Living Lab

Open House Oslo
Norwegian. English subtitles available.

Living Lab Vollebekk is a brand new project in a developing area just outside the city center of Oslo. The project is initiated and led by Norway´s and one of Scandinavia´s leading developers, OBOS. OBOS describes it as “a living laboratory and a test arena for future housing”. With the residents in focus and as active participants the aim is to try and test new ideas, concepts and solutions.
Amidst increasing urbanization, climatic crisis and rising building and housing expenses OBOS points to the need for new thinking. In 2019 they launched an open innovation competition where architects, planners, designers, and social scientists could take part. OBOS wanted to encourage interdisciplinary thinking and working across the fields to find the most fit solutions for the future. The competition was won by “Bokuben”: LPO Architects, TINKR, Byantropologene (The City Anthropologist), Rambøll, Inventas and Metropolis. Their thoughts and conceptual ideas led to the realization of Living Lab.
The block has 34 units and is home to families, singles, old and young. The apartments range in size. Some are regular 2-4 rooms, others are designed as shared accommodation with shared kitchens and flexible living rooms. The ground floor, a large roof terrace and a shared garden is common space with emphasis on social meetings, hanging out, relaxation and activities. The dwellers started to move in during the fall of 2021. OBOS points to how shared facilities has become an increasing trend as more people live alone. Loneliness is a public health challenge. Building and design technologies has made it easier to facilitate for shared solutions and this intersection needs to be studied and tested.  
With the Living Lab, OBOS collaborates with a range of partners. Some large and commercial, like IKEA, but also smaller groups of entrepreneurs.
During 2022 OBOS Living Lab tests four different concepts:
“Sharing”, “Flexible Homes”, “A Simpler and Easier Everyday Life” and “Healthy Homes”. The experiences and results will be tracked and shared for the housing industry to learn from - both in Norway and abroad.