World Congress 2019 will take a closer look at urban transformation, green mobility, healthy and beautiful landscapes and community participation. During three days in Oslo, we aim to inspire, challenge and intrigue you. We want you to share and reflect on the knowledge that is developed, presented and discussed.
Join us in moving one step further to understand and protect our COMMON GROUND.
This article is part of IFLA Common Grounds: Walk+Talk.
You can view all Walks+Talks tours here