Trace – Coastal landscape protection of Lathari beach in Alta, Norway

• Main Author: Shi, Chaozhong
• Other Authors: Uhre, Kjerstin Elisabeth, Veiseth, Anita
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: The Oslo School of Architecture and Design 2021
• Subjects: Landscape architecture; Landskapsarkitektur; Erosjon; Erosion; Alta dammen; VDP::Humanities: 000::Architecture and design: 140::Landscape architecture: 147; Alta; Dammen; Norway; Finnmark; Northern Norway
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3014131

What does protection mean for a changing landscape? This project is informed by historical traces that show the landscape changing through time and the existing traces onsite, telling the story behind the land. Alta is the largest town in the west part of the Finnmark region in Northern Norway. Lathari beach lies at the inner reaches of the Alta fjord, which is one of the most fascinating and famous outdoor recreation spaces in the suburban area. Dynamic forces entangle together on the site because of its unique location. The erosion happens and pine trees are falling on the north of the forest, and this process is speeding up because of the pier construction related to Alta dam. While on the south part, a new road in the forest is under planning, posing a new threat to pine trees. The planning of a new driving road reveals the construction expansion, which causes pressure to this narrow na-ture environment. Two scenarios were proposed towards the situation. The project consists of four parts, one in the forest and three along the coastline. Trace is the common theme, and each part gets its topic: Succession, Erosion, Lifecycle and Land memory. The whole storyline will end with an open ground on the forepart of the headland for meditation by exposing their bodies to the open environment.