Evje is about 350km south of Oslo, and 50km north of Kristiansand, set on a beautiful river. Iron production began in the area during the Viking Age, and Evje has a long tradition of silver craft and music. The landscape varies from flat countryside to wild and beautiful mountains.

Like many places around the world, the urban environment has deteriorated over the last 50 years, with indiscriminate building and cars and car parking coming to dominate the centre. The goal of the charette is to make a masterplan for the development of Ejve centre, to increase density and turn it into a walkable, mixed-use small town.

Who should attend

Architects, planners, urban designers, landscape architects, and all practitioners and students interested in learning more about form-based urban design processes based on community participation. In addition, citizen activists, municipal officers, members of environmental and heritage bodies, and those interested in participatory planning techniques are all welcome to attend.

Course participants will be offered to participate actively in the design process (urban design and proposals for architectural codes, with examples), so there will be every opportunity for both theoretical input from lectures and tours, and hands-on practice.

Participants at the Åfjord charrette training course, September 2009.

Previous courses have included participants from Australia, China, India, Romania, Spain, the UK and elsewhere. There will be plenty of opportunities to exchange experiences from around the world and to learn from differing approaches to public consultation, within a live charrette.

Teaching staff

Teaching will be undertaken by Dr Matthew Hardy and Dr Susan Parham, with input from Arne Sødal and other professional members of the charrette team during the week.

In alphabetical order:

Dr Matthew Hardy has extensive experience in architecture and urban design in Australia, the UK and Europe, and contributed to two CNU Charter Award-winning projects in the last 10 years. He was employed to found INTBAU in 2000, and acted as the organisation's secretary until early 2009. He is now Senior Lecturer in Architecture & Urbanism at INTBAU and The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment, and has led many INTBAU charrettes across Europe in the last 10 years.

Dr Susan Parham's undergraduate studies were in politics. With higher degrees in planning and urban design, and doctoral studies at the London School of Economics Cities Programme, she brings years of experience in participatory planning from her directorship of CAG Consultants in London. She was the founding board Chair of the Council for European Urbanism from 2003-2008, and has taught on many of INTBAU's charrettes in Norway and Romania.

Arne Sødal, Norwegian architect and urban activist of many years, will lead the professional team and has the contract to deliver the charrette to the municipality. He was the architect for the new Holmenkollen Chapel in Oslo, Norway, rebuilt after fire in the 1990s in a traditional style. Arne has worked with INTBAU for many years, setting up and contributing to urban projects in Romania, Norway and elsewhere.

Accommodation and meals

Accomodation in Evje for course participants for the six nights January 16-22 is subsidised by the municipality. The cost including all meals and twin share accomodation is included in the course fee. Breakfast will be at the accommodation, with lunches and dinners served at the charrette venue.

The additional fee for single room upgrade is £80. Please indicate your preference at the time of booking.

Travel

Evje can be reached by rail via Kristiansand, 50km south of Evje with services to Oslo (4 1/2 hours). Oslo can be reached from across Europe by rail via Sweden.

Kristiandsand (KRS) has a small international airport and connections (many via Oslo) to all major European cities. Direct flights are available from Alicante, Amsterdam, Antalya, Bergen, Kristiansund, Copenhagen, Las Palmas, Monastir, Oslo, Santiago de Compostella and Stavanger.

There are several direct international connectons, including London Gatwick - Kristiansand with Norwegian airlines, www.norwegian.no.

Recommended arrival in Kristiansand: Saturday 16 January 2010, as we will have lectures and tours for international participants on Sunday 17 January, before the charrette starts on Monday morning 18 January.
Recommended departure from Kristiansand airport: Afternoon of Friday 22 January 2010 (or later of course if you prefer to stay on).

There is an overview of direct connections at www.avinor.no. For further advice regarding travel to Norway and connections to Kristiansand, please contact Audun Engh at the address below.

Travel notes