Garden of ideas
The theme of the Oslo Architecture Triennale 2022 was "Mission Neighbourhood," focusing on neighbourhoods as an arena and foundation for rethinking our cities and societies.
For six weeks, our team of 11 designers hosted a continuous early stage design project on urban innovation.
Trough three phases, this project aims to explore how we as designer might trigger innovation at a neighbourhood scale, that in turn unlocks innovation for society as a whole.
Where AHO, Oslo Architecture Triennale 2022
When 2022, six-week pop-up
Team 11 designers
My role User insight, facilitation of co-creative workshops with citizens, visualisation
Result Six-week pop-up design studio at the Oslo Architecture Triennale; 20 ideas presented at the closing ceremony
Recognition
Winner of AHO award for Best exhibition
What is?
The first phase of the project involved gathering data about the current state of different neighbourhoods in Oslo. This was done using various design methods, including observing behaviours and patterns both in physical and digital spaces, conducting user interviews, and analysing surveys. The goal of this phase was to understand the needs of the people who live in the neighbourhoods and gain insight into the challenges they might face.
What if?
In this phase we worked strategically to imagine and generate new ideas and possibilities for neighbourhoods. A pop-up strategic design studio was created in the Old Munch Museum, where designers and the local community could come together to generate ideas. The studio hosted workshops, discussions, and presentations. The goal of this phase was to create a space where people could share their ideas and collaborate on new solutions. We worked in the museum for six weeks, as a part of the Oslo Architecture Triennale. During this period our work generated thousands of ideas, based on around hundred briefs.
So what?
In the final part of the project we set out to evaluate the ideas that were generated and determine their potential value for the neighbourhood and society as a whole. This was using prompts and strategic design methodology by Dan Hill amongst others. By combining ideas, stretching and building on the ideas, the goal of this phase was to identify the most promising ideas and develop them further. The final result was twenty ideas presented at the Oslo Architecture Triennale closing ceremony.
All images by Timo Arnall