When Stavanger was chosen as cultural capital of Europe 2008, the Norwegian Wood competitions were launched to promote innovative timber architecture. We won the design of a new square and a sculptural object in wood in pedestrian district Langgata aiming at revitalizing the area, and creating a place where many different activities could take place. Since the site is visible from afar, it was essential to create an object that could be experienced from distance and reveal the square. Our ambition was to create a manifesto for public space design: not just a decoration, but an urban strategy. The proposal used the iconographic shape of an old, uplifted wooden house. By the redefinition of its traditional construction and by making it glow in the dark, a new landmark for the city was created, a symbol of the old city upscaled to the new city's dimensions, dealing with the Norwegian wood ancient architecture motives to design a contemporary object.

This public Lantern aimed at providing a space where to enjoy light and weather changes if/when nothing else takes place. And if there is always something happening, on account of the Lantern, more will happen: creativity calls for creativity.

Images: © AWP, Atelier Oslo