Gottlieb Paludan Architects and Norwegian architects Tegn_3 will be assisting Sarpsborg Local Authority with making the preparations for sustainable development of the commercial area in Grålum. The project includes a feasibility study which will uncover scenarios for development, land use and street structure together with a subsequent zoning plan. The project is part of the local authority’s overall strategy to reduce the number of commuters travelling by car and inject new life into local communities, promoting for example smart mobility solutions. 

The area is situated along the E6 motorway and is currently characterized by large, closed company headquarters with extensive parking facilities; there are large transport corridors and generally few continuous pavements and even fewer urban spaces that invite outdoor living. The overall objective of the project is to create a better and more cohesive town with appropriate preparations for sustainable land use and improved conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.
In addition, the brief is to enhance the quality of the urban spaces, increasing the opportunities for active use in all its forms for the companies’ employees and local residents.

Smart mobility will feature prominently in this project from the outset: the urban structure will be planned with a view to facilitating the various forms of mobility, the functions of Grålum and the enhancement of the urban spaces.
Therefore, it is not just about managing the frequencies of the buses and the traffic signal installations; it is also very much about enhancing the quality of the physical spaces and intermodal connections, i.e. how easily pedestrians and cyclists access public transport options and connect on to the rest of the transport network.

Gottlieb Paludan Architects is subconsultant to Tegn_3, which is part of the ÅF Group just like Gottlieb Paludan Architects.