Munkebakken

Munkebakken will become a high-quality residential area that provides site-adapted and beautiful surroundings for a good and inclusive neighborhood. With a diverse housing mix, appealing architecture and inviting outdoor spaces, the area will attract residents, visitors, and neighbors of all ages and life situations. Becoming a cherished place for future users.

While developing the proposal, we have studied the site’s opportunities and constraints. We have worked with content and function both outdoors and indoors, applying established principles of urban planning and composition to ensure well-being and a sense of belonging. In particular, we have examined the classical perimeter block.

At the same time, we have given the project a contemporary character, with solutions adapted to our time and today’s living patterns. The ambition is to establish a robust concept that feels both timeless and relevant, with a clear identity that distinguishes it from the surrounding developments and places human well-being at the center.

Munkebakken was originally a country estate built in the 19th century at Fornebu and represents a preserved cultural environment from the period when the area was used for summer residences and agriculture, before the airport was established. The name Munkebakken was considered romantic and evocative, intended to create associations with an old and exotic history. It also refers to the house’s elevated and sunny location with views toward the fjord.

We wish to connect the new residential project to a local place name from this earlier period—before the airport was established—when Fornebu was an area where people gathered and spent time together in green surroundings. This aligns well with our approach to social sustainability in the project. We still need to meet in good places to thrive, understand one another, build community, and grow.