Underpass Regeneration, Oslo

Architect:  Snøhetta
Lighting Designer:  Jenny Osuldsen

Oslo-based architectural firm Snøhetta developed a lighting design for the city of Skien and Telemark Fylkeskommune that has shone new light on an old industrial area and has citizens feeling better about their city.

Illumination of an underpass using Martin Architectural Exterior 200 color changing lights is just one of 14 projects which together make up the Morild lighting project. The project is the result of a competition started more than 5 years ago won by Snøhetta. 

Landscape architect Jenny Osuldsen is the project leader for Snøhetta. “When people see the new architectural lighting in the old industrial area of Skien, they look at the city with new eyes,” she comments. “Tourists are coming back to this old industrial town to view the new look, but even more important, the citizens are starting to use their own town more and they feel more positive about living there.”

Four 150-watt Martin Exterior 200 luminaires with full CMY color mixing and an IP-65 rating have catalyzed a turn-around at an often used underpass beneath the city’s main road. Controlled via a Martin LightCorder, the lighting is programmed to change color each day of the week (red on Monday, green on Tuesday...).

Programming was made by Thomas Longva of EHS A/S using a Martin LightJockey. Lights were supplied by EHS through Martin Architectural Scandinavia. The Martin luminaires were installed by Skagerak Elektro.

The illumination has made the area both safer and aesthetically pleasing. “The use of architectural lighting on old landmarks, and old but active industrial buildings surrounding the harbor area, has made the town a lot more interesting and made it a popular place to visit,” Jenny states. Hotels have even reported up to a 30% increase in turnover since the Morild Project has been realized.

Other elements of the Morild Project include specially made fountains in the harbor area, 24 timber stocks standing in the water topped with lighting (to provide lighting for barges), and lights on the local church, the purification plant and the lock chamber.

More than 2000 people showed up on opening day to take part in a procession marking the lighting regeneration of the old industrial town. “The Morild Project is a pioneer project in Norway and is the first time that architectural lighting has played a major role in the aesthetics of a town in Norway,” Jenny says. 

The cost of the Project is being paid for by the borough council, the county administration and the National Ministry of Cultural Affairs. The Project reportedly uses less electrical power than a typical house.