20.10.2023
Honors to SLA's car-free Gata Grønland at Landskapsarkitekturprisen 2023
We are proud to share that SLA, Fragment and The City of Oslo have received an honorable mention at The Norwegian Landscape Architecture Award 2023 for the successful work in reshaping Gata Grønland in Oslo into a lush and vibrant gathering place. The project is being honored for “(…) pointing towards what our cities can become.”
The Gata Grønland project was initiated in 2022 as an experiment to reimagine the main street without cars, putting pedestrians, cyclists, and public life at the forefront.
As the lead designer of the project, SLA undertook the challenge of re-imagining and transforming the bustling commuter route into a pedestrian and cyclist-friendly space where public life and nature flourishes. This primary focus led to the expansion of sidewalk zones accommodating dining spaces, outdoor furniture, and market stalls for local traders. The introduction of new city nature and informal seating opportunities immediately encourages exploration and play, making it a popular destination for both visitors and locals. At the same time, the lush project presented an entirely new perspective on how the streets of Oslo can look, feel, and function.
“The project is honored because of its good design and execution, but especially because it gives an insight into what our urban spaces become when you design for public life and not traffic. Transforming a car street into an urban space for people is a big change that is highly appreciated by the users. Varied vegetation, designed with several layers of awareness, provides greater qualities of experience and points towards what our cities can become.”
— From the jury's motivation
Drawing inspiration from the Norwegian lowlands, this redesigned street now has a sensuous and lush atmosphere. The project features flower meadows and 5-meter-high birch trees complemented by edible herbs and berry plants, as well as oak and alder trees. These elements carefully integrate with the pre-existing, mature linden trees, and create a lively, biodiverse environment where birdsong and butterflies can’t be missed. Sustainability and circular principles were a top priority in designing the space, with a strong emphasis on reusing existing materials and carefully considering the future use of newly purchased materials for the project.
The transformation of Gata Grønland was made possible through close collaboration with local stakeholders, which included one-on-one conversations and collective brainstorming sessions. It was designed in close collaboration with Fragment and the City of Oslo. The “car-free city life” concept builds on previous endeavors done by SLA including the conclusions of the ‘Action Plan for Increased Urban Life in Greenland and Tøyen,’ carried out in 2020-2021. The focus on city nature and biodiversity has garnered widespread popularity, turning Gata Grønland into a favored meeting place and a testament to the potential of urban development with a nature-based approach.
The temporary urban space at Gata Grønland was first installed for the summer of 2022. In June 2023, it was re-established with a range of upgrades, this time scheduled to stay in place until October 2024, allowing us to gather learnings from the winter season.
Project facts:
Place: Oslo, Norway
Year: 2022-2024
Client: The City of Oslo / Bykuben
Landscape architect and lead consultant: SLA
Citizen engagement: Fragment
Contractor: Agaia
Read more about the project here.
10.06.2025
SLA creates 104 new neighbourhood parks in Abu Dhabi
We are happy to share that we have completed one of the largest urban greening projects to date in the UAE: 104 new neighbourhood parks across Abu Dhabi, designed to improve health, biodiversity, and the everyday quality of life for all Abu Dhabi’s residents.
01.06.2025
SLA and GHD win major design project for Ookwemin Minising
We are incredibly excited to share that we – together with our partner GHD – have won the assignment as prime consultant for Ookwemin Minising: Toronto’s new 39.6-hectare island neighborhood planned for more than 15,000 residents!
23.05.2025
SLA exhibits New Nordic City Nature at Oslo National Museum
Today, the exhibition “New Nordic – Cuisine, Aesthetics and Place” opens at the National Museum in Oslo. SLA and Dyvik Kahlen have made a specially designed pavilion for the museum square – that takes visitors from the Michelin kitchen out into the urban realm. Its roof and landscape are planted with native, edible species from Oslo’s shores and forests, and offers a taste of New Nordic City Nature.