This autumn, construction work has begun on the new Nytorget town square in Stavanger, Norway. Located a stone's throw from the historic city centre, this square will be transformed into a lively and green city park. The construction work will take place over several phases and is scheduled to be completed in time for the celebrations of Stavanger's 900-year anniversary in 2025. This is the culmination of a process that began in 2019 when Karres en Brands, with Ghilardi + Hellsten, won the design competition with a proposal called ‘Three Houses and a Long Table’.

The new park will combine a cultural youth centre, offices, shops and an art gallery, all located around a multifunctional green space that will become an inspiring new green city square where art, culture and relaxation come together. This makes Nytorget an important link between the historic city centre and the expanding eastern part of the city. The design responds to the existing urban and architectural qualities of the square’s urban context as well as offering a dynamic and playful interpretation of these qualities that perfectly matches Stavanger's urban character.