Unlocking potential

Oslo’s city council had previously considered locking the park gates and removing benches due to disrepair and unwanted activity. Instead, they chose a new approach and launched a democratic design process involving local residents, user groups, and the police.

The result is a park designed to foster care and belonging. According to Ole Rydningen, partner and landscape architect at Studio Oslo Landskapsarkitekter (SOLA), the focus was on accessibility, safety, and circulation, allowing children and adults to use the park on their own terms. Today, Kristparken is a vibrant community park embraced by kindergartens, school classes, youth clubs, older residents, and passersby alike.