Moist, Mist and the In-between

By Radka Komrsova

Valle Hovin is a formal valley located in Oslo, Norway in an area with high urbanisation pressure due to an ongoing development project, creating from the former industrial area a new neighbourhood called Hovinbyen.

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Project type
Diploma project
Programme
Landscape architecture
Year
2021

Supervisor:

Sabine Muller
Ahmed Faisal

Valle Hovin is positioned in the vicinity of the stream opening projects, the same stream - Hovinbekken - which is buried also under the Valley. In my diploma project, I am engaging with the diversity of water in the place, where water used to be a huge part of the identity.

To find what is the real notion of water in Hovin Valley I went through the history of the stream and by comparing the historical layer I found the richness which this place offers. From the moist wet area full of dams only on is remain - Hovindammen. Together with building a new highway in the 1980s, all original topography was confused and sport fields were placed wrongly.

In the concept of my proposal, I decided to return to this landscape its old shape. The sports fields need to be rearranged, then the landscape would receive its natural depression. By adding dams into this new ditch and reopening the stream, the cascade of dams could be reintroduced again. Most of the problems in the area are caused by rainwater. By terracing, I divided the slope into several floors where rainwater will be gradually stored, clean, soak or evaporate. The design proposal is dealing with various forms of water and shows the landscape in dynamic through the seasons. On the same principle of concentration and dispersal as I am working with water I used for vegetation and usage layers. In the large context of Hovinbyen, Valle Hovin is going to play a crucial role in the community life, therefore, was important to connect it well with its surroundings.

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Contact

Radka Komrsová

Radka Komrsová / Radka.Komrsova@stud.aho.no

Published Jan. 25, 2021 12:00 AM - Last modified June 11, 2025 12:17 PM