From Critique to Utopian Futures: Reimagining Ullandhaug Campus in Stavanger

On May 13, 2026, stakeholders, including a mix of researchers, local area managers and practitioners, gathered at NORCE for the first workshop of the Stavanger pilot for the ULALABS Distributed Learning DL1– two Workshop Series: Urban Spaces and University Campuses – Stavanger Pilot. The workshop focuses on Ullandhaug - a unique and evolving campus that brings together the University of Stavanger, the Innovation Park, and the new University Hospital. Despite its strategic importance, Ullandhaug has developed incrementally over decades without a coherent master plan. Today, it is experienced as a fragmented landscape of buildings, parking lots, and disconnected green pockets, with underdeveloped qualities such as walkability, identity, meeting places, and spatial coherence.

Yet this fragmentation also presents an opportunity. With ongoing construction and future expansion, Ullandhaug stands at a critical moment: how can it become a future-oriented campus that supports learning, innovation, collaboration, and well-being?

Method: The Utopian Future Workshop

Workshop 1 marked the Critique Phase of the Utopian Future Workshop method. In this first stage, participants were invited to reflect critically on the current state of the campus—highlighting what undermines belonging, comfort, navigation, sustainability, and social interaction. Using the Urban Belonging app, participants identified gaps and tensions, as well as what they risk losing if current activity patterns in the area persist. This phase proved essential for surfacing shared concerns and setting the stage for co-creating solutions in later workshops.

From Critique to Utopian Visions

While rooted in critique, the workshop also sparked rich discussions about desirable futures. Participants articulated a set of utopian aspirations for Ullandhaug - visions that challenge the current status quo and reimagine the campus as a vibrant, inclusive, and connected district.

Key ideas included:

• Opening up the ground floors of buildings to the public realm, making activities visible and inviting interaction.

• Extending campus life beyond 16:00, creating a district that remains active in the evenings.

• Strengthening connections to nature, particularly towards neighbouring nature areas like Sørmarka and the Botanical garden.

• Expanding access to shared spaces, such as a 24-hour library and similar facilities across the Knowledge Park.

• Regulating the area as a “district centre” to facilitate mixed uses and attract new services to strengthen activity and foster identity.

• Improving communication, for example, through a shared information channel across institutions located in the area.

• Encouraging collective activities, from morning runs to festivals and seasonal events.

• Supporting student life, including more nightlife and social opportunities as Ullandhaug grows into a true university town.

• Integrating water elements, such as a canal along the bus route, for both ecological and spatial quality.

• Designing inclusive amenities, including recreational spaces for hospital patients, playgrounds, and childcare facilities.

• Activating the main street as a linear park connecting a series of multifunctional public spaces.

Looking Ahead

Workshop 1 revealed both the challenges and the immense potential of Ullandhaug.

By critically examining the present and daring to imagine utopian alternatives, participants laid the groundwork for a more coherent, lively, and inclusive campus. Workshop 2, Exploring Realisation Possibilities (May 27^th), will build on these insights—transforming critique and vision into actionable strategies for Ullandhaug’s future.