Yang Zhang

This project aims to transform the Grønmo large existing rubbish collection zones into a recreational park. At the same time, the current rubbish functions, material recycling, material composting and material sorting will be kept and be converted sustainably within the idea of the public park. The whole Grønmo area is around 42.5 hector. This transformation will reaffirm the qualities of the river, forest, field site with the idea to establish a new experience of the area. There could be new activities, including recycling classrooms, bird watching, hiking, campfire festival, bicycle group gathering, picnic, Christmas tree market, etc. This transformation project includes a new organization system of material collection, second-hand market, a new organization of material sorting and material composting, a visitor center, a new system of water filtering. To be able to connect the area to the existing morphology and natural environment of the south-eastern Oslo, this project is a part of an effort to turn the contaminated areas around Oslo into a new landscape scenery. The task of the thesis is on the cross-section of landscape design, architecture and infrastructure.

Grønmo is located in the southeastern part of Oslo in the district of Søndre Nordstrand, approximately 12km southeast of Oslo Centre. The size of the project site is around 42.5 hector, approximately 1.5 times the size of the Frogner Park. On the south, east and partly north, this area is surrounded by Østmarka as an important gateway to the forest, close to the E6 highway. Many hiking trails start from here. It serves as a good meeting place in the area between the noisy city life and the quiet forest. Grønmo was entirely covered by forest in the past. But now it is a large rubbish collection and treatment area. The Grønmo landfilled used to be the largest one in Northern Europe. Having functioned as Oslo’s main spot for the unwanted material since 1969, when Grønmo counted over 8 million cubic meters of trash. It was closed in 2009. Today the waste is covered by a thin piece of soil top cover with the green dress. After closing the landfill, there is still a recycling station, sorting area and composting plant on site.

On the level of architecture and landscape, Grønmo will be constructed as a new meeting area between the natural environment and the man-made artificial landscape. It will be given a new identity through good coexistence between recreation, learning and municipal engineering facilities and treatment of recycled material.