Stavanger kommune

Stavanger Municipality
Department of Culture and
Urban Development 2009
STAVANGER
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

STAVANGER
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Stavanger Municipality
Department of Culture and
Urban Development 2009

Introduction
This is not a history book, nor is it a catalogue for those with
a special interest in culture, architecture and town planning.
It is a short introduction into how the city has become what
we see today and what it may become in the future.
Many members of the Department of Culture and Urban Development,
and some from other departments in the Stavanger
Municipality, have contributed text and illustrations. Together,
we have made a short presentation of examples from
the city’s physical development and plans for the future. The
examples can be an expression of an era, a mood or a stage
in the continuous development of the city. They may be symbols,
places which have become part of Stavanger’s identity.
In this way we hope to show some of what we feel is special
about Stavanger, both old and new.
The first edition of this book was one of the Department of
Culture and Urban Development’s contributions to Stavanger
as European Capital of Culture 2008 (“Stavanger 2008”). We
hope this translation will be useful and enjoyable for visitors
to the city.
Per Jarle Solheim has written several of the chapters and developed
the manuscript. Egil Bjørøen has been responsible
Vågen seen from Valberget 2008
4

Vågen seen from Valberget. Photo: C. L. Jacobsen, 1870s
for the layout, design and some of the illustrations. Jorunn
Imsland has provided most of the illustrations and the maps.
Unless specified otherwise, the photographs have been taken
by Siv Egeli. Thommas Bjerga has supervised production
of the book. Brenda Solheim has translated the book into
English.
Department of Culture and Urban Development
Stavanger, 1 June 2009
Halvor S. Karlsen
Director

List of Contents
PAGE 7 CITY EXPANSION
PAGE 8 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CITY
PAGE 14 STAVANGER ON THE MAP
PAGE 16 STAVANGER IN NUMBERS
PAGE 18 TRACES UNTIL 1965
PAGE 32 CITY EXPANSION IN 1965 AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT AREAS
PAGE 42 TRANSPORT AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
PAGE 44 GLIMPSES OF THE NEW STAVANGER
PAGE 52 GREEN AREAS IN STAVANGER
PAGE 54 TWO MAJOR TOWN PLANNING
COMPETITIONS
PAGE 60 TWO MAJOR CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT
AREAS
PAGE 66 CULTURE IS URBAN DEVELOPMENT
PAGE 78 NORWEGIAN WOOD
PAGE 80 VIEWS AND WALKS
PAGE 84 PLANNING A CITY
PAGE 86 THE FUTURE
PAGE 88 SOURCES
6

City Expansion
Stavanger has developed from a small village round the harbour
and adjacent area (Vågen and Østervåg) in the 12th century
to become the fourth largest city in Norway. The city’s
boundaries have been moved several times to accommodate
population growth and commercial activities.
As the map shows, growth was modest until 1866. The largest
expansion occurred in 1965 when Madla municipality
and parts of Hetland municipality were incorporated into
Stavanger.
Vågen seen from Valberget. Photo: C. L. Jacobsen 1869

A Short History of the City
It is not without reason that the slogan for
Stavanger 2008 was Open Port. The harbour
and the sea have always been important.
Vågen (the inner harbour), protected
from the open ocean, was a natural starting Fishing-net sinker
point for a port town. People have lived in
what is now Stavanger as far back as the Stone Age. The first
visible signs of habitation are rock carvings from the Bronze
Age. However, it took a long time from about 1000 B.C.,
when the first carvings were chiselled into the rock at Rudlå,
until Stavanger became an important city.
It is difficult to establish when Stavanger became a town or a
city. Little is known of the period before approximately 1125
when building of the cathedral (Domkirken) started on the
hill between Vågen and Breiavatnet. Stavanger was given to
the church in 1164 and was an important clerical centre in the
Middle Ages. Even though town privileges were awarded in
1425, the population at the beginning of the 16th century was
no more than about 100, the majority of whom were connected
to the church.
Iron age farm, Ullandhaug
Bronze Age rock carvings, Rudlå
In the mid 16th century, there was a large international demand
for timber and export of timber from Ryfylke to continental
Europe laid the foundation for expansion. The first
commercial firms and ship owners were established. Stavanger
became the administrative centre for Stavanger County
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CITY
8

in 1568 and was granted a town charter in 1594. By that
stage, the population had increased to 600.
At the beginning of the 19th century, natural resources
and international trade - the incredible herring fisheries
and market for herring in Europe - provided the basis for
enormous growth, particularly after free world trade was
established in 1850. In the second half of the 19th century,
Stavanger had the second largest commercial fleet in
the country, with 600 ships in foreign trade, and was the
centre of one of the country’s most important shipbuilding
areas. Large trading and shipping companies were
established.
Stavanger cathedral
The walls of the Kongsgård school are as old as the cathedral and the
Utstein monastery, and one of very few buildings in the region from that
period

The population grew from 2 500 in
1800 to 30 000 a hundred years later.
Stavanger became a large town by
the standards of the time, with the
cultural and material ambitions of a
large city.
By the late 19th century, the period
of growth had in reality ended. The
herring disappeared in about 1870.
The freight market stagnated and
almost disappeared during the next
decade and the town went into a
deep recession.
In about 1890 a new business came into existence, the canning
industry. The raw material was brisling from the fjord. In the
course of a few decades, tinned brisling from Stavanger became
one of the country’s most important export products. At the outbreak
of the First World War, Stavanger was one of the leading
industrial towns in Norway. Shipbuilding and maintenance was
an important industry as well as the canning industry and its
subcontractors.
Sardine packing at Egeland’s canning factory, Hillevåg. Photo: H. Johannesen, ca 1910
Ship under construction at Rosenberg. Photo: O. Gulliksen, ca 1920
International crises in the period between the two World Wars
also affected Stavanger. Many firms struggled and several local
banks went bankrupt. However, this was a relatively short recession
and by the end of the 1930s the town was on the rise again.
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CITY
10

Herring in Vågen. C. Lutcherath, ca 1910

Drill bit, Norwegian
Petroleum Museum
The town was relatively undamaged during
the Second World War and continued to grow
until the 1960s, when demand for canned
food decreased and competition within
shipbuilding was hard. The town was
heading for a new recession.
The discovery of oil in the North Sea
started a new period of growth. The
first major oil field, Ekofisk, was
discovered in the autumn of 1969.
Stavanger became the administrative
and technical centre for North Sea oil
activity. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (Oljedirektoratet)
was established in Stavanger and national and international
oil companies set up offices. The Norwegian State’s national
oil company (Statoil) became the largest employer. Major oil
installations were constructed at Rosenberg and Jåttåvågen.
After the end of major construction activity, growth continued
in the service industry and administration, with great cumulative
effect.
Amalgamation of the Stavanger municipality with Madla and
parts of Hetland in 1965 enabled Stavanger to expand and keep
pace with the growth, and to establish new districts. The first
general plan for the amalgamated area was approved in 1968.
Platform construction. Photo: A. Brueland 1973
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CITY
12

The planning basis was thereby ready to meet new challenges
and further growth which resulted from major oil and
gas discoveries. Many essential features of the plan have
been implemented in establishing green areas, development
areas and main roads.
Prosperity is still increasing in the entire greater Stavanger
area. There are today no clear divisions between Stavanger
and the neighbouring municipalities of Sandnes, Sola and
Randaberg and cooperation between the municipalities
is developing strongly. The Forus area, which is located
centrally at the junction of Stavanger, Sandnes and Sola, is
perhaps the clearest example of cooperation with respect to
area planning.
Stavanger has been become a prosperous and international
city, with a dynamic commercial and cultural life and high
ambitions. The city became a university town on 1 January
2005. The city has also received several civic awards, such
as the Synergy Prize in 2001, Ossietzky Prize, Norwegian
Cultural Municipality and Norwegian Sports Municipality
in 2003, Best Host Town of Tall Ships Race 2004, International
Municipality 2004 and Urban Environment Prize in
2005 and 2006.
Summer in Byfjorden

Stavanger on the Map
Town Secretary Ulrik Frederik Aagaard’s map from 1726 is
the oldest map of Stavanger. However, the town did not have
technical mapping and surveying expertise until after the fire
at Holmen in 1860 when first lieutenant Hielm in Kristiania
(now Olso) was contracted to survey the area.
As a result of the fire in 1860, water and gas works were
established, the fire department was organized on a permanent
basis and, in 1866, a position for a town engineer was
established. It was not until 1901 that a combined position for
Below: Surveyor’s certificate of plot area measure
Right: Stavanger’s first theodolite
STAVANGER ON THE MAP
14

technical director and head of building development was
established. A separate building development department
was established in 1916. However, the Town Engineer did
not recommend establishing a separate entity for planning
and surveying until 1931. In 1952 the Council voted to
establish the surveying department as a separate service and
to establish a position of Chief Surveyor.
The first series of maps at 1:500 scale was constructed in
the 1950s. They were then photographed as the basis for
maps at 1:1000. In the 1970s, a street name map was created
for use internally within the municipality.
In 1992 it was decided that the City
Surveyor’s department should establish digital
mapping data bases, including property
maps. The coordinate system was recalculated
(Euref 89) and implemented in 1998. At
the same time, the mapping data bases were
made accessible for internal and external use.
Maps have now become “consumables” and
anyone who has access to Internet also has
access to a current map, updated every night.
Theodolite, robot station with GPS 3D model of the area round the county court house GPS

Stavanger in Numbers
The following diagram shows the current distribution of
land use within Stavanger:
Housing
“Trehusbyen”
City centre
Industry and commerce
Transformation areas
Public buildings
Public outdoor recreation
Agriculture and nature
Transport
Other
Approximately a third is housing. Just about one half is
not built up and includes farmland, natural and recreational
areas. However, it should be noted that many of Stavanger’s
inhabitants work outside the city limits and that municipalities
in the region are in practice one market for employment,
housing and commerce.
Right: Growth is distributed unevenly between the individual districts
STAVANGER IN NUMBERS
16

Other
Poland
Health and
social services
Other social and
personal services
Agriculture etc
Industry, oil and
gas production
Afghanistan
Finland
Burma
Lithuania
Indonesia
U.K.
Turkey
Education
Building and
construction
Sri Lanka
Chile
Eritrea
Holland
Somalia
Germany
State, county and
municipality
Office and
administration
etc.
Finance and
insurance
Transport and
communication
Shops, hotels
and restaurants
Ethiopia
Serbia
China
Iraq
France
Thailand
Philippines
Russia
Iran
USA
India
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Denmark
Sweden
Vietnam
Pakistan
A large portion of the jobs in Stavanger are associated with
the oil industry or the industrial and administrative sectors,
as shown in the diagram above. At the other end of the scale
are agriculture, forestry and fishing (“Agriculture etc.”).
People from Stavanger are often called “siddiser”,
probably a Norwegian version of the English citizen,
originating in the shipping era. At present, 12.5% of
the inhabitants are immigrants. The above diagram
indicates where these 15 000 new “siddiser” come
from. The largest 20 groups are specified, but over
130 other nationalities are included in “Others”.

Traces until 1965
Stavanger’s history has left visible traces which we can still
see today. Individual buildings and areas are witnesses to and
symbols of different phases of development.
King Sigurd Jorsalfar established the Stavanger bishopric in
1125 and this is considered to be the year in which Stavanger
was founded. Stavanger may have been selected because of its
natural harbour, located closest to England. Stavanger became
an ecclesiastic centre, with monastery, school and bishop’s
residence. However, after stagnating for many years, the bishopric
was moved to Kristiansand in 1682 and a bishopric was
not re-established in Stavanger before 1925.
Many of Stavanger’s historical buildings have been lost, due in
part to changes in society’s structure and values. The St. Olav
monastery which lay west of Breivatnet fell into ruin after the
Reformation and all traces were removed in 1577 when the
monastery was used as a stone quarry. After existing for more
than 500 years, the latin school was demolished in 1842. The
Maria church was used as the town hall and finally a fire station,
before it was pulled down in 1883.
However, the cause of the greatest destruction historically has
been fire. Most of the buildings were timber and fires were
catastrophic. Between 1633 and 1833, large parts of the town
were burnt to the ground as many as seven times.
Eastern facade of the cathedral. Photo: C.J. Jacobsen, ca 1910
TRACES UNTIL 1965
18

Cathedral
Building of the cathedral in romanesque style started in
about 1125 under Bishop Reinald from Winchester in England.
The building was seriously damaged by fire in 1272.
During its reconstruction, the cathedral was expanded by
adding a choir in gothic style and acquired its current form.
The cathedral was renovated extensively between 1939
and 1964. In connection with this work, led by Gerhard
Fischer, the plaster was removed and the cathedral largely
restored to its medieval appearance.
Valberg Tower
After the fire of 1833, it was decided to build a watchtower
for the town’s firemen at Valberget, the highest point on
Holmen, with an overview of the whole town at the time.
The Valberg tower (Valbergtårnet), designed by the palace
architect, Christian Grosch, was completed in 1853.
The tower was never very successful in terms of fire
protection. Following the next fire in 1860, when 210 houses
at Holmen burnt to the ground, only the new fire tower
was left standing. However, even though the Valberg tower
never served its original purpose, the building, with its
beautiful shape and commanding position, has become an
important symbol of Stavanger.
Between 1800 and 1900, the population increased tenfold.
This, as well as modern technology and external influences,
changed Stavanger completely in many areas. Banks, Valberg tower from the north-west. Photo: G. Wareberg 1917

gasworks, waterworks, railway, telephone, missionary societies,
temperance society and newspaper were established. Cultural
life flourished. The author Alexander Kielland, the artist
Kitty Kielland and lyric poet Sigbjørn Obstfelder are perhaps
the most well-known cultural figures from this period.
“Acropolis”
Prosperity gave Stavanger a new self-respect, which culminated
in the construction of four large public buildings between
1883 and 1897, the Rogaland Theatre (Rogaland Teater)
(1883), Stavanger gymnastics hall (Stavanger Turnhall) (1891),
Stavanger Museum (1893) and Stavanger hospital (Stavanger
sykehus) (1897). All of these were dedicated to culture and
the welfare of the people, all were designed by the Stavanger
architect Hartvig Sverdrup Eckhoff and all were located on the
hill above the town as it was at the time, a local “Acropolis”.
The water supply for the hospital came from Mosvannet via a
water tank at Våland and, from 1895, the Våland tower became
a landmark. All this building activity was an enormous economic
effort, perhaps the greatest investment in public welfare in
Stavanger to date. Remarkably, this coincided with the onset
of a serious depression following the collapse of the herring
fisheries and shipping industry. All the major shipowners and
businesses went bankrupt during the 1880s.
Museum, gymnastics hall and theatre. Photo: C.J. Jacobsen 1901
Stavanger hospital. Photo: M. Eckhoff 1897
Today, the Rogaland Theatre has taken over the gymnastics
hall and most of the hospital is used as Rogaland County Council
offices. However, the buildings bear witness to civic pride,
vision and faith in the future.
TRACES UNTIL 1965
20

”Acropolis” 2008
Below: Stavanger Museum. Right: Rogaland Theatre

Breiavatnet and Byparken
Breiavatnet has many names – the heart of the city, the city’s
smiling eye – and has a special place in the city’s consciousness.
Breiavatnet was part of Vågen until approximately 3 000 years
ago, when the land rose (or the sea sank). At that time people
were carving rock signs at Rudlå. The lake lay outside of the
built-up area until the 19th century and just inside the town
boundary until it was expanded in 1878.
The town park was established as a public park in about 1870.
Today, the city benefits from this wise decision.
The park has beautiful trees, well-maintained beds of flowers
and one of Stavanger’s most distinctive buildings. In 1915 an
architectural competition was held for design of a music pavilion
next to the cathedral. The winner was architect Erling
Nielsen of Kristiania. This modest, but well-designed, building
was completed in 1925 and fits in with the cathedral and green
area of Kongsgård.
Breiavatnet towards the railway station. Photo: A. Brueland 1970
Music pavilion, 1920s
Breiavatnet. Photo: Bitmap
Together with Vågen, Breiavatnet is still the strongest natural
feature in the city centre, even though landfills have changed
its original appearance. Stavanger would have been poorer
without the park and Breiavatnet with its promenade in the
middle of the city.
TRACES UNTIL 1965
22

The Advent of Two-family Houses
In the mid 19th century, Stavanger was a compact town,
concentrated in the areas close to the sea between Bjergsted
and Spilderhaug (Badedammen). This area largely coincides
with the area which is considered to be the centre of
Stavanger today.
By the end of the 19th century, all the area available for
building had been taken into use. However, no tenement
blocks were built. Instead, the built-up area had started to
expand towards Storhaug and Våland, and horizontally
divided 2-family timber houses became the most common
type of dwelling, both in this area and in later expansion
up to the 1950s. The new districts were equipped with big
prestigious school buildings. In the eastern part of town,
new industries were established. Just south of town, the
industrial area Hillevåg was established. The Rosenberg
shipyard moved from Bjergsted to Buøy and accelerated
development there.
Morning at Mosvannet. Photo: H. Henriksen, ca 1915
Våland from the mid-1930s. Photo: Widerøe
Mosvatnet and Vålandskogen
Mosvatnet and Vålandshaugen were incorporated into the
town in 1866 and 1905 respectively. Large parts of Våland
have subsequently become built-up. However, trees were
planted in what is now Vålandskogen and around Mosvatnet
lake and have become a resource for the city.

The Wooden Town (Trehusbyen)
The concept of protection, which was established in the
1950s, has subsequently developed and become stronger. One
expression of this is preservation of the so-called Trehusbyen,
which lies largely within the pre-1923 town limits. See the
map on page 7.
In Stavanger, as in other Norwegian towns, a large portion
of the houses are timber constructions. Even though brick
buildings appeared following the fires in the town centre in
the 19th century, use of such material had as much to do with
the building’s size and use as with fire safety. Wooden houses
continued to dominate in the centre and in the new districts
established as the city grew.
Sporadic attempts were made to impose use of brick.
However, these efforts did not succeed, primarily because of
the cost. Brick was reserved for churches, factory buildings
and other large buildings.
Two-family houses, Våland
Brick buildings, Wessels gate (left) and St. Petri (right). Photos: Egil Bjørøen
With approximately 8 000 wooden houses from the period
before 1950, Stavanger is the city with the largest number of
wooden houses in Europe. It is truly a wooden city, and Trehusbyen
is a natural description and name.
Opposite: Wooden housing, Storhaug
TRACES UNTIL 1965
24

Awareness of the value of the wooden buildings is relatively
new. In the 1940s, the municipality prepared comprehensive
plans for modernizing the centre. The plans implied complete
clearance of the existing buildings in the centre and at Straen.
Only the cathedral, Kongsgård and the old post office were to
be left standing.
The first projects carried out in line with the clearance plans
(Klubbgata, Olavskleiva) provoked protests. These resulted
in a conservation plan for Straen, or ”Old Stavanger” (Gamle
Stavanger), in 1956. This was one of the first conservation
plans in the country and was extremely important for subsequent
town planning in Stavanger. Architect Einar Hedén was
central in this work. The plan has been expanded several times
and it is now acknowledged that not only the city centre, but
also all the wooden buildings in central districts, are important
to Stavanger.
The wharf warehouses are also an important part of
Stavanger’s character. The herring period from about 1800–
1880 changed the towns’s appearance in the shape of a
continuous row of 200–300 warehouses from Sandvigå to
Strømsteinen.
When the herring disappeared, many of the warehouses were
abandoned or were converted for other uses such as canning
Above: Old Stavanger, Nedre Strandgate
Below: Old Stavanger, Øvre Strandgate
TRACES UNTIL 1965
26

factories. Only approximately 60 still remain and many have
changed shape or facade over time. In addition, they now lie
some distance from the water following repeated landfills
along the harbour front. However, they are still a visible
and characteristic feature of the city. Many are now used as
restaurants, pubs and discos, others as shops, storerooms or
offices. It was not until 1993 that a complete register of the
remaining warehouses was compiled and specific conservation
regulations introduced.
The row of wharf warehouses ca 1870 (Stavanger Cultural Heritage Office)
Reconstructed on the basis of Torstrup’s map and old photographs by
Helge Schelderup (Vågen) and Unnleiv Bergsgard (eastern harbour)
Row of warehouses today, Skagenkaien towards Millennium Site

The conservation work has now also been applied to other
districts with newer buildings. The most comprehensive work
is the introduction of regulations for Trehusbyen, as defined
in the Cultural Heritage Plan (Kulturminneplanen) in 1995.
Specific aesthetic guidelines for Trehusbyen were introduced in
2003. The municipality’s objective is to preserve this as an area
with wooden buildings, both by preserving existing buildings
and by constructing new buildings in wood.
Two-family house, Våland
Opposite: Inquisitive tourists in Øvre Strandgate
Map showing ”Trehusbyen”
TRACES UNTIL 1965
28

After the Second World War, Norway was to be rebuilt. An
idealistic generation of planners and architects were to give the
towns more and better houses, new jobs, and green areas for
the inhabitants. Terrace houses, where everyone had access to a
garden, and blocks with large open areas were built outside the
old town centre.
There was a great shortage of houses and the standard of the
older housing was poor. Housing cooperatives were one means
of alleviating the housing shortage and the Stavanger Cooperative
Building and Housing Association (SBBL) was established
in 1946.
The terrace house, also called the Stavanger House, was developed
in about 1950. It became a trademark of housing
construction in the 1950s and for SBBL’s early Cooperative
Housing Societies. The house was based on a construction with
economic spans and no internal load bearing walls and was
simple and cheap to build. All the houses have an entrance at
street level and their own garden. With two floors plus basement
and attic, three bedrooms and practical kitchens, these
were ideal family dwellings.
Terrace houses (”Stavanger houses”) at Bekkefaret. Photo: Widerøe 1957
Blocks of flats, Misjonsmarka. Photo: Widerøe 1957
The Stavanger House received a lot of attention and many
successors throughout the country. Fifty years later, they are
still not old-fashioned. Even though many have been extended,
reflecting increased affluence, many have retained their original
layout and details.
TRACES UNTIL 1965
30

Typical areas with Stavanger houses are Steinkopfstykket
and Årrestadstykket near Randabergveien, Tjennsvollskråningen,
Vålandskråningen, Bekkefaret and Saxemarka-
Solsletta. In total, almost 800 houses of this type have
been built.
The Stavanger houses from the 1950s stand as a testimony
to the idealism of architects and developers in the difficult
years after the Second World War. Some areas have also
been designated for preservation.
Stavanger is known for its wooden houses. However, other
types of housing have also been built. International trends,
particularly from Sweden, were followed. The first blocks
of flats were built in 1948 and 1951 at Misjonsmarka, with
175 flats in total. Saxemarka was subsequently developed,
with over 400 flats.
Blocks of flats, Saxemarka. Photo: Per Jarle Solheim
Terrace houses (“Stavanger houses”) Ullandhaug
One of the basic principles behind the construction of
blocks in the 1950s was that the inhabitants should have
light and fresh air. The blocks were not to be built too close
together. There should be spacious outdoor areas. Every
flat was to have a balcony, to compensate for lack of direct
access to outdoor areas at ground level. The buildings
were simple and economic.

City Expansion in 1965 and
Urban Development Areas
Amalgamation with Madla and parts of Hetland on 1 January
1965 was a watershed in development of the city in more recent
years, providing Stavanger with the opportunity for significant
expansion.
Stavanger is not a big city by international standards and does
not have any real suburbs. Instead, so-called development areas
have been established.
The location of the development areas in the expanded Stavanger
municipality was largely defined by the development plan
1966-70. The areas included Hundvåg, Stokka, Tjensvoll-Madlamark,
Kvernevik-Sunde, Kristianlyst-Mariero, Hinna and
Gausel-Godeset-Jattå, all outside the old city boundary, and
Godalen and Rosenli inside it.
Kalhammarviken with Bjelland’s herring meal factory. Photo: Widerøe 1952
Development of Tjensvollskråningen. Photo: Widerøe 1957
The development areas were a natural consequence of
Stavanger’s active building land allocation policy, the socalled
Stavanger Model. The Stavanger Model entails that the
municipality acquires all larger areas which are designated for
development. The areas are provided with roads, water, sewage
and electricity. Individual areas within the larger areas are then
sold to different developers based on a more detailed development
plan.
Opposite: Madlatorget. Photo: Bitmap
CITY EXPANSION IN 1965 AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AREAS
32

Three Typical Development Areas
The following areas are representative of different phases in
development of the city:
Buøy-Hundvåg
Buøy has been part of Stavanger since 1878, while Hundvåg
was incorporated into the city in 1965. The water tower at
Buøy, a local landmark, was built in 1920 when the Rosenberg
shipyard moved from Sandvigå at Bjergsted to Buøy.
Houses for the workers were built both on Buøy and also at
Hundvåg. The development of larger housing estates started
in about 1967. At first the pace was fairly slow, but this increased
after construction of the city bridge (Bybrua).
When the bridge was opened, the island’s population was
7 000. There are now 12 500 people living in this area and
the number is expected to increase to 15 000. At the same
time, the drastic reduction of activity at the Rosenberg
shipyard has resulted in increased road traffic due to people
driving to work on the mainland.
The city bridge (Bybrua), constructed by professor Arne Selberg and engineer
Johannes Holt, was opened in December 1977. A cutting connecting
the harbour ring road and the Varmen/Lervig area in 1985 and a tunnel
between the Stavanger railway station and the harbour ring road in 1989
greatly improved access to the development areas on Buøy and Hundvåg
Below: Rosenberg shipyard 1921
Planning of a new underwater connection to the mainland
is in progress, both as part of the Ryfast project, connecting
Stavanger to Ryfylke via a 14 km underwater tunnel, and
because an alternative ferry-free connection is desirable.
Opposite: City bridge with Buøy and Hundvåg. Photo: Bitmap
CITY EXPANSION IN 1965 AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AREAS
34

Sunde-Kvernevik
When development started almost immediately after expansion
of the city limits in 1965, Sunde and Kvernevik seemed to be
far from town.
Most of Sunde and Kvernevik was developed before 1980.
Given that there were many developers, catering for different
potential buyers, almost all types of houses and building styles
from that period are represented. Developments in society and
increased prosperity after the city’s last recession in the 1960s
are reflected in the number of extensions subsequently built to
the first houses at Kvernevik.
Development area Søra Bråde, Sunde
Building is still going on in the area, and there are examples
of more recent architecture, as illustrated by the photographs
from Søra Bråde at Sunde.
Jåttå-Gauselmarka
A continuous urban belt between Stavanger and Sandnes, also
called the “Linear City”, was accepted as one of the basic
principles of development of North Jæren. This made Gausel-
Godeset-Jåttå, midway between Sandnes and Stavanger centre,
a prime candidate for development. In addition, the proximity
of work places at Forus made this area very attractive. Local
work places were not part of the concept for any of the development
areas. However, in this case, they were at least located
in the vicinity.
CITY EXPANSION IN 1965 AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AREAS
36

Planning started in about 1975. Development of Gauselmarka
started in earnest in about 1980 and continued at
Godeset. Development of Gauselbakken South and North
started in about 2000. A main principle in all cases has
been to ensure easy access to green areas.
The period after 1980 has been a growth period, at the
same time as new architectural fashions have arisen. Godeset-Gauselmarka
and Gauselbakken have been gradually
developed during this period, with a wide range of house
types and styles in both areas. Gauselbakken North is the
last area within the Stavanger boundaries where detached
houses have been built to any great extent.
Development will continue northwards at Jåttå.
Development area Gauselbakken North
Left and below: “Building for the future”, Gausel

Industrial Areas and Work Places
In the development areas, there is a predominance of housing
rather than work places. Work places are concentrated today
in two main areas, Stavanger centre and Forus, 10 km further
south.
The Stavanger municipality’s development plan for 1966-
1970 identified two new industrial areas, Dusavik and Forus.
Both areas have been extremely important for development of
the city.
Dusavik became an onshore base for oil industry activity in
the North Sea. Forus became a regional concentration of work
places which most likely surpasses the visions of the planners
in the 1960s. Jåttåvågen was established later as a construction
site for large North Sea installations, notably the Condeep
concrete gravity platforms.
Early in the 1950s, initiative was taken to develop the Forus
area for industry. Gradually the idea arose of establishing a
large industrial area located centrally between the Stavanger,
Sola and Sandnes municipalities as delineated following expansion
of Stavanger in 1965. The total area is approximately
65 hectares.
Forus was originally the name of the area where the Stokka
lake, which covered most of Forussletta, discharged into
Forus area. Photo: Bitmap
CITY EXPANSION IN 1965 AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AREAS
38

Gandsfjorden. The Stokka lake was drained at the beginning
of the 20th century and the area was cultivated and became
part of the adjacent farms. During the Second World War, the
Germans built a new airport on Forussletta. After the war, the
airport was no longer used, but the State retained ownership
of the airport area.
Forus extends across the boundaries of three municipalities,
but is in reality treated as one continuous industrial area. This
was the basis for the Forus master plan in 1965. The plan
envisaged a traditional industrial area, but this was not to be.
A major change occurred at the end of the 1970s as a result
of oil industry activity. Statoil established its head office at
Forus, followed by other oil companies. Structural changes
Oil-related industry, Forus

in the Norwegian economy, whereby fewer and fewer goods
are produced locally, have also left their mark. Heavy industry
failed to materialize and, instead of manufacturing plants,
warehouses for imported goods were built. The warehouses
also developed gradually into sales outlets and then shops in
competition with businesses in the urban centres.
The area is administered by Forus Næringspark AS, an intermunicipality
company with the mayors of Stavanger, Sandnes
and Sola sitting on the board of directors. The company provides
ready-for-building sites for sale to companies - almost
1 000 companies to date.
Today more than 60% of the almost 25 000 work places are
related to offices, services and retail shopping. The number of
work places may double within the next 30 years.
One of the main challenges in the Forus area is the much larger
relative growth in work places compared to other parts of
the greater city area. This has resulted in considerably more
car traffic to and from Forus compared to the town centres and
in strained traffic conditions, particularly in the rush hour.
Plans are now focusing on developing dedicated public transport
routes. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic is also to be facilitated.
The objective is to increase the number of people travelling
to and from work by public transport or on foot or bicycle.
Opposite: Statoil, Forus. Photo: Bitmap
CITY EXPANSION IN 1965 AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AREAS
40

Transport and Urban Development
The first car arrived in 1899, 20 years after the railway between
Stavanger and Egersund was opened.
Today approximately 60 000 vehicles are registered in Stavanger,
over 75% of which are private cars. This has had enormous
influence on development of the city. As the car became
the most important means of transport, designing the road
network became a major task. Car parking facilities had to be
provided. Increased traffic became a major problem, first in
the city centre and gradually throughout the entire city as new
districts developed and jobs were established outside the
centre. The motorway, which 40 years ago was supposed to
solve transport problems for the foreseeable future, is now
periodically jammed. Rush-hour traffic has become a problem
in large parts of the road network.
Dual-track, Jåttå station
Traffic, Madlaveien at Siddishallen
New roads have been built to remedy the situation. At the same
time, Stavanger has focused on reducing the negative impact
of car traffic in the city centre. The first major step has been to
ban cars from parts of the centre at Holmen and Straen. When
the Bergeland tunnel was opened in 1989, the main road past
the cathedral could be restricted to pedestrians. The Storhaug
tunnel reduced through-traffic in the Storhaug area.
In recent years, Stavanger has also focused on bicycle traffic as
a safe and effective alternative and on safety for pedestrians.
TRANSPORT AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
42

However, the number of people opting to cycle has not
increased as much as hoped. Ambitions for increased use
of the bicycle are high and ongoing planning of a main
cycle road between Stavanger, Forus and Sandnes is part
of this investment. Planned to be of an exceptionally high
standard, the main cycle road may be the first of its kind in
Norway.
Attention is increasingly focused on public transport, including
establishing bus lanes. The railway between Stavanger
and Sandnes will become dual track in the near future.
Possible excess capacity on this part of the track will be
evaluated for use in a city rail system, initially in the form
of a track from the railway at Gausel via Forus to the
Stavanger airport.
Traffic north to Haugesund and Bergen and east towards
Ryfylke is at present dependent on ferries. Construction of
an Eiganes tunnel has been proposed as part of a satisfactory
route through Stavanger for the main coastal road E39
from Kristiansand to Bergen and further north. This solution
could contribute to reducing traffic through housing
areas in Stavanger. Continuing north via an underwater
tunnel (Rogfast) between North and South Rogaland, this
will connect the west coast closer, in the same way as
Ryfast (page 34) will connect Ryfylke closer to Stavanger.
Bridge for cyclists and pedestrians across Madlaveien
Storhaug tunnel

Glimpses of the New Stavanger
Stavanger Centre
The area considered to be the city centre today is largely the
same as the area within the 1848 town boundary. The district
from the cathedral out to Holmen, limited by the market place,
the cathedral square and Kongsgata, is often described as the
medieval town, with its characteristic narrow and winding
streets. The streets are probably based on old paths and tracks,
adapted naturally to the terrain.
After the Second World War, plans to modernize the city centre
with wide streets and new buildings were considered. The
plans were never implemented and, today, most of Holmen and
the area around the cathedral are reserved for pedestrians.
Kirkegata/Breigata
Skagen with the Fred Hansen house in the foreground
Stavanger Cultural Centre
(Stavanger Kulturhus Sølvberget)
When walking round this area, one will sooner or later come
across Arneageren. This little square is the natural centre of
the network of streets, and is where the Cultural Centre Sølvberget
is located. Since 1987, Sølvberget has become a central
cultural venue in the city and region and houses the Stavanger
library, Stavanger cinema, the Norwegian Children’s Museum
(Norsk Barnemuseum), children’s workshop (Barnas Kulturverksted)
and cafés. The centre is very popular and is always
full of people. It has also developed into an international
arena for work related to freedom of speech, where Stavanger
GLIMPSES OF THE NEW STAVANGER
44

Kirkegata/Prostebakken
Left: Søregata
Below: Arneageren with Stavanger Cultural Centre Sølvberget

Freedom Centre, the International Cities of Refuge Network
(ICORN) and the literature and freedom of speech festival
Kapittel have central roles.
The Harbour and Market Place
The harbour has always been important to Stavanger. In the
19th century it became a significant international port, but
its shape and function have changed over the years. Major
landfills have created a completely different waterfront, and
the characteristic warehouses, which in the 19th century lay
all along the water’s edge, now lie some distance from the
quayside.
The brig Alpha in Vågen ca 1880
Sightseeing boat Clipper in Vågen in 2007
Goods transport and international ferry traffic have been moved
to Risavika near Tananger. However, local ferry traffic is
still important, and cruise ships are frequent visitors during
the tourist season.
The harbour has become more of a recreational area for festivals
and sporting events than a trade port. A 4 km urban walk,
the “Blue Promenade”, follows the water from Badedammen
to Bjergsted, passing ferry terminals and marinas.
The marketplace, Torget, was important in the day-to-day
life of the town. Farmers and fishermen congregated here and
sold their produce. This traditional marketplace still exists,
although on a smaller scale. It is particularly lively during the
fruit and berry season.
GLIMPSES OF THE NEW STAVANGER
46

Millennium Site, the marketplace (Torget)
Cruise ship Queen Mary 2 in Vågen
Beach volleyball tournament World Tour Stavanger

Like the harbour, the marketplace has changed both in shape
and function. Perhaps the most significant change took place
around the start of the new millennium when Stavanger selected
Torget as its “Millennium Site” and arranged an open
architectural competition for its development. Millennium
sites were created all over Norway, but the new Torget ranks
amongst the most spectacular. A total renewal of the entire
area, it connects Vågen to the sheltered Breiavatnet lake and
is Stavanger’s major open-air arena, accommodating large
events and festivals.
The city centre has changed in use and character. At one time
an important religious centre, it is now a centre for shopping
and recreation. The process of change is illustrated in buildings
from different epochs which have been preserved, rehabilitated
or converted to other uses. These buildings are part
of Stavanger’s visual identity, and a challenge to developers.
Some modern buildings, such as the Skagen Brygge Hotel,
have adapted to their historical surroundings; others, like the
Norwegian Petroleum Museum (Oljemuseet) on Kjeringholmen,
are strong contemporary statements.
Skagen Brygge Hotel
The Norwegian
Petroleum Museum
GLIMPSES OF THE NEW STAVANGER
48

Kongsgata
Cathedral square with SR-bank and Norges Bank
Colourful houses in Øvre Holmegate
Stavanger Storsenter, Klubbgata

City Centre Plan
Work on a master plan for the centre (Kommunedelplan
Stavanger Sentrum 1994 – 2005) started in 1992. When the
plan was approved 4 years later, it was the first comprehensive
master plan for a city centre in Norway.
Combining more than 100 zoning plans, the master plan established
traffic systems as well as parks and green corridors,
conservation projects, “handle with care” buildings and not
least new main projects for the public spaces in the city centre.
Establishment of the plan had been enabled by the opening of
the new E18 (now Rv 509) road from Kannik to Verksalmenningen
in 1989, with a bridge over the railway area and a tunnel
through Storhaug.
Together with the master plan, a local analysis of the city
centre and a City Catalogue were prepared, with 65 proposals
for restoration of smaller public spaces. Some of the projects
GLIMPSES OF THE NEW STAVANGER
50

could be combined and created the basis for an action plan
with five main proposed projects: the Central Public Space
(development of Torget and the area round Breiavatnet), the
Blue Promenade, the “green” Løkkeveien street, the “Green
Corridor” between Breiavatnet and Mosvatnet, and Stavanger
East (upgrading of the Nedre Blåsenborg and Smedgate
areas). The projects, shown on the map below, were completed
or under construction in 2008.
Main projects, City Centre Plan
Blocks of flats in the centre
Previous page, bottom left: St. Olav seen from Breiavatnet. Previous page:
Olav V’s gate. Above: Badedammen. Below: Blåsenborg

Green Areas in Stavanger
Stavanger has perhaps the best continuous urban green structure
of all Norwegian cities.
Everything can be found here: parks, woods, beaches, lakes,
meadows with wild flowers, viewpoints, skating facilities,
playgrounds, cycling paths, bridle paths, ball parks, outdoor activity
centres, swimming facilities and sports halls, connected
together and make accessible by a network of footpaths. When
the network is complete, it will offer approximately 220 km of
“green” connections.
In addition, many of the smaller islands in the municipality are
designated for outdoor life and nature conservation.
Green areas Above: Lundsneset Below: Mosvatnet Right: Bathing at Godalen
The foundation for this continuous green structure was laid
in the first master plan for the Stavanger municipality in the
late 1960s. This was followed up in a Green Plan, approved in
1992, and in all subsequent master plan revisions.
During the last five years, the municipality has put great effort
into securing outdoor areas for the general public through the
public outdoor recreation area project (Friområdeprosjektet).
The project is still ongoing and every year major investments
are made to secure and make accessible more green areas.
You will always find a footpath in the vicinity!
GREEN AREAS IN STAVANGER
52

Grønnstruktur
Stavanger har kan hende den aller beste urbane, sammenhengende
grønnstrukturen av alle norske byer.
Her er alt: Parker, skoger, strender, vann og innsjøer, blomsterenger,
utsiktspunkter, naturvernområder, kulturlandskaper,
skateanlegg, lekeplasser, sykkelstier, ridestier, balløkker,
friluftssentre, badeplasser, tett kontakt med idrettsanlegg og
skolegårder, bundet sammen og gjort tilgjengelig med turveinettet,
som ferdig utbygd vil by på ca 220 km sammenhengende
grønne forbindelser.
I tillegg er mange av de mindre øyene i kommunen sikret for
friluftsliv og naturvern.
Grunnlaget for denne gode, sammenhengende grønne strukturen,
ble lagt allerede i Stavangers første generalplan fra slutten
av 60-årene, fulgt opp gjennom Grønn Plan og alle senere
utgaver av kommuneplan for Stavanger. De 5 siste årene har
kommunen lagt ekstra stor innsats i å sikre og tilrettelegge friarealene
for allmenn bruk, gjennom Friluftsprosjektet hvor det
årlig investeres store beløp i sikring og tilgjengeliggjøring av de
grønne områdene.
Du finner alltid en turvei i nærheten!

Two Major Town Planning Competitions
Several town planning competitions have been held in Stavanger,
both for the central areas and also for the new districts.
Two examples of the latter, which have subsequently been
implemented, are Tjensvollbyen, started in 1968, and Jåttåvågen,
started 32 years later.
Tjensvollbyen (“Tjensvoll Town”)
The concept of Tjensvollbyen had already arisen before amalgamation
of the municipalities in 1965. The approximately 60
hectare area lies partially within the old Madla and Stavanger
municipalities, on what was mostly open agricultural land.
The idea was to build houses and a centre with shops and services
for the inhabitants in the middle of the area. Other work
places were not included in the concept.
The planning competition in 1968 was won by the planning
office of Andersson og Skjånes AS together with architectural
firm Alex Christiansen AS. These formed the Tjensvoll team,
which handled detailed planning. A smaller part of the area,
Haugtussa, was awarded to the second prize winner, Brantenberg,
Brantenberg and Hiorthøy, as an experimental area for
low-cost housing.
The development plan was ready in 1969. An independent
committee was established to process planning issues within
the area. Building started in 1972. Altogether approximately
TWO MAJOR TOWN PLANNING COMPETITIONS
54

2 000 houses were built, mostly under the direction of the Stavanger
and Hetland Cooperative Building and Housing Associations.
By 1980, most of Tjensvoll had been developed.
One of the distinctive features of Tjensvollbyen is the large variety
of house types (low blocks, terrace houses and detached
houses) and sizes (from 1 to 4 bedrooms). However, the impression
is harmonious, not least because one firm of architects
had overall responsibility for the main part of the development.
The social profile of the area is another special feature. The
almost 2 000 housing units include no “luxury apartments”.
Tjensvollbyen was also the first large area in Stavanger which
was designed to be free of cars. The majority of the car parking
spaces were placed under the blocks of flats which surround
the rest of the houses. Unfortunately, new driving and shopping
habits have resulted in the commercial centre, which at
the time was thought to be ideally located in the middle of the
area, being used much less than anticipated.
Left: Tjensvoll and Stavanger Forum Below: Individual houses, Tjensvoll

Jåttåvågen (“Jåttå Bay”)
Jåttåvågen is located approximately 7.5 km from Stavanger
centre and approximately 3–5 km from the industrial area at
Forus. The area is situated alongside the public transport route
between Stavanger and Sandnes, where dual-track railway line
is being constructed.
During the most hectic North Sea development period, Jåttåvågen
became a construction site for concrete structures. The
first structure to be built was the Ekofisk tank in 1971-1973,
followed by 14 Condeep platforms. The last of these was the
Troll platform in 1995. One of the tallest structures in the
world, it also marked the end of Jåttåvågen’s period as construction
site for the North Sea.
In 1998, the Stavanger municipality decided that Jåttåvågen
should become a new urban district, with houses, industry
and services, and that the municipality and private developers
Hinna Park AS should cooperate in developing the area.
Large parts of the bay had been filled in as part of the construction
site and there was little nature or agriculture to take
into account. However, one landmark of Jåttåvågen’s significance
for North Sea oil industry has been preserved. The
“leaning tower”, which was originally built to test concretelaying
techniques, still stands.
In 2000, the municipality arranged an open Nordic town planning
competition which was to provide the basis for a local
TWO MAJOR TOWN PLANNING COMPETITIONS
56

master plan. Jåttåvågen was to be developed as:
- A modern area for high technological and internationally
orientated businesses (5 000 – 8 000 work places)
- A futuristic and attractive housing area (min. 1 500 houses)
- A pilot project for high density and ecofriendly development
- A recreational area by the sea and a valuable link in
continuous green areas
- An area of high architectural quality, a meeting place for
the district and a dynamo for the region.
The winners of the competition were engaged to prepare the
master plan, with Lund Hagem as main consultant and Team
Yoto–70 grader nord, as contributor.
The “leaning tower” will be an important element in the main
axis between Jåttånuten and the Ryfylke mountains. A central
public space will have room for large events.
Jåttåvågen Previous page: Hinna Park block with the leaning tower in
the background Above: Terrace houses Below: Tower blocks under
construction
A new stadium for the Viking football club and a district commercial
centre were built early on. These have been important
generators for development of the area. This, together with the
deliberate focus on public transport with a new railway station
on the dual-track railway, distinguishes Jåttåvågen from Tjensvoll.
The size and type of dwellings is varied, as at Tjensvoll,
but with no detached houses and a large proportion of flats in
tower blocks.

The first home match at the Viking stadium was played in
May 2004. A year later, the commercial centre opened, with
10 000 m² of businesses and services. By the end of 2007,
approximately 600 dwellings and 40 000 m² businesses, with
1 500 work places, had been built or were under construction.
A new secondary school was also opened in 2008 in the same
area.
Jåttåvågen will be an urban entity halfway between the established
centres in Stavanger and Sandnes, with more than
2 000 dwellings (about the same as at Tjensvoll), but with approximately
7 000 work places and a number of services for
the inhabitants and visitors.
Jåttå secondary school
Hinna Park housing complex
Below: Housing at Jåttåvågen. Opposite: Overview of Jåttåvågen with Viking stadium
and Jåttåvågen secondary school. Photo: Bitmap
TWO MAJOR TOWN PLANNING COMPETITIONS
58

Two Major Central Development Areas
Until 2000, the trend was for the majority of the population
to move out of the city centre, initially to the areas close to
the centre, Storhaug, Våland, Vestre Platå and Kampen, and
later to the new development areas.
Recently, this trend has reversed to a certain extent and larger
housing projects have been built and continue to be built
within the town boundary of 1848. This applies particularly
to areas where traditional industry was located until the end
of the canning era in the 1960s and the establishment of
Forus as the new inter-municipality business district.
Urban Seafront (Stavanger East)
In the 1950s, the eastern part of town, together with Hillevåg,
had the largest concentration of industry in Stavanger.
Twenty years later, many of the companies had disappeared
or moved. There was a surplus of empty sites, particularly
along the waterfront where the canning factories had been
located. The reduction in employment and the increased
number of empty industrial buildings resulted in the increasingly
dilapidated character of the area.
In 1999, Urban Seafront (Urban Sjøfront) was introduced
as a new concept for the eastern part of town. Prior to this,
plans were to continue using the area as a business district
with a large element of industrial activity. The Urban Seafront
concept proposed transforming the area into a mix
TWO MAJOR CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS
60

of housing, work places, recreation and culture. Many were
enthusiastic about the concept and contributed to working towards
its implementation. This work has been largely pursued
Left: Urban Seafront concept Below: Tou Scene
by Urban Sjøfront AS, a non-profit company owned by several
landowners in the area.
Many elements of the concept from 1999, such as a public
promenade along the waterfront and different types of activity
zones extending in from the sea, have been included in
subsequent plans and projects. Development of the so-called
“cultural axis” along Kvitsøygata has progressed furthest. The
most important of the zones is undoubtedly centred around
Tou Scene, an alternative cultural stage established in the old
premises of the Tou Brewery.
A zoning plan from 2002 for the southern part of the area stipulates
a maximum height of 4-5 floors for buildings in most

of the district. A similar plan for the northern part of the area
was approved in 2006. Both plans allow for both housing
and commercial activity.
So far, a series of high density housing projects has been
completed at the Urban Seafront. Few commercial buildings
have been constructed.
Two major international architectural competitions have
been held for development of parts of this
area. The district on the north side of
Lervig was one of several European
sites included in the international
architectural competition Europan
8. An international
architectural competition
was also held for the area
at the outside edge of
Siriskjær as part of
the Norwegian Wood
project (see page 78).
Badedammen is the
part of Urban Seafront
which has progressed
furthest. The Strømsteinen
area had long been used
Above: Décor from Badedammen block Right. Overview of Badedammen
TWO MAJOR CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS
62

as a lido by the townspeople after several inhabited small
islands were connected together in the 19th century and the
seawater lake Badedammen was established. At about the
same time, houses were built in the area in addition to the
wharf warehouses which already existed.
During the course of the next century, landfills were carried
out in the area, particularly in Banevigå in the west, and
many of the warehouses were replaced by larger industrial
buildings.
When the bridge to the islands was constructed in 1978, one
of its columns was located in Badedammen. Ten years later
a development plan for the Badedammen area was approved.
The plan allowed development of both private housing and
commercial buildings. Canals were to be dug into Badedammen
to recreate the impression of an area of several small islands.
However, development of the area came to a standstill
due to economic stagnation.
Only a few years later economic conditions changed. From
the mid 1990s, new buildings have been constructed along
almost the entire seafront. On the whole, these have been
planned individually and have followed the development
plan of 1988 to a limited extent only.
The Badedammen park is located at the south-easternmost
end of the Blue Promenade and is now being upgraded.
Badedammen with city bridge

Bjergsted Area
The area between the Bjergsted park and “Old Stavanger” has
been totally transformed over the last 15 years. Prior to this,
the area was an industrial zone. The gasworks, with two large
gasometers, were located here as well as a nail factory, coal
storage, print shop, soap factory and canning factories. These
activities have now been either discontinued or moved. In their
place, urban flats have been built or are under construction, in
addition to a few office premises.
The first project was Bjergsted Terrasse in about 1990.
Straen Terrasse, just north of “Old Stavanger”, in 2000 was
first in a new wave of large-scale developments in the area.
The newest project, which is now under construction, Løkkeveien
111, will create a clear boundary for Old Stavanger
towards the west.
Photo montage Løkkeveien 111
Above: New blocks of flats, Bjergsted Opposite: Overview of Bjergsted.
Photo: Bitmap
The same area. Gasworks 1930s. Photo: Wilse
TWO MAJOR CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS
64

Culture is Urban Development
After the Second World War, cultural politics were an important
part of establishment of the welfare state. At the same
time, the definition of culture was expanded to include a wide
range of human activities. A cultural democracy was to be
created, where the government was to play an major role.
In 1964 Stavanger established a Standing Committee of Cultural
Affairs, followed in 1969 by the first culture plan. With its
focus on the new and broader vision of culture, this plan was
groundbreaking.
Today, the Stavanger municipality conducts an active and
broad cultural policy to ensure that cultural values are accessible
to more people and to include and support new and
untraditional cultural activities. A new plan for art and culture
2009–2014 will establish the main guidelines for future cultural
policy.
Here are some examples of the city’s varied and exciting cultural
life:
Rogaland Theatre
In 1850, the mayor L.W. Hansen built a new building at Skagen
which was furnished with theatre facilities on the first
floor and space for 300 spectators. Performances were later
held in Stavanger Sparekasse’s assembly hall, and in 1883 the
curtain went up for the first time at a new theatre building at
From the opening of European City of Culture 2008
CULTURE IS URBAN DEVELOPMENT
66

Main stage, Rogaland Theatre. Performance of “The Thousandth Heart” 2007. Photo: E. Ashley

Kannik. The Rogaland Theatre, which was formally established
in 1947, is housed in this building today. The theatre has
been expanded several times. It has also taken over the adjacent
old gymnastics hall, which has been rebuilt and used for
children’s and youth theatre since 1957. Today the Rogaland
Theatre is one of the leading theatres in the country and presents
10–14 productions each year on four different stages.
Sølvberget: Stavanger Kulturhus is described on page 44.
Museums and Collections
Stavanger has almost 20 museums which take care of and
promote the cultural heritage of the city and region. These
cover the whole spectrum from large to small collections.
The Stavanger Museum has two departments at Muségata
16. The Zoological Department displays bird
life, with main emphasis on Rogaland, as well as
Norwegian and foreign mammals. The Department
of Cultural History has a special responsibility
for documenting the general
cultural history of Rogaland, with
main emphasis on the history of
Stavanger. The museum also administers
the Norwegian Children’s
Museum, the Medical Museum (Medisinsk
Museum) and the Norwegian Museum
of Printing (Norsk Grafisk Museum).
Stavanger Museum. Above: 18th century interior
Left: Finback whale scull and sparrowhawk
CULTURE IS URBAN DEVELOPMENT
68

The Maritime Museum (Sjøfartsmuseet), a special museum
for the maritime history of the south-west of Norway,
is located at Nedre Strandgate 17 and 19. The Canning
Museum (Hermetikkmuseet) is located in a former canning
factory at Øvre Strandgata 88 in Old Stavanger.
The Museum of Archaeology (Arkeologisk museum i Stavanger),
in Peder Klows gate 30, covers the history of Rogaland
from the appearance of the first humans until the end
of the Middle Ages. In addition to exhibitions, the museum
does extensive research. In the summer months, a number
of archaeological digs are carried out under the museum’s
direction.
Above: Archeological Museum. Below: Norwegian Petroleum Museum.
Bottom: Rogaland Museum of Fine Arts
The Norwegian Petroleum Museum (Norsk Oljemuseum)
at Kjeringholmen is a modern and interactive museum. The
museum shows how oil and gas are created and the technological
development which enables these resources to be
used.
The Rogaland Museum of Fine Arts (Rogaland Kunstmuseum)
is situated in a beautiful location at Mosvannsparken,
a couple of kilometres from the city centre. Since 1992, the
museum has been pivotal for the whole region and owns the
largest Lars Hertervig collection in the country, more than
70 oil paintings and other works. The museum’s permanent
collection gives a rich insight into Norwegian pictorial art,
totalling more than 2 000 works from the 19th century onwards.

Stavanger Symphony Orchestra
The Stavanger Symphony Orchestra (Stavanger Symfoniorkester)
is one of the most prominent orchestras in the country,
with roots which go back to 1930. The orchestra is based in the
Stavanger Concert Hall (Stavanger Konserthus) at Bjergsted.
In association with the Stavanger Symphony Choir (Stavanger
Symfonikor), the orchestra offers a varied programme of established
and new music, from major works to intimate chamber
music, under the direction of famous conductors. The orchestra
plays an important part in the cultural life of the city.
Bjergsted Music Park and the Bjergsted Vision
Bjergsted Park lies just north of Old Stavanger, a short walk
from the marketplace. Since the 1970s, the park has been a
meeting place for large music institutions and amateur music
in Stavanger.
Bjergsted park with Stavanger concert hall
Festival in Bjergsted park. Photo: Sigbjørn Sigbjørnsen
The park itself was established in about 1860, separated from
the fjord by a row of warehouses and shipyards in Sandvigå.
From 1920 until 1969, the park was used for trade fairs and
exhibitions. Two of the exhibition halls were subsequently
converted into the Stavanger School of Music (Stavanger musikkskole)
and Stavanger Concert Hall. Bjergsted became the
home of the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Stavanger School
of Culture, University of Stavanger’s Institute of Music and
Dance, Norwegian Institute of Sound and other musical organizations,
and a venue for festivals.
In about 2000, the Bjergsted Vision was launched. Bjergsted
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Music Park and the harbour area at Sandvigå were to
become a national powerhouse for music and art and include
a new concert hall of the highest international standard. The
new hall will be situated beside the fjord, linking Bjergsted
and the city centre. Construction started in early 2009 and is
planned to be completed in 2011.
The concert hall will contain an orchestral auditorium with
1 500 seats and a multipurpose hall which will be used
mainly for performance of amplified music and musical theatre
and which can accommodate up to 2 000 spectators. An
impressive foyer will face the sea and the forecourt. A large
and sheltered outdoor amphitheatre will be located south of
the concert hall.
New concert hall at Bjergsted, now under construction. Illustration: Placebo Effects AS
Café at Tou Scene
A school of culture and a secondary school for music, dance
and drama will be built north of the new concert hall.
Tou Scene (Tou Stage)
The Tou brewery moved out of its characteristic buildings by
the sea in the eastern part of town in the 1970s. Tou Scene
was established in the old brewery premises in 2001 after
several groups of artists had emphasized the need for a new
arena for modern art.
After extensive rebuilding and rehabilitation, Tou Scene was
officially opened in 2005 as a centre for contemporary art
within different fields such as music, visual art, film and dramatic
art. Tou Scene presents a continuous programme for the

public, where multi-disciplinary projects and performances are
central. The premises are rented out to artists and commercial
cultural enterprises. The goal is that Tou Scene shall be a work
in progress, while retaining its cultural integrity and profile.
Sculpture in the City
Public sculpture is part of any active and affluent city.
The first sculpture in Stavanger was the Iron
Fountain (Jernfontenen), purchased when the
waterworks were established in 1866.
Gradually statues of the town’s dignitaries
and purely artistic sculptures were
erected.
Broken chain by Johannes Block Hellum 1986
Shipping monument by Arnold Haukeland 1968
One work, which is very noticeable
and which has received international
attention, is Anthony Gormley’s
“Broken Column”. This comprises 23
stylized full-scale (1.95 m) casts of
the artist’s body. These are installed at
different locations, at a constant difference
in altitude equal to the height
of the statues, so that they would
have formed an unbroken column
if they had stood in the same place.
All the sculptures face the same
direction.
Alexander Kielland
by Magnus Vigrestad 1928
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72

Broken Column, A. Gormley.
Six of a total of 23 sculptures

University of Stavanger
Development of the University of Stavanger has been called
“the Ullandhaug fairy tale”. Following a meeting at the
mayor’s office in spring 1962, a university committee for Rogaland
was established. The first challenges were to establish
university level education in the county and acquire a 120
hectare site at Ullandhaug. A university fund was established
and the Stavanger Municipality, Rogaland County Council
and local companies contributed with significant amounts. The
committee presented a strong recommendation that Norway’s
fifth university should be situated in Stavanger. It was to take
over 40 years to reach this goal.
The first step was to establish the Rogaland District College
(Rogaland Distriktshøyskole). The first building stage was
complete in autumn 1974. The previous year Rogaland Research
(Rogalandsforskning, now IRIS) was established and
the research library (Forskningsbiblioteket) was opened in
1975. The Stavanger Teacher Training College, Rogalandsdata
and Norwegian School of Hotel Management (Norsk Hotellfagskole)
were also established in the area. Over the next 30
years, the District College was changed and expanded through
mergers, name changes and several building stages.
The University of Stavanger (UiS) was officially opened by
King Harald V on 17 January 2005. A determined strategic
effort, broad support at the local political level, economic
strength in the region and efforts in the central decisionmaking
apparatus had made this event possible.
University area at Ullandhaug. Photo: Bitmap
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74

UiS lies in a central yet rural location at Ullandhaug, approximately
4.5 km from Stavanger centre. UiS has about
8 000 students and 1 000 employees. The aim is to increase
the number of students to 9 000 by 2020. UiS has almost
100 000 m² at its disposal. The university has a variety of
teaching, research and development activities and is organized
in three faculties, Arts and Education, Social Sciences and
Science and Technology, all in the campus at Ullandhaug. In
addition, the Institute of Music and Dance is located in idyllic
surroundings at Bjergsted.
Above: Auditorium
Left: Canteen and foyer
Below: Map of university area with main buildings

Festival City
Stavanger Municipality has made a conscious effort during the
last few decades to establish and develop festivals. Stavanger
is now a leading festival city, with over 60 large and small
festivals for all groups of society, including festivals for food,
sports, music, art, literature, oil, culture, humour and film.
These have provided an important incentive in development of
the city’s artistic and cultural life and identity and represent important
values like diversity, quality, openness and accessibility.
Right: Kaizers Orchestra, Pulpit Rock festival. Photo: S. Sigbjørnsen
Opposite, top left: Gladmat festival, Strandkaien Bottom left: Grilling,
Gladmat festival. Photo: S. Sigbjørnsen. Right: Beach volleyball, World Tour
Below: The many festivals at Vågen in the summer attract large crowds.
A rest on deck between activities can be useful.
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76

Norwegian Wood
Norwegian Wood was one of the main Stavanger 2008 projects.
Rogaland has a rich tradition of building in wood. The Norwegian
Wood project highlights this tradition, contributing at the
same time to the development of the Norwegian wooden town
with urban, modern and sustainable architecture in an exciting
interaction with the historical town. Norwegian Wood will be an
arena where possibilities within wooden buildings are studied
and tested, a showcase both nationally and internationally.
Norwegian Wood includes 10–15 building projects in Rogaland.
Common to all of these is the use of wood in an innovative
manner, an emphasis on
ecofriendly materials, energy
efficiency and the principle of
universal access.
Above: Egenes Park Below: Jåttå East
Three of the largest projects
have been initiated by the Stavanger
municipality: the new
wooden houses at Siriskjær in
the Urban Seafront, Egenes
Park at the Stavanger stadium
and the Hothouse project at
Jåttå East.
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Siriskjær is the result of an international architectural competition
held by Norwegian Wood and the Stavanger Municipality
in 2006. The project includes 150 flats, with some
commercial premises on the ground floor. The concept is a
reinterpretation of the wharf warehouse rows, with a sheltered
inner side facing town while the outside opens up to the
fjord and mountains.
theme was the creation of urban qualities in the suburbs.
Inspired by Trehusbyen, the architects arranged the buildings
in a quadrant, with an almost continuous band of houses
and gardens surrounding a public park. The project is
the first low-energy project built under the direction of the
Stavanger Municipality.
Egenes Park includes 56 houses and a nursery school. The
buildings have been adapted to the surrounding area, with
terrace houses facing the existing wooden houses to the
south. Towards the stadium, the largest massive wood block
of flats in Northern Europe to date has been built.
The Hothouse project, comprising 73 houses at Jåttå East,
is the result of the Europan 7 competition, where a major
Above: Egenes Park under construction Below: Siriskjær project

Views and Walks
There are good views of Stavanger from the following five
viewpoints: Valberget, Vålandshaugen, Varden, Tastaveden
and Ullandhaug.
Even though Valberget is not open on all sides, it is possible
to see the harbour and the fjord, Old Stavanger and parts of
the city centre, as well as the nearby islands and the fjord
further out towards Ryfylke. From Vålandshaugen there is a
wide vista and it is possible to see large parts of the city and
Auglendshøyden, Ullandhaug and Mosvatnet to the south and
west. From Varden there is particularly good overview of
Storhaug and the area towards the city centre, Hillevåg and
Våland. Tastaveden is a fine location for viewing the city’s
islands and Ryfylke. The best overall view can be seen from
Ullandhaug, with a stunning 360 degree panorama of the
entire city and surrounding area.
Left: From Varden, Storhaug Above: From Ullandhaug tower
Below: From Valberg tower
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80

From Våland tower From Tastaveden

Walks in the Central Parts of the City
1. Storhaug
This is an exciting round-walk from Obstfelders Plass (Obstfelder’s square)
to the idyllic Ramsvig, returning via Rosenli, Tou Scene and Badedammen.
The route goes through the old part of Stavanger at Blåsenborg and the
residential area along Jelsagata and round Storhaugmarka, before continuing
past Midjord and down to Ramsvig. From Ramsvig, the walk continues
along the sea, first past Rosenli and Breivig, and then through the former
industrial area from the heyday of the canning industry. The last part of the
walk follows the Blue Promenade before returning to Obstfelders Plass via
the characteristic ABC-quarter.
2. Eiganes
The Eiganes walk starts at Kiellandshagen. Many elegant timber and brick
villas were built along the historical Eiganesveien during the period from
1850 to 1920. The Kielland family’s summer residence, Ledaal, and Breidablikk
are well-known tourist attractions, but there are also many private
villas of high architectural quality. The walk ends at the Rogaland Museum
of Fine Arts where you may study the largest collection of Lars Hertervig’s
work in the country.
Jelsagata 49
Above: Ledaal. Below: Stokkabrautene
3. A Cross-section of the City
This walk starts in the harbour and goes via Old Stavanger to Store Stokkavatnet
and back (approximately 6 km in total). Along the walk, it is possible
to observe the expansion of the city and the development of the houses from
1750 to the present day. Small deviations are recommended in order to see
several interesting housing projects not on the main route.
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Brochures describing the 3 walks are available at the Stavanger municipality’s Service Centre (Servicetorget). Also available is a pamphlet describing architecture
and other sights along the Blue Promenade. Other pamphlets, including one for “Old Stavanger”, are under preparation.

Planning a City
Many factors determine how a city develops. These may include
geography and climate, economy, the structure of the
community, natural resources, division of power, ideology,
technology, culture, war and peace.
Planning is currently regulated by the Planning and Building
Act. The Stavanger city council is responsible for the execution
of the Act and for the management of municipal and area
planning and building permits. There are standing committees
for planning and building issues (Kommunalstyret for
byutvikling) and for cultural matters (Kommunalstyret for
kultur). Both are served by one department, the Department
of Culture and Urban Development (Kommunalavdeling
kultur og byutvikling).
The vision of the Department of Culture and Urban Development
is to make Stavanger a “lively, green, safe and beautiful
city”, by obtaining background material, producing or processing
plans and building matters in accordance with applicable
laws and regulations and by presenting such plans and building
matters to the politicians so that they can make informed
and – at least at the time – correct decisions.
In order to carry out this process, the Department of Culture
and Urban Development has seven sections, each of which is
responsible for part of the process.
Three of the sections deal with planning and processing of
private planning proposals. Municipal Planning (Kommuneplanavdelingen)
is responsible for producing the municipal
master plan, which is updated every four years. Town Planning
(Byplanavdelingen) and Transport Planning (Transportplanavdelingen)
deal with all detailed plans such as zoning
plans and local development plans. Some of the detailed
plans are produced internally; others are submitted by private
developers or other public authorities.
Building Matters (Byggesakavdelingen) deals with all building
and construction projects which are submitted for approval
under the Planning and Building Act.
Geodata (Geodataavdelingen) produces and maintains necessary
maps and carries out land surveys.
The Cultural Heritage Office (Byantikvaren) has an important
role in the preservation and maintenance of existing buildings
of cultural value and in ensuring good building practices.
Cultural Affairs (Kulturavdelingen) is responsible for preparing
and implementing the Culture Plan, and for maintaining
the infrastructure necessary for the interaction between culture
and urban development and for the city’s cultural function and
image.
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The Future
Stavanger has experienced strong growth from the middle of the 1960s, both
economically and in population and area. Approximately 50 years ago, the
concept of the Stavanger-Sandnes “Linear City” was first described in writing.
Today, the area between the two centres is completely built up, with
Forus in the middle a destination in its own right.
Stavanger is a lively and affluent urban society. Trade and industry is largely
associated with the oil and gas activities. Work to expand the business base
is in progress. All development plans for the city and region point towards
further growth. Global challenges such as climate change, economic development
and population growth, are the backdrop for long-term planning in the
municipality.
Protection of agricultural land and sustainable urban development are central
challenges for North Jæren. The Jæren Long-term Urban Development Plan
(Fylkesdelplan for langsiktig byutvikling på Jæren (FDP)) provides the
framework for urban growth up to 2040. The Stavanger Municipality is planning
for new development areas and for infill and transformation projects
within the city’s built-up areas, particularly along the main public transport
routes.
Revision of the FDP, the Strategic Commercial Plan (Strategisk næringsplan)
for the Stavanger region and the Municipal Master Plan for Stavanger is ongoing.
The Stavanger region aims to be nationally and internationally recognized
as open, energetic and creative. Cooperation between the commercial
sector, the university, research establishments and the public sector creates a
solid foundation for further development towards this goal.
Above: The “Linear City”
Right: Forus towards
Stavanger
Opposite: The Jæren
Long-term Urban
Development Plan (FDP)
THE FUTURE
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City Rail System
Railway
Bus Route
E39
Tunnel
Bus Corridor
Development Area
Agriculture,
Long-term Boundary
Road
Built-up Area
Green Area
Core Area Agriculture

Sources
The Department of Culture and Urban Development is a
multi-faceted department, with expertise in many areas. Its
employees have been the most important source of information
in this book. The Parks and Sports Department (Park og
idrett) and City Archives (Byarkivet) have also contributed.
The Stavanger Historical Society (Byhistorisk Forening Stavanger)
(home page www.byhistoriskforening.org) and the
following books have also been useful:
“En by tar form”
Author Anders Haaland, editor Unnleiv Bergsgard.
Publisher Wigestrand, in cooperation with the Stavanger
Architectural Society, 1999
“Stavangers bebyggelse 1945-1965 – Den sosialdemokratiske
orden”
Unnleiv Bergsgard
Stavanger Museum’s year book, volume 115 (2005), 2007
Useful Web Sites
There are many web sites with in-depth or specialized information
about Stavanger and the Stavanger region, far too many to
list here.
Visitors as well as locals will find www.regionstavanger.com
useful. This is a comprehensive multilingual portal for the whole
region, with a wealth of information and useful links. The site is
updated daily.
Another very informative web site is www.stavanger-guide.no,
especially its multilingual guide maps.
The Stavanger municipality’s own web site
www.stavanger.kommune.no gives useful information about
the local authority’s operations, access to a range of maps, and
assistance with many services. An English version is currently
under development.
”Rom for alle – Stavanger Boligbyggelag gjennom 50 år”
Oddvar Lavold
Stavanger Boligbyggelag, 1996
Opposite: Kirkegata ca 1900. Photo: C. J. Jacobsen.
SOURCES
88