Field notes from the SOD team · June–July 2026
The Synthesied Outputs from the workshop
The processed and synthesised materials from the workshop are here.
To understand how we processed them, jump down to the AFTER the workshop section. We plan to check and collect feedback on both content and way we visualise the information shortly. To read more on what is coming next, jump down to the NEXT section.
We identified points of interest for potential further exploration are marked in a blue Z, with an associated question to investigate.Â
We marked sensitive information with turtle emoji’s for verification before it is made publicly shareable on the web.
PRACTICES & VALUES
Here we see the practices that happen and values that emerge at Losæter.
The main practices (highlighted in yellow) at Losæter centre around gardening, food making and art making etc. This leads to the secondary practices of educating, experiencing and nurturing relationships. This enables the emergence of interim value generation (highlighted in light green) of growing awareness around certain topics, and the growth of improved capabilities, both for people and planet.Â
This interim value generation facilitates for the ultimate value generation of more connection to each other and the place. More connection ultimately leads to more care for each other and the place, and therefore improved wellbeing for people and place.
These values address various pressures on the landscape, marked in pink bubbles.
See the workshop inputs for this synthesis.
CHALLENGES
This poster seeks to show the challenges, both the more visible symptoms and the more invisible drivers.
The quotes from the workshop participants are clustered under sub-problem topics, which are then further clustered under problem topics, which are given a number. Some quotes for problems come from the activity on ideas to improve Losæter, but the ideas are related to an implied problem, so those idea quotes are also clustered under problem topics.
The light red lines show the connectivity between the clustered problem topics. The solid lines are marked by the CbS team as show an interconnection/relationship, whereas the dotted lines are relationships/interconnections identified by workshop participants.
Sensitive inputs have been pixelated.
See the workshop inputs for this synthesis.
ideas for intervention
Here are the collected & generated ideas for intervention to address various implied issues.
We clustered the ideas around the ambitions for the future of Losæter. The ambitions marked in green, represent the desired direction or change, and the ideas marked in yellow are ideas on how to realise those ambitions. The quotes which provide more specific detail are displayed in plain black. Italics text quotes are from workshop participants the non-italic text mark ideas from the CbS team.
The areas highlighted in yellow demonstrate the ideas and ambitions that attract most interest, and were the topic of much of the conversation, and appear to hold leverage potential.
See the workshop inputs for this synthesis.
| BEFORE |
The lead up to the Kulturverksted
The CbS team from AHO were focused on immersing ourselves in the place, and getting to know the place and the people. We did this by showing up to the Wednesday dugnads and community dinners. Some of us got our hands in the soil at the dugnads. We all shared food with those who volunteer and work there. Throughout showing up we had small conversations with volunteers and visitors about what is important to them and telling them about our project.
The workshop would take participants through the topics of the past, present and future of Losæter. A a series of posters were developed to support intentional conversations around these topics. These posters were tested in the bakehouse space ahead of our workshop.
One of the pre-workshop events getting to know others who are connected to Losæter. This day we traced the Lo of the old Alna river back to its fake replacement, understanding the ecological context that led to the name Losæter. At this Lo, which translate to river delta, there used to be farming, Losæter is a call back to that productive past
The full moon gathering on May 31st, a satire of city development, of industry over nature and the world of Losæter
| DURING |
The workshop
Welcome and introduction
PROJECT OVERVIEW POSTER
This poster did not have much interaction, but it seemed to be useful for the workshop participants to understand what they were a part of.
There was some curiousity around Losæter functioning as a rain sponge, and we thought it was worth making soil infilitration a Zoom point. Also it was unclear to us what pressures the other cases were trying to address.
Z2- What impact does poly-culture, deep rooted cultivation have on soil infiltration?
SIMILAR URBAN FARMS IN OSLO
This was a poster that showcased exemplar similar multi-functional sites could be a valuable tool for comparing the characteristics of the different sites/initiatives. It gives context to Losæter, revealing the story of other ways of how things were initiated and how these places are maintained.
People reacted positively to the characteristics slider. A few more axes were proposed to add which can be used to clasify the different sites. There was such interest we recorded that we should make this a prioritised Zoom point.
A TIMELINE OF LOSÆTER
There was not much interaction on this poster it was mostly used as a reference during discussion. For example pointing out that municipality did not become active on the site until 2016/2017.
We believe that the timeline is valuable to build on, and want to show-case some more detail. This would include showing the different city farmers, the different volunteer groups that have come and gone, or fluctuated and other key events that were key in the creation, initiating and maintaining of this place.
We want to use this timeline make all aware of everyone who was involved.
PRACTICES & VALUES
What is happening at Losæter? What do you do? What emerges? What drives you and those who come to Losæter?
The filled in poster after the activity
CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
How is losæter today? What is working? What is under pressure? What opportunities are being missed? What are the underlying issues behind the visible problems?
What problems are happening and why?
The problems identified ranged from operational issues such as lack of signage or a digital channel to know what is happening and how to use the space, to more underlying frameworks about collaboration, and divergent visions between the different actors involved in the space.
Where are the problems happening?
WheN are things happening?
It was useful to demonstrate the different recurring events happening throughout the year, week and a dugnad day.
We plan to make an updated poster to show-case a myriad of nested cycles from soil, to baking to growing kale
Eating together
Scenes from our dinner break
IDEAS FOR INTERVENTION
What would Losæter need to reach its full potential?Â
A composite photo of the 3 posters that were used to capture thoughts around ideas for improving Losæter
Points of interest and next steps
What are the priority questions to investigate, who should we talk to, what should we do, and what does this project have the resources to actually contribute?
Overview of poster materials used in this activity. Click through to see the other marked up posters.
We then asked specifically which points of interest we should follow up on. and which points to zoom into, given the project’s limited resources.
We did this by marking out zoom points in blue on the existing posters on problems and ideas, as well as capturing them on the points of interest poster.
| AFTER |
What have we been doing since the WORKSHOP?
June 18th: We have had a full team debriefing workshop, we recreated the workshop space, creating alignment between team members and started processing, digitising the Kulturverksted inputs.
June 24th: Team working session at Losæter, further processing and planning our activities. How we could visualise the practices poster — we decided to focus on making A3 canvases for 1:1 conversations, to have impromptu conversations around the poster content at an accessible size.
June 30th: Further digitisation of materials for reporting to workshop participants for feedback conversations.
July 1-7th: Finalisation of materials for reporting to workshop participants and having verification and feedback conversations.
| NEXT |
Where this goes from here
Checking and visualising the outputs
1:1 checking conversations
The CbS team will hold 1:1 conversations with each participant, and others, to get feedback on the content and visualisation of each output, to explore identified questions, mark additional questions and out who is relevant to talk to, and further resources to follow this up.
Visualisation of interim materials
After checking the materials, we will begin to visualise the content in a provacative and accessible way.
Module 1 of Systems Oriented Design master studio
Prioritisation of points for deep diving workshop
Following on from the 1:1 conversations, as part of the Module 1 of the MSOD2026 course, we will use the Kulturverksted materials together with materials produced by students to mark out points of interest, and who is relevant to talk with to investigate or take action, and further resources so that this points of interest can be followed up on.
These areas, points, and topics will then be prioritised. Some will be followed up by the students, and some will be followed up by the CbS project.
Student deep dives
Students will dive into these points of interest further than the Kulturverksted, exploring the context around prioritised areas, diving deeper, and developing both their own and potentially mutually reinforcing ideas.
Exhibition
The deep dive and conceptualisation of interventions by the students will then serve as an exhibition in and around Losæter.
Part of Culture Based Solutions project workpackage at Losæter, led by the Systems Oriented Design unit at AHO. Questions to abel.crawford@aho.no.