The town of Larvik in southern Norway has lost its historic connection with its Fjord. In 2008 Metropolitan Workshop took part in an international urban design competition to regenerate and reconnect the waterfront to the town.

Currently the water’s edge is cut off from the town by a busy road, railway lines and a ferry terminal. The ferry terminal is to be moved out of the town centre and so the opportunity to stitch the town back together exists. Although the problems are complex, our mantra throughout the project was that complex problems are often solved with simple solutions.

Our proposal began with an analysis of the existing barriers and how they could be reorganized and consolidated to allow permeability and vehicular access through the site. We propose a new park, a green carpet, between the main street and the waterfront which acts as an attractor and stitches the town back together.

A sustainable mix of uses is proposed along the waterfront, some which contribute culturally to Larvik such as restaurants, education, leisure and cultural facilities. Other uses, such as waterside apartments and a hotel, generate the income required to realize the project.

As well as developing an exciting new place, the team concentrated on how the project could be realized in terms of phasing, financing, working with the existing fabric and understanding what the town of Larvik specifically requires. The team suggests a number of “quick wins” which could be set up quickly and cheaply and which would initiate activity to allow Larvik’s new waterfront to develop from sustainable beginnings.

Competition Team:

Neil Deely

Emmet O’Sullivan

Ida Ruth Mathisen

Kristina Madsen

Richard Roberts

Marcus Brett

Sigrid Bylander

Håkon Follesø