The Historic New

Thomas B. Thrigesgade is known as a heavily trafficked street that brutally cuts through the historic center of Odense and separates it in two parts.

The proposal transforms the busy street into a vibrant urban area and restores connections within the historic city. The concept rebuilds parts of the historic building plots while adding a new architectural layer. Inspired by both history and Odense's recent development, the proposal brings together future and history by combining new and old.

The proposal celebrates the city's unique history and its future potential as a more dense and playful mini-metropolis. Below the transformed urban area, a large covered parking area spans throughout the site. This gives the urban and public spaces back to pedestrians and cyclists, safe and comfortable. The parking area is connected to the urban spaces above by large hybrid-use openings and various recreational activities.

The vision evolves from day 1 with temporary streets, alleys, squares and secret pocket parks. A good and vibrant city is created for the people that use it - even whilst the transformation is ongoing.

The temporary activities are developed as an urban scenography: A set of key players in the city are 'directors' and residents and visitors are 'actors'.

Name: The Historic New
Type: Invited international competition 2nd prize
Program: Urbanism
Client: Odense Municipality, Realdania
Size: 5.5 ha
Location: Odense DK
Year: 2011
Collaborators: MVRDV, Thing & Wainø, Esbensen, Sloth Møller, Viatrafik, Lassevegas, ACT, Emcon, Capacent
Image credits: ADEPT, Luxigon
Team: Martin Laursen, Martin Krogh, Anders Lonka, Simon Lyager Poulsen, Tatyana Eneva, Morten Dam Feddersen