The bustling life in the streets is a testament to the success of the project to modernise the park.

An important meeting place for children and young people

In June 2022, an upgraded Rudolf Nilsens plass was ready to welcome an entire neighbourhood and other visitors. The aim was to give children and young people in the area in particular a public meeting place which suited their needs and wishes. The bustling life in the streets is a testament to the success of the project to modernise the park.

Need for a customised neighbourhood park
The challenge with Rudolf Nilsens plass, and the reason why it was in need of upgrading, was that many people used the same outdoor spaces, but for different purposes which were not entirely compatible. The outcome was a relatively empty area, with few people wanting to use the park at the same time.

Rudolf Nilsen plass is adjacent to Vahl School in Grønland, Oslo. It is a densely populated neighbourhood in which children and young people live together with their families in small apartments, further increasing the need for a public and tailored meeting place.

An uplift
The upgrade to the park forms part of the Områdeløft Grønland project, which is funded by both the municipality and central government. Together with the landscape architects at Sola and Bar Bakke, they have given the neighbourhood the park it deserves. For them, it was important to ensure that the needs and wishes of children and young people in particular were met, and meetings and workshops were therefore arranged for this target group to enable them to put forward their views.

Thanks to the project, Rudolf Nilsens plass is now larger and has a new climbing frame, activity zones, a multi-purpose pitch, planted areas and furniture. The neighbourhood has gained a new and functional meeting place.

KONG for different uses
Through diverse combinations of KONG, a range of resting and meeting places which meet a variety of needs has been created. Places where people can hang out and meet their neighbours, and children can play under the watchful eye of their parents.

Sun chairs for relaxation have been placed in suitable locations, along with a KONG picnic table for meal breaks, and a long table where different groups can gather and get to know each other. Varying combinations of KONG benches, either with or without armrests, improve accessibility for many age groups. A free-standing KONG cube is a fun element which can be used by children as part of their play or by the elderly wanting to take a breather on the hill.

A neighbourhood park—for everyone
The result is a functional neighbourhood park, where many age groups can use the space at the same time. It has become the meeting place and focal point that the neighbourhood both wanted and needed. The park is much more popular now, and parents, children and teachers at Vahl School are very pleased with their new facility.

“The park is already very popular. It expands the urban space for children and young people, and the proximity to the school means that it is especially busy during the daytime. However, it is also very popular outside school hours, and both adults and families are often seen using the park at the same time. The children play while the adults use the sitting areas,” says Knut Hallgeir Wik, partner and landscape architect at Bar Bakke.

Location: Rudolf Nilsens Plass, Grønland, Oslo
Year of completion: 2022
Landscape architect: From sketch to detailed project—SO-LA AS
Landscape architect: Construction and implementation—Bar Bakke
Client: Agency for Urban Environment, City of Oslo, Bydel Gamle Oslo, Områdeløft Grønland