Made in Borås

TEAM DATA

Team Representative: Gauthier Durey (FR) – architect, urbanist, landscape architect; Associates: Eric Reid (CA) – landscape architect, urbanist; Linn Runeson (SE) – architect, urbanist

edit / atelier
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^{G. Durey, E. Reid, L Runeson}

VIDEO (by the team)

INTERVIEW

1. How did you form the team for the competition?

The team consists of the 3 partners of edit / atelier, an Oslo based office operating within the fields of landscape, urbanism, planning & architecture. “edit / atelier on a mission to edit our habitat into a better, more meaningful and more sustainable environment, for living kind.”
 

2. How do you define the main issue of your project, and how did you answer on this session main topic: the place of productive activities within the city?

Gässlösa lies on the Viskan River on the southern boundary of Borås city. It combines historical disused factories with industrial buildings and is characterised by its fragmented tissue and disconnections with the rest of the city. However its proximity with the city and the river represent strong advantages regarding the existing and future need for urbanisation and densification of the city. Respectful of Borås’s identity, its industrial & textile history; Made in Borås proposes to combine these elements with Gässlösa’s unique location on the Viskan river. Re-affirming the city’s riverscape as a strong tool for renewing Gässlösa’s, providing high quality living and climate adaptability; the proposal interweaves both to create a lively and robust ecosystem for Gässlössa and Borås. In parallel an overall strategy for innovation along the Viskan river is established and unfolds various strategies for urban productions. It specifically explores how existing structures can accommodate innovative activities while creating synergies with new programs and buildings highlighted in the list of 15 interventions for a productive and inclusive Gässlösa.
 

3. How did this issue and the questions raised by the site mutation meet?

Our approach led to the conceptualisation of a metropolitan river park at the core of Borås and its future developments, introducing spatial qualities for denser urban living. The river park provides Borås with a strong vision, and more specifically a safe and healthy future with regards the the city’s problematic flooding. The metropolitan river park offers Borås a valuable blue-green heart and also provides new connections and greatly improves access throughout the city and Gässlösa. Relying on this framework, the project articulates itself around 3 main strategies: Transformation & innovation; Social & inclusive; and Ecological & sustainable.
In summary, the proposal has in a good way safeguarded both Borås textile history and the green and blue elements in Gässlösa’s location along the Viskan river, while providing a strategy for productivity and innovation in relation to social and ecological challenges.
 

4. Have you treated this issue previously? What were the reference projects that inspired yours?

edit / atelier have been confronted in the past to urban transformation projects and city strategies across various scales (urban blocks to territories). Our approach is based upon finding answers to todays challenges through meticulous examination of the existing territory a site is located within. We are always focused on unveiling the potentials of a place through understanding its landscape and context. In the context of Borås we have been particularly inspired by Michel Desvignes and famous projects such as Confluence for its idea of a park system, Governor Island for a self powered landscape transformation, or l'île Seguin for establishing green public space over transformation processes. These references helped shaping a vision for Borås metropolitan river park.
 

5. Urban-architectural projects like the ones in Europan can only be implemented together with the actors through a negotiated process and in time. How did you consider this issue in your project?

The project integrate these issues at its core strategy; I.Transformation & innovation, II.Social & inclusive, III.Ecological & sustainable. Through establishing an approach that; fosters various new professional activities, promotes collective thinking and does not degrade the environment, Made in Borås is a robust framework for long term environmental, social, and economic goals and at the same time is a flexible and adaptable strategy for tomorrow’s challenges and needs.

6. Is it the first time you have been awarded a prize at Europan? How could this help you in your professional career?

First participation, first win! Since edit / atelier is a young office we hope to gain visibility and are very honored to see our expertise recognized from a professional jury. We hope we will get the opportunity to have a fruitful collaboration with the city of Borås and that it will lead to more projects. We are very thankful for Europan, and to the city of Borås for awarding us with such a fantastic opportunity.

TEAM IDENTITY

Office: edit / atelier
Functions: Architecture, Urbanism, Landscape architecture
Average age of the associates: 31,7 years old

Has your team, together or separately, already conceived or implemented some projects and/or won any competition? If yes, which ones?
edit / atelier was founded in Spring 2018 and have been awarded for:
2019 Sterudkvartalet, invited competition in collaboration with NSW, Moss, Norway: 1st prize.
2019 Hellerudsletta, invited compeition in collaboration with Nordic, Skedsmo, Norway: 1st prize.
2019 YIOBY, invited competition in collaboration with Oslo Works, Oslo, Norway: Finalist.
2019 Galleri Oslo, invited compeition in collaboration with A-Lab, Oslo, Norway:1st prize.
2018 Bjärred er så kollektit, international open competition, Bjärred Sweden: Spetial mention.
2018 Liabøsentralen, open competition, Liabøen, Norway, 1st prize.
2018 Hiiumaa new sport center, international open competition, Kärdla, Estonia: 2nd prize.
2018 Hakaneimenranta, Internation open competition, Helsinki, Finland: Shortloisted