Proposal for Økern

“The Lighthouse”
“That Tower”


I have a proposal for Økern inspired by my upbringing in a planned city near Seoul, South Korea, si-milar to Økern. Growing up in a planned city was typical in South Korea, especially in mega-city like Seoul, where there's a constant need for housing. My parents, like many others, moved to a plannedcity when they got married or had a baby. So, my entire childhood was spent in such an environment before moving to Norway.

Since I grew up in a planned city, I haven't really reflected on what problems in the Økern area,but this course has prompted me to think deeper. I've noticed that Norwegians place a strong emphasis on nature. However, if I wanted to live near nature, I would choose to move out of the city. Building a new city with aesthetics unfamiliar to Norwegians might be a valuable direction to explore. This new part of the city seems to face prejudice against different city aesthetics and functions, potentially limiting its ability to develop urban traditions. Coming from a big city, I wonder about the knowledge I bring and how it contributes to shaping this city.

In Korea, those outside planned cities often criticized them as dry, and lacking parks, nature, and playgrounds. However, those who desire such nature choose to buy apartments outside planned city, and people who don't mind it would buy apartments inside planned city. From my perspective, understanding the views of those who want to move or already live in Økern is crucial. Rather than an outsider's view, I empathize with their desires and needs. Reflecting on my experiences in Stavanger and Bergen, where local people complained about Oslo being a gray city, but after lived in wooden houses(Gamle Trehus) in Bergen and Stavanger, I actually missed the concrete when I moved to Oslo.

Due to my background, Økern feels nostalgic and like home to me. Despite hearing complaints about the lack of nature and parks in Økern, it wasn't an issue for me during my teenage years. However, I understand that perspectives vary. As I explored Økern, it reminded me of my childhood, prompting me to reflect on what I wanted and missed from my upbringing.

What stood out for me was the lack of color and texture in the predominantly concrete and metal structures, especially in the area I chose for the proposal. This part of Økern is criticized for being ugly, but for me, it represents the essence of a planned city. The idea is to bring color and texture to this gray area, specifically focusing on a tower that lacks vibrancy.
I heard in this class that Økern is a neighborhood where people from various nationalities move to. Perhaps for me and expats in Norway, the most challenge thing is the "weather". One of the first things I learned at the Norwegian language course was the saying, '"DET FINNES IKKE DÅRLIG VÆR, BARE DÅRLIGE KLÆR"  ("THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS BAD WEATHER, ONLY BAD CLOTHING.") However, the crucial point is that foreigners like me often feel confused about what clothes to wear based on the weather. Additionally, I haven't seen weather forecast apps much in Korea, but since coming to Norway, I've realized the importance of checking the weather forecast app daily. Adapting to the ever-changing weather and choosing appropriate clothing accordingly is, I believe, the most crucial aspect of life in Norway.

Based on these experiences, I would like to propose public art for Økern. Reflecting the weather forecast, projecting real-time weather conditions and suitable clothing on all four sides of 'that tower' through a beam projection is the idea.

My opinion is that Økern lacks a prominent meeting place, and my proposal aims to transform the tower into one. The tower, being visible from various points in Økern, can become a symbol and a focal point for the community. This not only adds vibrancy to Økern but also creates a distinctive meeting place for the community.












This tower is located in front of the Økern Portal.


Idea sketch