Waugh Thistleton Architects has conceived a visionary project in Norway to create a zero carbon community of 1,500 homes and a cultural hub on Store Lungegårdsvannet Lake in Bergen
The population of central Bergen is decreasing, with people moving to the outskirts to live in suburban family homes. As a result, the city centre is in decline, with shops and restaurants struggling for business.
The 7 mountains surrounding Bergen limit the potential for development near the centre. However, placed between the historic town and the new cultural arts hub to the east, the Store Lungegårdsvannet Lake is the ideal site for a new cultural and residential centre.
Waugh Thistleton has created a masterplan that unites these two areas and brings exciting new public spaces to the city. Trenezia will be a zero carbon community for all. A new boardwalk spanning the lake forms the central spine of the project; a place for activity and interaction with a swimming pool, sailing club, performance spaces, cafes and shops along its shore.
Behind the boardwalk, a variety of new homes for young families, students and the elderly create a place for intergenerational interaction bringing life and community into the centre of Bergen. The development offers a range of accommodation from family houses, co-living, student flats and sheltered housing both for private sale and rent.
The Store Lungegårdsvannet Lake masterplan responds to the local climate through the creation of solar corridors throughout the site to maximise sunlight and daylight into every home. Residential fingers are separated by canals with individual and communal boat moorings and pontoons for residents, creating a comfortable environment where people can be healthy, happy and productive.
Made from state-of-the-art timber construction, CO2 emissions from the construction and during the lifetime of the project will be minimised. The environmentally responsive design, low energy consumption, low water consumption and low waste generation form the pillars of the technical design.
Trenezia is a demonstration of how to build in a truly sustainable way both environmentally and socially, representing a microcosm of the vision for Bergen as a leading sustainable capital in the world.
