Svartlamoen Housing, Trondheim, Norway, by architects Brendeland and Kristoffersen. (timelapse)
I don’t know about you, but I feel like I never discover anything in real life any more. It’s like every place I go, if it’s at all different from the usual fare, I’ve read about it on the internet, I’ve seen pictures, I’m in the know. Then, bam!
I’m new in town, so I suppose it’s to be expected, but still. I’m taking a walk, trying to find a place (a martial arts gym, as it happens) I have an appointment next week, just so I have some idea where to go when I actually have to go there. And suddenly there’s this beautiful building, five stories massive wood. To be fair, I’ve seen it once before, just driving past, but I hadn’t taken the time to explore the area. Let’s just say it doesn’t fit in. Directly opposite it, on the other side of a set of train tracks, is a huge WWII bunker, probably the ugliest building in Trondheim by far. All around is industry or remnants of such. Just down the street is a place called “Lowlife Tattoo”. Next to that building is a handmade sign advertising such places/activities as “the market” and “piss on the fence”.
So I get home and start googling. As it turns out, this area used to be a crime-ridden alt-neighborhood, with punks, anarchists, house occupants, etc. The city wanted to tear down the buildings and start afresh, but the residents resisted, and instead presenting their own development plan for their little enclave. The result: the local authorities designated Svartlamoen, the area, a “city-ecological experimental area”. I have no idea wtf that means, but in practice, they do awesome things like erect the building above, which is a communal housing unit, and turn the car shop next door into a kindergarten. The residents arrange things like the Eat the Rich festival and organize an anarchist book store and Gratisbutikken, a free shop.
Detail from nearby building.
And I didn’t know any of that when I was there! I just walked around marveling at all the weird & wonderful stuff, having no idea about the neighboorhood’s history or present state. And I kind of like that. Must be what it felt like to move to a new city in the old days. (Like, say, 1990.)
Aug 29, 2010