Project:
Møllendal West

About

• Project description

  Project rationale

  The premise of this proposal is the conviction that the current housing shortage and concomitant rise in house prices is in part caused by a lack of innovation within the housing sector in Norway. The municipality, commercial developers and local cooperative housing associations are unable to meet the actual housing demand. 

  We would like to investigate the potential of a societal housing model which would to some extent relive the pressure on these actors whilst at the same time be present as a not-for profit alternative in a competitive and commercial housing market.

  Our proposal seeks to question the fundamental principles of 'conventional' property development, and sets out to investigate whether an alternative model where the commercial developer is subtracted from the equation is viable and more able to respond to current issues. What would a housing model look like if it was based on the social conscience of the co operative housing movement and the original purpose of Husbanken, and adapted to a modern society with its economy and political climate? Can we use this model as a tool to better integrate the disadvantaged in the housing market, and provide affordable and accessible homes for families in the establishing phase? Norwegian postwar housing policy is based on a tripartite responsibility where;

  1) The state controls policy and economic measures in part through Husbanken

  2) The municipality has the responsibility for general planning, for plot policies and for the disadvantaged in the housing market

  3) The private actors cooperative housing associations, entrepreneurs, developers and individuals - have the responsibility for planning, building, owning and managing housing units.

  Initially, Norwegian building co-operatives were set up to provide for an equal social distribution of affordable and adequate housing, and this was achieved with relatively low public expenditure.

  The associations were considered primary implementing instruments in a long-term housing strategy. During the 1970s and 1980s, the housing market was liberalised, and a rightto-buy scheme was instigated. The government would no longer regulate house prices, and people who had previously bought affordable cooperative housing now had the opportunity to profit from sale.

  The role of the cooperative housing association has changed significantly over the past 30 years, now operating in a free and unrestricted market, competing with other businesses in all areas. The same can be said for Husbanken, which now operates as a welfare agency providing financial support for the disadvantaged in the housing market, the total number of which was approximately 150000 households per 2014.
  

  

  Key concepts explored

  • Investor purchase constraints
  • Homes for sale with discounted prices
  • “Shared ownership" home supply increase
  • Public investment refocusing from Housing Benefit to new home building

  Main objectives

  • Use Møllendal as a testing ground for designing and developing a mixed-use project with substantial involvement and input from the users
  • Encourage people to engage with architecture on a micro level in a collective effort to make change on a larger scale
  • Establish a flexible and repeatable housing model for groups of people building together as cooperatives
  • Provide individuals and families with a chance to acquire their own home at affordable rates

  

  

• Jury remarks

  The project Møllendal West gains distinction with its proposal on developing a non-profit housing strategy in Bergen that challenges the traditional property development in Norway. The premise of the proposal is the conviction that the current housing shortage and rise in prices is partly due to lack of innovation. The project studies the desire of the population as well as existing economic, financial and political models of development and counteracts the current situation by suggesting implementation of a cooperative housing model.

  The urban scheme suggests a density somewhere between the city and suburbia by mixing two typologies. While neither the typology nor the urban plan is remarkable, the project is seen as a strong comment on how to build a neighbourhood in a fast growing city. In this sense, the proposal is complimentary to the winning proposal that pinpoints important aspects to consider for the municipality when developing Grønneviksøren as a pilot project.

  The aspects of landownership and the possibility of public leasing of the land to private housing co-operatives to achieve more affordable housing near the city centre has not been discussed in the municipal plan. In this sense, the project raises a relevant political discussion that could inform the process of developing the Europan site or other municipally owned sites in the city.

• Team

  Team Representative: Paul Motley (GB) – architect
  Contributors: Arne Bassoe-Eriksen (NO), Chris Scaplehorn (GB), Robin Søndergaard (NO) – students in architecture

  75 Grove Street, EH3 8FG, Edinburgh – Great-Britain
  +44 7546111855 – robinchs@outlook.com