To sum up

Bekkelagsbadet buffer zone is a large new public park area in the transition between the harbor and the neighborhood. The container terminal was previously located in this area. The project provides a sufficient distance between the round-the-clock heavy port operations and residential areas, schools and kindergartens located nearby. The large public park was established for the port and the neighbors to live well together.

Bekkelagsbadet is an integral component of the Port of Oslo’s larger development strategy, aimed at creating a more harmonious coexistence between port operations and urban life. The motivation behind this strategy is the belief that the harbor and the city can thrive together, fostering a symbiotic relationship that benefits both industrial activities and community well-being.

The Port of Oslo is committed to improving its relationship with its neighbors, ensuring that the harbor’s presence enhances rather than detracts from the urban experience. Bekkelagsbadet is a testament to this vision. This park, featuring a bathing area, diving tower, and expansive green spaces with sports amenities, represents a collaborative effort with the local community. By providing a recreational area that attracts residents from all over Oslo, Bekkelagsbadet illustrates how urban development and port activities can be integrated to create vibrant public spaces.

Conception: Landscape Architect – Bar Bakke Landskapsarkitekter

Positioning of the project in relation to the Agenda 2030’s goals*

*According to the Port of Oslo

	Directly related	Indirectly related	Not related
Goal 1: Climate change adaptation	x
Goal 2: Energy transition & circular economy		x
Goal 3: Sustainable mobility		x
Goal 4: Renewed governance			x
Goal 5: Investing in human			x
Goal 6: Port Culture & Identity	x
Goal 7: Quality food for all			x
Goal 8: Port city interface	x
Goal 9: Health & life quality	x
Goal 10: Protecting biodiversity	x

 Learn more about the AIVP commitment: Commitment – AIVP

Outstanding features:

• The Bekkelagsbadet was primarily conceived to create a visual buffer and shield the noise from the harbour. The aim was also to re-establish accessibility to the fjord and reinforce the existing green structure;
• Before the design started, an active participation process was carried out in which the local community and other stakeholders were involved. Based on this, a multitude of different wishes from neighbors and children and young people were identified. This contributed to a diversity of offers in the park, which quickly became a favorite destination for near and far bathing and activity guests of all ages;
• The terrain is shaped to handle floodwater from extreme rainfall;
• Bekkelagsbadet is located close to a large port terminal. As screening between the park and the terminal area, steel sheet piles, which are otherwise used in port construction, have been used. In the park, railway tracks and bollards are also used as elements for both play and recreation;
• The use of materials in Bekkelagsbadet is characterized by reuse. Wood, stone and old remittances from the port industry are integrated into the facility;
• There is a focus from the port on both maintaining the park and opening up new offers under the auspices of the neighbors. The neighbors run both a kiosk in the park and a sauna open to the public in winter. The neighborhood has also planted apple trees for local food production;
• There has been a great deal of focus on dealing with invasive species. These have been removed and local vegetation has been planted instead. Older and vulnerable vegetation has been taken care of and more than 30 new trees have been planted in addition to perennials and shrubs.

Images of the project

About the Port of Oslo

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