Bryggen i Bergen Proposal
An upgrade of one of Norway's most visited areas

Bryggen and Torget are among Norway's most well-known and visited areas and are used both by locals and tourists daily. They also host one of Bergen's most iconic sites, its historical foundation of façade-series, property structure, and its link to Vågen and the fjord. An essential premise for the redesign includes solutions that provide the best possible incorporation of the new light rail plan while integrating safety parameters within the cultural urban environment and ensuring an accessible, attractive city space.

The name of the proposal, “Gå mann!”, can be translated to “walk on”, which is a famous saying in Bergen representing the city’s desire to create a great urban space for both locals and visitors. The new design is focused on further improving the conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, while still protecting the city’s unique historical heritage.

The overall purpose of the design is to maintain and strengthen Bryggen as a world heritage site, while further enhancing the cultural scene and experiences in the area.

This stimulates and increases the diverse opportunities of the urban spaces, while simultaneously ensuring good communication and traffic safety for everyone. Bybanen is the premier for this design, and the focus on the urban railway’s visibility and its function as a barrier, is essential to the project.

The concept is divided into three "theatrical” levels: The Stage Floor, the Scenography, and the Actors. This represents two separate plans for the sub-areas, Bryggen and Torget, where the actors are the users of Bergen's city space.

Given the area's size, the design aims to create smaller, intimate spaces within a larger sphere to develop more unique experiences and the sense of a more intimate environment.

Anything from art exhibitions, gardens, cafés, bike repair stands, and food halls are included to add to Bryggen's already busy atmosphere.

The new design and materiality of the floor of Bryggen create a distinct self-identity and an aesthetically inviting and user-friendly space for its users. In addition to new elements added to Skur 8 and Skur 11, which are open for public functions, new destinations will be created along the surface of the harbor, focused on a younger audience and supporting local initiatives and industries.

Nikolaikirkeallmenningen, a street that perforates Bryggen's dense building structure, is redefined to emphasize the historical layers of the city further and increase its accessibility by creating a new wall and a greener, more open street. This is also related to the plan to develop more intimate rooms with greener, more inviting outdoor spaces as part of the "new" Bryggen.