Frogner + Vigeland Park IFLA 2019 Common Ground / Walks + Talks #8 An intriguing walk through the visionary Frogner park designed to host a collection of Gustav Vigeland’s 200+ sculptures, about the parks’ multi-layered history and its role for today’s citizens of Oslo Time: 09:00 – 12:00 Please make sure to be on time, as the tour begins at 09:00 Meeting point: Kafe Vigeland AS, Frognerveien, Oslo Remember to bring:

• a good pair of walking shoes • a bottle of water • an umbrella/raincoat (if the weather is unreliable) • a return ticket for local transportation “Ruter Impuls”,

distributed upon registration in Oslo Congress Centre If you have any tour related questions, please contact: Maja Kozak Dehlin t: +45 60605279 m: maja@ifla2019.com

Taran Anderaa t: +47 45671221

Saji Ahi t: +47 46161230

Kaf

e Vi

gela

nd

(STA

RT)

Fr

ogne

r Par

k 3

H

isto

ry

Intr

o 1

2 P

arc

Stru

ctur

e

4 V

igel

and

Park

:

Lan

dsca

pe

5 S

culp

ture

Par

k 7

The

Gre

en S

truc

ture

8 S

køye

n Tr

am S

top

(

END

)

6 T

he P

ublic

Par

k

(Sn

ack

+ D

rink)

Frognerparken with adjacent green structure is probably Norway's most famous park with Gustav Vigelands sculpture park as a key motive. The city walk will explain how the park is a unique tourist destination with a huge number of visitors. At the same time, it is the most important recreational area in the western part of Oslo. The park's cultural and landscape history is important for understanding its design. It is an important distinction between Frognerparken as a “ordinary” public park, and the sculpture park west of the stream and the pond. The first traces of a park were a baroque garden created in the 17th century. The City of Christiania (Later named Oslo) bought the area in 1896. On the grounds of the 1914 centenary exhibition for the Norwegian Constitution of 1814, and the former 18th century baroque garden, the park administration of Oslo, headed by landscape architect Marius Røhne, was given the task to design a public park. Professional like Marius Røhne and professor Olav Moen strongly disagreed in the park design proposed by sculptor Gustav Vigeland The sculpture park was designed as a strong axis leading from the entrance trough several main motives, by the sculptor himself, with the help of garden architect Josef Oscar Nickelsen. The main goal of the design of this part of the park was to give space for a collection of more than 200 sculptures by the artist Gustav Vigeland (1866 – 1943), donated to the city of Oslo. The park is nonetheless the most popular park in Oslo, with well over a million visitors per year. The sculpture park is an international attraction. At the same time Frognerparken and its connection with the green structure of the part of Oslo, offers an important recreational area for the citizens of Oslo including space for a large number of organized and free activities. The tour will explain the park structure, introduce you to the sculptures of Gustav Vigeland and offer an analysis of the historical landscape layers of the park.

Stop 1: KAFE VIGELAND / INTRO Time: 09.00 – 09.15 Theme: Overall design and concept Speaker: Landscape architect Saji Ahi, Landscape architect Ida Fossum Tønnessen, (former head of Park and Sports administration of Oslo)) General information about park and the overall concept of the park. The Municipality of Oslo bought Frogner Hovedgård in 1896. Brief information about the development of Oslo as a city “from “fields” to urban structure. About the National exhibition 1914 (Norwegian constitution 100 years in 1914).

Stop 2: PARC STRUCTURE Time: 09.30 – 09.50

Theme: The structure of Frognerparken Speaker: Prof. Landscape architect Karsten Jørgensen, Prof. Emeritus, Ole Rømer Sandberg This part of the park is an enormous exhibition of art and as such one of the biggest tourist attractions in Oslo. At the same time, Frognerparken with the areas surrounding the sculpture park is an important public recreational area for the citizens of Oslo. During the walk we will look at the correlations and the contrast between the public park and the sculptures. The overall design of the park resulted in heavy discussions between Gustav Vigeland and the professional landscape architects at the park administration of Oslo, headed by Marius Røhne. This discussion will be illustrated in a tableau. On the occasion of the ‘double jubilee’ – 150 years since the birth of Norway’s greatest sculptor, Gustav Vigeland, and 100 years since the first university programme in landscape architecture was established in Norway (and Europe!), the first part of the Frogner walk will stage the debate between first professor of garden art, Olav Moen, and the sculptor Gustav Vigeland himself. Prof. Moen engaged in the public debate in both professional and social issues. In 1930’ies he was involved in the discussion about the establishment of Vigeland’s sculpture Park in Oslo. A huge public area was dedicated to the display of Vigeland’s sculptures, and the artist was given ‘free hands’ in the design of the area. Vigeland presented a park plan without consulting any landscape architects, and the result, which was accepted by the City Council without discussion, caused outrage. Olav Moen was; one of the sharpest critics, quoted in all the main newspapers: «No other European city would even consider building anything as bad as this» he said. In the performance, the alternative plans are shown, and the debate concludes in an agreement between the two opponents: time has shown that the park has become success after all.

Stop 3: FROGNER PARK HISTORY Time: 9.50 -10.05 (25 min) Theme: The History and the Public park Speaker: Landscape architect Ida Fossum Tønnessen (Former head of park department of Oslo). Landscape architect Saji Ahi Walk through the oldest part of the public park

Stop 4: VIGELAND PARK: THE LANDSCAPE Time: 9.50 -10.15 (25 min) Theme: The sculpture park of Gustav Vigeland Speaker: Curator of Vigelandmuseet, Landscape architect Ida Fossum Tønnessen (Former head of park department of Oslo), Landscape architect Saji Ahi Stop at the small square to the right of the bridge. Information about the sculpture park with including details about some of the most significant sculptures. The ponds and Frognerbekken as a part of the park design.

Stop 5: SCULPTURE PARK Time: 10.15– 10.45 Theme: The sculpture park Speaker: Curator of Vigelandsmuseet - Dialogue between participants and guides Passing the fountain, walk to the “Monolitten”. Dialog about sculptures.

Stop 6: THE PUBLIC PARK Time: 10.45- 11.20 Theme: Frognerparken a neighbourhood park Speaker: Landscape architect Ida Fossum Tønnessen (Former head of park and sports department of Oslo). 100 year as a public park, challenges and opportunities. Frognerparken is a part of an overall green structure including “The English park, Nordjordet og Vestre gravlund. Refreshments

Stop 7: THE GREEN STRUCTURE Time: 11.20 – 12.00 Theme: City transformation and urban renewal Speaker: Dialog between participants and guides We will walk on the edge between the “green” landscape and residential areas build in 1970s on the premises of landscape qualities. Meeting the heavy city transformation of industrial sites to urban areas at Skøyen.

Stop 8: SKØYEN TRAM STOP Time: 12.00