stefanie kรถnig DALE noreg remote place(s) reflections how to integrate in dale
spring 2016
dale i sunnfjord 61°21’48.6”N 5°23’52.1”E dale valley tal a valley is surrounded by something, mostly by mountains. dale i sunnfjord is a little bit more spectacular. it is not only surrounded by few mountains. it is divided by a river and enclosed by a amazing fjord. at the same time there is choppy water, green meadows and huge mountains with a lot of snow at the top. dale is laying in this unique but at the same time typical norwegian landscape. can you say that dale is a remote place? it is quite far away from bergen and other bigger cities in norway. but maybe for the inhabitants dale is the centre of norway or to be exaggerated of the world. it is a village with 3000 inhabitants having a library, a shopping centre, several food stores, a petrol station and a cafe. dale also harbours several smaller landscape in itself which can be seen as territories. they have some similarities but they are also unique. so having a closer look dale is not only a valley. maybe dale doesn’t need something new emphasizing. if there is something new in dale it should connect to the existing closer landscape, integrate and hide or even reflect it.
5 | charette
commune plan
(plan)
dale is a commune with 3000 inhabitants divided in different areas. there are two residential areas on the outskirts, a green strip along the river dalselva and a service strip stretching along the complete length from the harbour to the entrance/exit of dale from where pulses of development are coming from. embraced by a distant landscape dale gets its unique shape. a residential b service area c close landscape d distant landscape
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a
b d c
a
d
7 | charette
c a
d
b
landscape
(model)
looking at dale you cannot ignore the impressive landscape where it is embedded in. deep wrinkles made by some craters are continuing their way almost through the complete width of the valley. hills are sloping slowly and ending into small strips towards the gap of the river dalselva. in bigger plateaus maybe civilization can be found. another hills arise steeper. threatening cracks are lurking inside the mountains.
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g
f
e
h
a big crater b deep wrinkles c slowly sloping hill d landscape strip e gap of the river f civilized plateau g steep rising hill h threatening cracks
9 | charette
natures
(plan)
nature have several kind of natures. in dale there are also several ones. in this booklet are shown three of them. close to the river dalselva in the middle of dale there is a reclosed nature. at the entrance/ exit of dale towards the bridge there is a [encircled] nature almost swallowed up by the forest. the third nature is situated right on the waterfront amidst of industrial and office buildings but also disclosed and e x p o s e d to the nature. r reclosed e [encircled] x e x p o s e d
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x
r
e
11 | charette
closer landscapes
(elevations)
three different situations. but they have all something in common - their connection to the nature. there is always water, trees and mountains. the reclosed nature is bounded by the river dalselva where some trees ares standing along the shore. the [encircled] nature harbours also water but here in form of a small stream. almost the complete place is marked by trees which grows into a deep forest. the e x p o s e d is laying unprotected right on the waterfront to the fjord and facing the mountains.
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13 | charette
building natures
(model)
three different buildings, a reclosed, an [encircled] and a e x p o s e d one, are found in the selected situations. if they are stagger by their size and length a new large-size building complex arise. side by side the different sizes of them are particularly effective. from left to right the natures are larger and more massive. if you see them however close together the volume almost look harmoniously. situated in dale the e x p o s e d building shapes the upper border while the [encircled] one forms a lateral border. the reclosed one is sitting on the other side in the middle of nowhere.
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15 | charette
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17 | charette
reclosed situation
(map)
in the green strip of dale, along the river dalselva and opposite the church and the cemetery there is an supposedly empty meadow only surrounded by few detached houses. a small bridge connects the two sides of dale divided by the river. following the street towards west there seems to be a bigger settlement of houses. but curiously there is this big empty spot towards the river. amidst of a bunch of trees hides the reclosed building.
a dalselva b church c cemetery d bridge e detached houses
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d e
a
c e
b
19 | reclosed
reclosed unarable
(perspective)
in the green lung of dale there are only a handful of houses building close to the water because the river dalselva floods now and then. having a closer look a reclosed building hides on the supposedly empty meadow behind some trees standing along the shore. is it a tree house or just a coop? over there the church of dale occurs. the view ends with the mountains which include dale as a valley. a nkd b church c graves d wall to enclose cemetry e river dalselva f storage for cemetry g mountain steiegjerdet h hide under trees
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g
a b e
c
d
h
f
21 | reclosed
reclosed surrounded by nature
(perspective)
surrounded by nature a small cabin is built on stilts on a large meadow close to the river. it fills the emptiness, is no weight for the grass, sits like a bird in the meadow and remains. it is a shady spot, protected by the trees along the shore where the wind rushes in, chirping birds sit in it, the river murmured a little, now and then a few paddler maybe get over.
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23 | reclosed
reclosed surrounded by graves
(perspective)
on the opposite shore the graves of dale remain silent almost to the same height as the reclosed cabin. they frame the white wooden church. to worship the bells are ringing, echoing in the valley again. now and then the minister give on the organ his best again, the community sings. outside the church the residents remain, look for the river, to the fjord and the framing mountains. a little further away a road leads over the bridge but noise from passing cars are rare. one follows the several trees on the shore landward founding the reclosed building in the apparent emptiness. a few meters behind you can hear children playing coming from the detached houses.
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25 | reclosed
reclosed relation to church
(elevation)
situated opposite the church, the earth, the river bed, the meadow and the reclosed building are forming an unit. both buildings are touching the nature. the one rests weighty. the other touches slightly by sticking out its feelers. behind this unit the river flows towards high rising mountains which bring the view to an end.
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27 | reclosed
reclosed feelers or intruders
(elevation)
having a closer look it is blurred if the wooden box is sitting on stilts which are strechting out like feelers to get in contact to the ground. or maybe the stilts are made out of small trees breaking through the wooden box and hold it up.
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29 | reclosed
reclosed relation to mountains
(elevation)
how far the mountains are away from the small building? maybe the reclosed one is feeling threatened by them or they are just framing it in a pleasant way because they are so far away. however near or far, the view from the reclosed one is always attended by the huge steep arising mountains.
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31 | reclosed
reclosed blurry dot
(model)
looking from above, like a bird, the reclosed building appears as a blurry point on a big empty land. just so you can imagine its shape. it seems there is no human being can find space in it. maybe rather just a few chickens.
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33 | reclosed
reclosed averted
(model)
looking from the side, maybe from the opposite shore in standing in front of the church, the reclosed one turning its back against prying eyes. it shows roughly its back, hiding the opening and the entrance.
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35 | reclosed
reclosed tree house
(model)
looking from the perspective of a child the reclosed building affects quite large and dominant. the short but strong legs carry the massive wooden box. almost confident it shows its volume and the projecting pent roof.
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37 | reclosed
reclosed outside and inside
(elevations)
on stilts sits a wooden box with a pent roof that projects by a few centimeters. a few planks climb to the loophole that leads into the small cabin. if you look out of the single opening you can see the water, the river and the fjord, the bridge, which rises above and beyond a few small red boathouses. the river opens his mouth in the fjord, behind the mountains arise impressive.
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39 | reclosed
reclosed entrance
(elevations)
four blanks form the stairs to the loophole which builds the entrance of the reclosed building. it is a small hole protected by a mini roof. the steps are disordered. to get into the building you have to go z i g z a g g.
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41 | reclosed
reclosed depth
(axonometry)
L
having a second look on the reclosed building, what is quite difficult because of its recloseness, it seems that it is quite deeper and more complex. the floor and also the roof has the shape of a . there also seems to be another narrow opening like a slot to get more light into the room inside.
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43 | reclosed
reclosed foldings
(axonometry)
L
exploding the reclosed one, it consists of cuboid stilts, the shaped floor and folded walls. all components are made out of wood which strengthen the connection to the nature. the folded walls arise a niche which offers more interior space.
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45 | reclosed
reclosed scenario
(perspective)
what if there is not just one of those little cabins in the meadow? you could copy it and let the clones on the meadow run free. they could go to one of the two living houses and come into contact with them. but if the reclosed ones need calmness again, they migrate back to the shore and to the protected trees. perhaps even one day they left this meadow at the river and want to get know whole dale and remain there on their stilts.
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47 | reclosed
reclosed scenario s
(map)
in the first case of the scenario the colonization of the reclosed ones is bounded just on the empty meadow opposite the church. together they act like a large playfield for the surrounding houses. they also reflect a resounded of the boat houses on the other side of the shore.
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49 | reclosed
reclosed scenario L
(map)
as in the state of emergency the colony of the reclosed expands in this case on any empty spaces in dale. it is almost a siege. how would dale would be without the fields for agriculture, without the peninsula in the curve of the river, without the blank on the river mouth? it seems while have lost the emptiness it also lost its remoteness.
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51 | reclosed
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53 | encircled
[encircled] living area
(map)
ten minutes from the center service and some meters from the riksveg away a few houses gather [encircled] by the forest which receives and swallows the noise of cars. separate smaller back roads lead to the almost hidden houses. to find a way to get there by car is often difficult. sometimes you take the wrong branch and ends in front of a house to which you don’t want to go.
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55 | encircled
[encircled] detached houses
(perspective)
hanging on impasse branches each house has a sloped roof and two floors. the most popular roof seems to be the gable roof. at some houses it appears in the easy form. two hipsters have a hip roof. often the houses have additions. one house doesn’t seem to be enough. the [encircled] one protects the border from this small settlement towards the forest.
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57 | encircled
[encircled] encircled border
(perspective)
if you caught the right road, you pass a small, quiet rushing stream. a small red painted cabin sits beside it. behind, right on the border to the forest or rather dangerously close embraced by the forest, there is a detached house. behind it a steep slope extends up to the mountain storehaugen. a dense dark coniferous forest follows the gradient. a maze street b calm stream c red wooden cabin d hidden living house e dark coniferous forest f mountain storehaugen
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f
e d
a
c
b
59 | encircled
[encircled] invasion of the conifers
(perspective)
looking from the southern slope the [encircled] house lies almost hidden in the forest. the arms of conifers embrace it and seem to not release the small garden cabins. only the street seems to know the way out of this predicament. a entangling forest b hidden living house c small garden cabins d road towards freedom
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e
c
b
c
a
61 | encircled
[encircled] slope
(elevation)
where the hill sloped down to a plain clearing there is one house seems to stopping the trees and protecting the border. it is divided in three parts - a bigger one and two additions at both ends. the trees are looking dangerous and threatening while in contrast the house looks frail. if you cut out the house there is only the deep dark forest sitting and arising on the hill. it doesn’t look like if something is missing.
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63 | encircled
[encircled] scenario
(perspective)
what if the forest up to the mountain storehaugen remains not so still as it seems now? it could be several houses added to this place - there would be enough space for it. but of course then the forest has to drain away, the houses would win. but the scenario could be quite different. the conifers breaks out and takes care of the place where previously the house was to be found. although it is still in its place, the trees grow now through the window and through the roof. it was attacked and the forest won the invasion.
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65 | encircled
[encircled] scenario 1
(map)
in the first scenario the boundaries of the forest would be drained away from the winning houses. this would increase the residential areas in dale greatly. a greater divide between the nature would arise, on the one hand the water and on the other the forest, made and occupied by the civilization.
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[encircled] scenario 2
(map)
in the second scenario the limits of the areas of dale would also change but here in favour of the distant landscape. the forest area would increase noticeably and the residential area along the large street would be kept only as a narrow strip.
67 | encircled
[encircled] outside connection
(section)
a floor and a gable roof divides the [encircled] building into two parts. the walls are perforated of windows and doors so they don’t exist anymore. the ground flows through the building.
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[encircled] inside connection
(section)
where the house was supposed to be only a roof is left which is perforated by breaking trough trees of the dark and deep forest. it is only a shape, a line. it is not defining a space anymore.
69 | encircled
[encircled] intruder
(perspective)
having a closer look there is maybe already a intruder inside the [encircled] house. it seems like it breaks through the roof, connects the ground with the sky. it breaks through the floor and the gable roof without worrying about the damage.
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71 | encircled
[encircled] tripartite
(elevations)
the house is divided into three parts. it is extended by a porch and complemented by a rear-mounted. numerous large windows open towards the west. a large chimney clearly suggests that there is a cozy living room inside. the house is painted red on the top floor, the lower section is formed by a massive, beige base. noise is coming from the house only in the evening and on weekends, when the family returned home from everyday stresses in their retreat.
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73 | encircled
[encircled] tripartite
(model)
observing the house of the side effect the additions are not only look additive but as an inherent part of the house. the body seems to be much stronger and more massive than the lightly floating roof.
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75 | encircled
[encircled] explosion
(axonometry)
having a closer the look the floor plan is more complex as assumed. the walls are folded finely and creates a lot of small corners. the roof seems also to be more complex. is it really a tripartite or are they maybe four parts?
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77 | encircled
[encircled] modules
(elevations)
after having a closer look to the roof the [encircled] one can be take into four pieces. each module left different points of contact behind. the big question is if there are connected just outside like glued together or have some small openings or if they are even melt together.
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79 | encircled
[encircled] additions
(model)
however looking at the [encircled] building it is always composed by several modules. at the front it seems like the addition forms an entrance for the biggest module which is add by an huge chimney. from behind the front addition appears now like a gash and not additive anymore while the rear one is just an add-on.
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81 | encircled
[encircled] addition
(elevation)
it could be possible that the typical norwegian gable roof house has just some addition for storage and the entrance situation. the biggest part is the dominate one while the additions are inferior.
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[encircled] insertion
(elevation)
it could be also possible that the smaller two parts aren’t additive, they are inserted. they pushes deep into the actual living house and create the interior space completely new.
83 | encircled
[encircled] connection
(perspective)
three possibilities, interior spaces.
three
different
the room ends with a closed and naked wall. the room ends with a door. does this door lead to the outside or to another room behind? the room has no ending. it continues into the dark endless.
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85 | exposed
e x p o s e d along the shore
(map)
on the banks of dalsfjord industrial buildings are located in rows to each other. by a dock for the haulage now and then in the idyllic dale exists brisk truck traffic. therefore the wide roads serve the harbor. you do not feel on a closed space. the several houses laying more like an open book towards the water. next to a typical red wooden house creative offices open itself like a fan towards the fjord. in direction to the bridge remains the great former shoe factory. several houses block the view from the centre to this place. a dalsfjord b ferry house c old shoe factory d transplant creative offices e obstructive living houses
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a
b
d e
c
87 | exposed
e x p o s e d view to the fjord
(perspective)
leaving the centre of dale arriving the shore with solitary exposed industrial buildings. most of them are looking directly towards the dalsfjord, the impressive arising mountains and as well to the bridge over the fjord. a mountain fløyen b dalsfjord c bridge d ferry house e old shoe factory f transplant creative offices g obstructive living houses
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a
c
b
d
f
g g
e
89 | exposed
e x p o s e d border to the fjord
(perspective)
with the village core and the mountains in the back the ferry house forms with other industrial and office buildings a border towards the water. a centre of dale b old shoe factory c exposed ferry house d creative offices e isolated boathouses f vikakletten g jarstad책sen h nontuva
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h
g
f
a
b
c
d
e
91 | exposed
e x p o s e d ghost
(perspective)
staying in front of the ferry house always seeing the framing mountains and the water. there are some buildings behind the e x p o s e d one. one industrial building, one simple apartment house with a hip roof and a ghost. looking on a map there is no building but what was it then on the picture? it is almost looking like a castle protected by its balconies. the e x p o s e d one appears to be the most down-to-earth. a ferry house b ghost building c industrial building d apartment house
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b c
a
d
93 | exposed
e x p o s e d ferry house
(perspective)
the e x p o s e d wooden ferry house is painted in red, also the roof is red. contrasts are set by white window frames and roof overhangs. the building is exposed to the nature without any borders. the fjord and the mountains seem to have the authority. it seems like they owned the ferry house and not the village dale.
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95 | exposed
e x p o s e d abducted by nature
(map)
how it would look on the map if the e x p o s e d house would not be a part of dale anymore but of the surrounding landscape, the fjord, the water and the mountains? would it still be able to see it on the map? or is it only a shadow and you have to suspect where it is? maybe the e x p o s e d one would be no longer fixed in a location, but drifting in the fjord.
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97 | exposed
e x p o s e d entrance
(model)
observing the ferry house from east appears a nick which forms supposedly an entrance situation. it is a strong gesture and also a big change in the simple form of the e x p o s e d one.
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99 | exposed
e x p o s e d waterside
(model)
seen from the fjord the ferry house appears stretched forever long. one can imagine a few openings. the nick of the volume at the other end of the ferry house however remains a mystery. it seems to be very massive. the roof looks like growing on.
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101 | exposed
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103 | exposed
e x p o s e d under the roof
(axonometry)
from the outside the e x p o s e d building appears quite low as if you would always bump the head walking in it. imagine that the roof isn’t grown on the folding body and be able to lift up, it seems quite big inside the ferry house. if now imaging how it would feel inside you maybe get lost.
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105 | exposed
e x p o s e d inside
(perspective)
inside the ferry house it is quite empty. it is almost naked, like the landscape that can be seen when the wings of the large sector are open towards the fjord. make you feel at one with nature, like being on the water and the mountains are laid to ones feet. the ferry house extends in length, windows towards west follow this run. the wooden walls create a massive border while the floor seems to flow away.
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107 | exposed
e x p o s e d width of the fjord
(elevation)
has the e x p o s e d building to be worry because of the mountains? fløyen arises very steep suddenly out of the water. it seems to be no end where it stops arising. does it still feel e x p o s e d or is afraid that the mountain comes closer?
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109 | exposed
e x p o s e d component
(sections)
the ferry house seems to sit e x p o s e d on the shore facing towards the water. but being inside it feels like the building flows on the water and has no own floor. if transforming the e x p o s e d house to a part of the water there will be a unit separated from the mainland of dale.
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111 | exposed
e x p o s e d reflection
(perspective)
so close to the border of the fjord the waterfront gable of the e x p o s e d house could work as a mirror reflecting the landscape. this would show how dale is ticking. always surround by nature, always almost embraced by it.
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