Myths and imaginaries in architectural competitions

ABSTRACT

This paper presents an analysis of computer renderings of urban spaces created for architectural competitions to promote the Fjord City redevelopment plan for the waterfront in downtown Oslo, Norway. The renderings are assessed with compositional and semiotic analyses. Drawing from Lefebvre's theory of the production of space and literature on landscape, this paper argues that the renderings submitted to architectural competitions promote the ‘myth of the attractive city’, which is one way of viewing urban spaces. The conclusion highlights the relevance of the analysis and findings to urban theory and practitioners.

KEYWORDS:

• Urban planning
• architecture
• architectural competitions
• urban design competition
• entrepreneurialism
• neoliberalism
• renderings
• images
• visualization
• CGI

Acknowledgments

Prof. Per Gunnar Røe’s and Prof. Donald McNeill’s valuable and constructive suggestions on this research and their input on the earlier drafts of this paper are greatly appreciated.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).