This presentation will focus on the urban history of Nedre Nygaard, in relation to Norwegian housing policy and urban planning strategies, and the role of art and cultural activities in gentrification.
Nedre Nygaard is part of the city of Bergen in Norway. The area is located south of the commercial center in a zone with mixed housing, commercial buildings and industry. It features a highly varied architecture and urban design, from the urban expansion and real estate speculation, predating the establishment of the Norwegian urban planning profession. The buildings reflect the industrial revolution, the ‘city beautiful’ movement, art deco, modernism, the anti-urbanism of the 1970-80s, and the subsequent reurbanisation. In the 1980s, plans were made to demolish the buildings and replace them with high-rise city blocks (called ‘The Manhattan plan’). However, it never happened because of community resistance and the collapse of the real estate market in the last half of the decade. The municipality had an active purchasing strategy aimed at complete reconstruction. A regulation plan adopted in 1994 allowed for relatively little commercial usage and a high level of residential usage. This marked the start of the rehabilitation of the area. Thus, in 1994 the implementation of the plan for Nedre Nygaard was organized as a five-year municipal project, based on the municipality’s budgets.Local and state government worked together to implement infrastructures, parks, and central building renewal. Private owners were stimulated to follow suit with their own building renewal. More than 300 new dwellings have been built within a strictly limited area. Suitable outdoor spaces and playgrounds have been created in Nedre Nygaard by establishing residential streets and using opened demolition sites. Funding from the Norwegian State Housing Bank (Husbanken) has been very decisive in bringing about the large, privately financed renewal of Nedre Nygaard, including depreciation of costs for public property purchases.The renovation has almost ended and even more residential buildings have been built than earlier planned. The economic boom in the real estate market in the late 90s and early 21st century, sent condo prices up and Nedre Nygaard is rapidly becoming densely populated. The soon retiring baby boomers are moving into the area, previously dominated by low-income housing, to take advantage of the cultural activities offered by the city. Nedre Nygaard is therefore changing its urban structure, from being a dynamic area with mixed-income housing and mixed usage, to becoming an increasingly high-income residential area. An older generation, used to a suburban life, is changing its lifestyle, and this will have an impact on Nedre Nygaard and its urban structure. This presentation will focus on the urban history of Nedre Nygaard, in relation to Norwegian housing policy and urban planning strategies, and the role of art and cultural activities in gentrification. Some aspects of this urban renewal will be seen in context with Brett Bloom and Ava Bromberg (2004) Belltown Paradise/Making Their Own Plans, White Wall, Inc.
When: November 5, 8 p.m.
Where: Mess Hall, 6932 North Glenwood Avenue
Chicago, IL
Info: www.temporaryservices.org/mess_hall.html