A street battle is over.
A paradigm shift – removing all traffic – a 9-year process of locally implemented research, diplomacy and activism.
From central parking to central park.
Ruten has remained a buffer in the urban development of the city, in anticipation of something bigger – as the Central Park in New York was built before the Manhattan grid was condensed around it. Framed by the elevated train tracks and a large shopping mall, the former parking lot provided a central, generous open space protected only by its capacity of cars.
Sandnes’ historic center remains a small-scaled urban fabric. The new district by the waterfront has a distinctly different dimension – scaled up to the old post-industrial structures on site. By overlapping the two adjacent contexts, the new Ruten is adapted to both. Referencing the adjacent historic city, a 6x6meter grid of trees, columns and lampposts is extended onto the site.
The Ring reflects the large scale of the fast-growing city on the waterfront. Together, these layers reestablish RUTEN as a natural center and pivoting point of Sandnes´ future-looking city with strong roots and proud local history. As an iconic landmark, The RING provides new identity and new connections, creating a new public space below and within the light unifying roof. As an urban umbrella the floating, undulating structure 5-6 meters above the ground celebrates all weather conditions and invites expanded use on the local average of 228 annual rainy days.
