MAKING CONNECTIONS

This video from JAJA-architects blog "the paralell city" gives some expressions of the city life that I imagine could be the sensation of future urban life in Wergeland (I will have to make my own future scenario video for Wergeland now...). The possible connections of people when they move through the inner courtyards of the blocks when walking home from school, work or the grocery store. Enjoy!

The Parallel City from JAJA on Vimeo.

TROUBLE IN THE SKY

It is fascinating how first the financial crisis, and now a volcano (crisis) shows us how much trouble we are in, caused by the way we have chosen to organize the world.

The clouds of ash from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano creeping in over Europe is showing us just how dependent we have made our selves of oil, represented by the aerial traffic. The flexibility and shorted time in travel the planes gives us, including transporting goods and important stuff like organs, makes them almost impossible to replace. The papers tell us about all the things we are running out of due to this incident of nature; organs like a hart needs to be inside its recipient within 4 hours after its last beat if it is to be a successful transplant. Almost impossible unless one live within 4 hours of the hospital doing the procedure, and the organ donor live within 4 hours to that same hospital too. But not only organ transplants have become threatened, if you live out on the islands or far into the fjords of Norway getting to the (right) hospital in time can be a challenge when the ambulance helicopters are stuck on the ground. Lives are suddenly at risk as the aerial traffic is paralyzed and on the ground. But in the future how will we adapt to this change that most likely will come? Oil fuel will become a scarce source of energy and this week shows us how vulnerable we are without it.
In Africa (Ethiopia) they are burning their roses now because without aerial traffic working in Europe they can´t get their product out to the consumers. How weird is that, flying flowers around the world? Things will change if we will make a serious attempt to lower our carbon footprint as dramatically as the goals have been set, to avoid further increased temperatures. What are people willing too give up, and how will they who loose their business adapt?

It will be interesting to see what our local politicians (with Torill Selvold Nyborg, as County Mayor, in charge) decide when they will attempt to agree on a KLIMAPLAN (plan for reducing green gas emissions,GGE) for our county that Bergen is a part of; Hordaland.
The KLIMAPLAN on a world basis is aiming to reduce their emissions based on numbers of 1991. This is argued by many to be quite an unfair share of responsibility. A global fair target will be emission rates pr. person (a footprint based on the individual), would reveal the enormous ecological space some parts of the world takes. GGE for a North American inhabitant is over 25 mill. tons pr year, while for an African it is under 5 mill. tons. A Norwegian based in Hordaland county is responsible for 13,6 mill. tons. If we in Hordaland cut our GGE with 5% every year we will in 2020 be responsible for 7,2 mill. tons individually. (source: Hordaland Naturvernforbund)
Key words to achieve this is short traveled food, bio-energy and a lower energy consumption. And political courage to dispose land and resources smarter in an ecological point of view.

1ST WORKSHOP WITH THE DIPLOMAS

Thursday and friday last week we had a group workshop; discussing, drawing, sketching...trying to pinpoint something of importance to our projects, which can be hard to do... Clearifying your project without all these words!!

The key words (for my project) after the discussions are;
TIMELINE / SCENARIO
ECO-FOOTPRINT
THE PHYSICAL
They need further development but these are the sketches made as the background for my project (so far);

ANTICIPATION TO FUTURE GREEN LIFE

I found this article on the site of the Norwegian Government "FUTURE CITIES". It is a survey done for the government concerning muncipalities "green actions" and the public responses to them;

En undersøkelse gjennomført av TNS Gallup for Framtidens byer viser at befolkningen i de 13 største byene i Norge ønsker seg kommuner som jobber aktivt for at de skal kunne leve mer klimavennlig.
- Undersøkelsen viser at når kommunene først tar grep og gjennomfører miljø- og klimatiltak, får de støtte av innbyggerne, sier miljø- og utviklingsminister Erik Solheim.
TNS Gallup har på oppdrag fra Framtidens byer spurt innbyggerne i de 13 største byene hvor fornøyd de er med kommunens klimapolitikk i dag, og hvordan de ser på andre mulige klimatiltak.
- Drammen får høyest oppslutning for sitt arbeid om å gjøre sentrum attraktivt og levende, mens Trondheim er den byen der flest er fornøyd med kommunens prioritering av kollektivfelt. Dette er tiltak som disse byene har arbeidet aktivt med, og det setter befolkningen tydelig pris på, sier Solheim.

Fornøyd med resirkulering
Innbyggerne i Framtidens byer er mest fornøyde med kommunens arbeid med tilrettelegging for kildesortering, gjenbruk og retur av spesialavfall. Folk er også positive til arbeidet med å bygge ut fjernvarme.
Minst fornøyd er innbyggerne med kommunenes satsing på sykkelveier, og med lokaliseringen av barnehager og andre kommunale tjenester slik at disse kan nås uten bil.

Vil ha kollektivtransport og grønne lunger
Beboerne i Framtidens byer er også spurt om hvilke tiltak de mener kommunen bør prioritere. Aller viktigst synes innbyggerne det er å bygge ut kollektivtransporten, og gi plass til grønne lunger for lek og rekreasjon. Når det gjelder disse to tiltakene er også innbyggerne relativt misfornøyd med kommunenes innsats i dag.

Over nitti prosent mener kildesortering og retur av spesialavfall må prioriteres. Like mange er for bygging av flere turveier og fortau, og ønsker at kommunen skal prioritere et levende og attraktivt sentrum.

Drammen på topp

Et lite flertall er misfornøyde med sin kommune når de blir spurt hva de alt i alt synes om kommunenes arbeid med å tilrettelegge for at de skal kunne leve mer klimavennlig. De i alderen 30-44 år er minst fornøyde, mens de som er 60 + er mest fornøyde.

Tilfredsheten varierer mye fra kommune til kommune. Innbyggere i Drammen kommune er mest fornøyde, og har en score for helhetlig tilfredshet med kommunens miljøtiltak på hele 4,1 på en skala fra 1 til 6. Stavanger komme på en god annenplass, med en score på 3,6.

Stolte av byen sin

64% av de spurte er stolte av sin egen by. Undersøkelsen viser også at de innbyggerne som i størst grad opplever å kunne påvirke kommunens klimagassutslipp, er mest fornøyd med kommunens klimapolitikk og mest stolt av byen sin.

- Norske kommuner har virkemidler til å redusere norske klimagassutslipp med hele 20 prosent. Denne undersøkelsen viser at befolkningen vil at kommunene faktisk bruker disse virkemidlene, sier Solheim.

IT´S ABOUT CONNECTING THE DOTS

OK, so easter is finally over and kindergarten will again serve me and give me some space to think starting tomorrow. Finally!
March has been a slow month for the diploma work so april will have to work better and charge this head with some good and new energy.
In my achitecture history task I mention Paul Downton and the Eco-City Builders organisation. On this page www.ecocitybuilders.org/amendment you can read the amendment of the citizens of Berkley, their (political?) approach to a more sustainable life in the city (whole version little lower in this text).
I think this was a good kick start after to much holidays, and inspirational to read it as the voices of "the citizens".

Looking at the proposals for the "The Heart of the City and Strawberry Creek at Center Street Project", it might not be quite what I expect to be the solution for f.ex access-point:Wergeland, but some of the intentions for the development are worth mentioning;
#Create opportunities for people to gather and engage in civic life and activities
#Encourage and support buildings that utilize sustainable design principles, including solar energy, rain and stormwater catchment and treatment, and other “green” design practices
#Increase current City stormwater capacity through the employment of permeable paving, natural plantings, and an underground cistern that will also serve to reduce flashing and runoff impacts farther downstream

The project adresses:
#Automobile dependence and transportation alternatives
#Pedestrian streets, public space, and street design
#The need to demonstrate effective ecological design, materials, and methods
#Education and outreach to the community
#Advanced and innovative watershed and stormwater management models
#Sustainable public infrastructure improvements
#Linkages between environmental restoration and sustainable development

[Full text of the proposed Ecocity Amendment to the Berkeley General Plan]

" The Ecocity Amendment to the General Plan

We, the citizens of Berkeley, are prepared to take part in what we believe will be the most consequential ecological endeavor of the 21st century: the rebuilding of our cities and towns in balance with nature. We understand the extreme importance of this task and accept responsibility for contributing to this healthy co-evolution of future generations and the bioregion. We also acknowledge that we are part of larger systems, both natural and social. Guided by the principles of ecology as we make decisions regarding our built environment and social structures, we will place this city upon a shared path of health and well-being. By implementing the Ecocity Amendment to the General Plan, the City of Berkeley will take the following measures to proactively reverse wasteful and ecologically damaging practices and facilitate balanced co-existence with nature, now and into the future.

Policies

The Berkeley Planning Commission and the Berkeley City Council should include the following four (4) policies in the Land Use Element of the Berkeley General Plan:

Ecocity Policy #1: Ecological Design (To facilitate the ecologically healthy city, we must design and build structures that are in balance with people and nature.)

Require the highest quality architectural and ecological design for new development projects. Require environmentally sensitive and sustainable design in new buildings, such as solar accessibility and orientation, and energy efficiency. Encourage development of public spaces in higher density city centers with ecological features such as public plazas, creek and forest restored urban environments and other amenities that enhance the pedestrian environment.

Ecocity Policy #2: Centers (Distance requires time and energy to traverse. The greater the distance people have to travel, the higher the use of resources and the greater the ecological damage. Therefore, we should be rebuilding and reorganizing into relatively compact centers, connected to efficient public transit.)

Encourage pedestrian orientation and community building by establishing centers throughout the City, ranging from small neighborhoods such as the Elmwood, to larger centers, such as 4th Street, and the largest center: the Downtown. These centers should increase appropriately in density and connect to efficient mass transit options.

Ecocity Policy #3: Heart of the City (Berkeley's central downtown core offers a powerful opportunity for successful innovation and economic development, and restoration of nature at the same time.)

On the blocks between the Downtown BART Station, Oxford Street, University Avenue and Center Street, establish the Heart of the City District in which taller buildings may be allowed, but only if the development provides transit oriented housing for a variety of income groups, exhibits environmentally sustainable ecologically sensitive design features, and incorporates natural elements, such as Strawberry Creek.

Establish provisions in the zoning ordinance for a Heart of the City Planned Unit Development (PUD) or Ecological Demonstration Project (EDP) permit process to review and approve innovative and ecological design in the Downtown that may not conform to the setback, height, parking, or other requirements of the zoning ordinance.

Ecocity Policy #4: Funding Environmental Restoration (To ensure balance between the built environment and the natural environment requires mechanisms and linkages between land development and land restoration.)

To ensure that new development funds environmental restoration:

Establish an Environmental Improvement Density Bonus for downtown projects that will generate funds for environmental improvements, such as creek restoration, reforestation, and wetlands restoration. Establish provisions that would allow additional floor area in downtown development in return for financial contributions to a local environmental fund for environmental restoration through direct purchase, purchase of easements or purchase of Transfer of Development Rights.

Establish a Transfer of Development Rights Ordinance to facilitate and fund ecological design, open space enhancements, creek restoration, natural habitat restoration and expansion of community gardens and public parks. Consider provisions that would allow development rights from ecologically sensitive or environmentally important property throughout the City to be transferred to Downtown development. Encourage a multi-disciplinary group of experts to prepare draft provisions for community, Planning Commission, and City Council consideration in drafting a TDR ordinance. "

JAMIE LERNER SINGS OF THE CITY

The sustainable song at the end of the lecture is great!

CYCLE WALK (BUS)RIDE IN THE VALLEY OF BERGEN

This map shows the connecting routes by bus or by bike in the north end of the Bergen valley, close to the city center. Access point : Wergeland is situated in the middle of the picture. Though this map is outdated due to missing cycle-paths after the light rail line is buildt it can be an interesting study to see the access routes from Wergeland connecting to these. And how will the routes change when the light rail is in traffic? How does the intensity map look like?

YOUR ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT

Follow this link and you can quiz your way to the impression of your ecological footprint...
(The calculator is based on data from Global Footprint Network's National Footprint Accounts.)

OUR RESISTANCE TO CHANGE HABITS

The social anthropology essay, thoughts to be further developed through the diploma work;
Please share your experiences and thoughts on the subjects!
Basdiplom Social Antr Essay Laura Ve

review from tutor:

Tenkte jeg skulle gi noen mer konkrete kommentarer på selve essayet;

Du har skrevet en bra oppgave. Jeg liker både innholdet og engasjementet. Faren er likevel at det blir "for mye" engasjement og at oppgaven blir litt ensidig og lite kritisk. Jeg hadde gjerne sett at du mer kritisk gikk inn i den rollen samfunn og kultur, gjennom hverdagslivet, har i å bidra til å vedlikeholde vår livsstil og hva som er omkostningene ved å bryte ut. Omkostninger som er knyttet til ulike former for kapital - sosial, kulturell eller økonomisk. Jeg likte det du tok opp om rollemodeller og tilgjengelighet på gode alternativ. Det er et nivå som griper inn på hverdagsplanet.

I forhold til håp er jeg enig i at håpløshet og fatalisme ikke er et godt utgangspunkt, men mener at håp (ureflektert i form av "det bedrer seg nok" er vel så ødeleggende. Jeg vil kanskje mene at virtue ethics / dydsetikk handler om det - å gjøre det rette fordi det er det rette uansett om man tror det vil lose problemene. Fokuserer man på målet, blir det konsekvensetikk. Generelt er etikk et felt som er alt for lite vektlagt. Vurderinger av plan og arkitektur i forhold til ulike etiske systemer er dessverre veldig fraværende. Så et pluss for det.

(eng. You have written a good essay. I like both the content and commitment. The danger, however, that it becomes too much commitment and that the task is a bit one-sided and not very critical. I would have liked to see that you more critical entered the role of society and culture through everyday life, in helping to maintain our lifestyle and what are the costs of breaking out. Costs associated with various forms of capital - social, cultural or economic. I liked that you took up the role models and the availability of good alternatives. There is a level that interferes with the everyday level.
In terms of hope, I agree that the hopelessness and fatalism is not a good starting point, but believe that hope ,unreflected in the form of "things will be all right" is just as devastating. I believe that virtue ethics / dydsetikk about it - to do the right thing because it is the right thing regardless of whether you think it will solve the problems. Focusing on the goal; consequential ethics. In general, ethics is a field that is far too little emphasized. Reviews of urban planning and architecture in relation to various ethical systems is unfortunately very absent. A plus for this.)

Uansett, en grundig og god oppgave.

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PORTFOLIO

My portofolio from 3 last bachelor cources to three last master cources:
Portofoli Obach Og Master Digital Bas Laura Ve

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