Relational Objects - Birthe Maria Ervik

Eclectic Atlas

Programs

DAV

Project by Birthe Maria Ervik

Øvre Årdal and Årdalstangen is divided in two:

Øvre Årdal and Årdalstangen is divided in two by the lake, car road and steep mountainsides.

Now:

You have to travel by car to meet people from the other part of Årdal.

This project:

By creating a new situation on Midnes the people of Årdal can meet there. There’s an old road there with several old tunnels and a beautiful site next to Årdalsvannet.

In Årdal they have two community houses, two sportareas, two outdoor swimmingpools, two libraries, two hotels and two hydro factories. The people of Årdal say they don’t feel connected to eachother at all.

In 20 years:

My intention is that this can be created furter. More situations can have their own programs and walking paths in between. Then the two parts of Årdal will be connected in a new way.

My site

My situation is at the old road at Midnes. Here there are three very different tunnels and no contact with the main road. I made new meeting places in three different situations. Instead of working against the car I included it in my program, by making it possible to drive to my site.

First thougts:

		I wanted to make some modules in the landscape with different views according to the terrain. I also wanted them to relate to different senses.

Materiality

	Årdal is an old industry town and I wanted to reflect this in my choice of materiality. In Årdal they produce Aluminium and I wanted to use the raw material - Bauxit. This acts like gravel but reflects the light. Cortensteel is rusted steel and expresses water and time.

When you walk you discover new things...

	...and you have to challenge your way of walking

Kvernabekken
The modules at Kvernabekken is inside the river. The idea is that the water will run under and over and you will get different light and sounds during the day and also during the seasons. They are diverce in scale, and creates different situations.

Midnes

		Here I’ve made a sauna. People can sit and enjoy the view while they regain their heat. It’s directed to the south and you can see Årdalstangen and the very steep mountainsides oposite. It’s located down by the water, so you can access it directly after you’ve taken a swim. The shower room is behind the sauna and it’s dark and moist and a part of the mountain.

Brennborg

Here I’ve created a road hovering over the water. This is made of corten steel and is an optional road to the tunnel. You feel unsecure clinging on to the mountainside and very small in relation to the enormous landscape. You have to watch your steps and be aware of your surroundings which is the same feeling you get when you walk in the mountains.

I wanted to make a stopping point on the road. This module have a view down and also a place where you can feel safe. The idea is to repeat the feeling of a tunnel, but to keep the view down. You have to climb down from the road, but you land on a “safe” level

Kvernabekken	Midnes	Brennborg