Seaside recreation in Oslo : bringing Bispevika closer to the city

Abstract

Oslo is a growing city. Instead of letting the city expand beyond its borders, the municipality wants to use sites by the Oslo fjord for urban growth. The planning agency of Oslo is currently working on redefining the seaside, with the intent of making it more accessible to the public. One of the agency’s efforts in providing seaside recreation for Oslo’s citizens is called Havnepromenaden, which is to become a 9-kilometer long promenade along the Oslo fjord.

This thesis treats the topic of Havnepromenaden’s future place identity, and the site in focus is the Bispevika-segment of Havnepromeanden; located within the larger bay of Bjørvika. This fraction of the promenade is currently being developed, and is adjacent to areas that are known to be lower income, with a multiethnic diversity. In contrast, Havnepromenaden is emerging an area that is showing traits of gentrification. This thesis explores the potential effects that gentrified-, privatized- and commercialized- place identities have on seaside recreation, and how the citizens of Gamle Oslo have the potential to enjoy the Oslo fjord together.