– Strikingly weak | arkitektnytt.no
Why is architecture not news in the new government’s political manifesto – the Hurdal platform? Where will it be from the neighborhood investment? And what is meant by the municipalities having to let go of state guidelines in spatial planning?
The questions are many for the Støre government’s program statement. Here is the architectural field’s rice, praise and hope for a new government.
– Very mechanical
Christian Pagh, director of the Oslo Architecture Triennial (OAT), is not immediately impressed. The Hurdal platform certainly has some good intentions around reuse, recycling and climate thinking towards the construction industry, he believes, but the new government’s political shortcomings and holistic thinking around architecture.
He himself has searched through the platform for keywords, such as architecture, neighborhoods and site development, without getting relevant hits.
– It is startlingly weak that a new government base does not directly talk about these three things. They do have their own section on urban politics, it is sympathetic, but it will be very mechanical, says Pagh.
– But the government is clearly clear that they want to invest in the construction industry to achieve the climate goals?
– Yes, and it is good that they will prioritize reuse in the construction industry and work for innovation for wooden buildings. But I’m again afraid this will be too technical and not take up in seeing potentials that lie in a greater commitment to architecture.
Want national location plan
The director of the Triennale misses a government that takes architecture seriously and that serves the need to focus on quality in site development and good neighborhoods.
– The field of architecture has the potential for him to have quality in our cities and places through the use of knowledge and creativity. The Hurdal platform’s lack of recognition of this points to a general problem in society: That design and architecture are only put on as a cozy thing, even though we know that most people, most recently with the Architecture Uprising, understand how important architecture is.
– What kind of concrete policy are you calling for?
– I’m looking for money. I do not know how many billions will be spent on roads and mobility, but where is the money to work on urban quality? I call for a national site plan and a willingness to invest, with funds, in architectural quality for most people – in large and small places.