Østengen & Bergo: Bjørnsletta is a primary and secondary school for approximately 800 pupils, with an accompanying sports hall. A large building program on a very compact and sloping site demanded an innovative collaboration between architect and landscape architect in relation to the building’s location and universal design. Our intention with the project has been to turn the site height difference of 18 meters to a plus both for the building and landscape design. Space demanding areas such as the sports hall is built into the terrain. The roof surface is used for areas to play and stay. The height difference of the plot is taken in the building, giving the grounds two flat, functional main levels. With three separate wings and volumes, the building emerges both in scale and materials to the green, suburb surroundings.
The school has a scientific profile to stimulate the pupil’s curiosity and wonder, and the new facilities support this. As Oslo’s first passive house school, the project emphasizes environmentally friendly materials and transport. Areas for car parking are a minimum, while bicycle parking is a priority. Several small information boards teach about materials, vegetation, daily energy and water consumption. A large area of the plot had valuable, existing vegetation. This is largely preserved by keeping natural, green grounds in the outskirts of the plot where the wear is at least. Overall the project emerges as universal designed and environmentally friendly, in good relation to its context. This was not granted on the basis of the natural conditions. Bjørnsletta School was awarded honorable mention by the City of Oslo Architecture Prize 2015.
Landscape architect: Østengen & Bergo Landscape Architects
Location: Oslo, Norway
Client: Undervisningsbygg Oslo KF
Architect: L2 Architects (http://www.l2.no/)
Type of project: Primary and secondary school, sports hall
Area: 18 000 m2
Realization: 2014
Image credits: Photograph Jiri Havran, Photograph Tove Lauluten, where not specified credit Østengen&Bergo.
Designers: Østengen & Bergo AS /
