Last week's Nordic Circular Summit left us inspired and hopeful! After being the project leaders of the Nordic Circular Hotspot since 2020, we are very proud to see how far the project, its partners and the circular economy in the Nordics have come in such a short time.

Gamlebyen has been the home of Natural State since the start, and we love it here. However, we are growing, and it has become time to move to a new space. Luckily, we didn’t need to look far. Over the past month, we have taken over the beautiful Lofthallen at Gamlebyen Loft.

Natural State will be strongly present at this year’s Arendalsuka, 15.–19. August. You can find us both on the stage and in the audience for a variety of talks from economics and place development to the built environment and climate action.

This year’s Gamlebyen Gatefestival is just around the corner. On 13.–14. August, we are organising the third edition of our popular street festival. During the weekend, we offer free concerts, yoga, an art exhibition, a large outdoor seating area where you can buy delicious food and drink, and other activities for the whole family.

The Natural State of the Market was developed as a new market value approach in 2017 by Einar K. Holthe, who founded Natural State to bring the methodology into use. It is now published as a chapter in The Kyoto Post-COVID Manifesto For Global Economics by Springer Nature.

Together with the dutch company Ooze, A-lab, Resirqel AS, Bollinger+Grohmann, Sweco and a number of handpicked experts, we are one of four teams that will work on the development of the lot that has been named Verket at Grønlikaia. It will be in active connection to the northern parts of Oslo, and work as an inviting portal to the new fjord area.

Together with the Polish research institute Innowo and Amsterdam based impact organisation Circle Economy, Natural State will be analysing the state of circularity in Poland to drive the country’s circular transition. The analysis, funded by the EEA and Norway Grants program, will deliver tailored recommendations for a circular economy in Poland, and connect Norwegian and Polish circular opportunities.

In a team with Oslo Works architecture studio and Edit landscape architect studio, we are looking at strategies for development of the Eastern Campus for NMBU, the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. We are working in a parallel commission to study the different possibilities for transforming NMBU into one of the world's most sustainable and attractive campuses.

Natural State is leading the area transformation of Holmen Næringspark on behalf of Start Gruppen. The transformation includes six buildings, with both short and long term plans focusing on identity, branding and added functions in the park’s “identity area”. In 2021 we transformed Nye Vakås Vei 64. This spring we continue with Nye Vakås Vei 80.

When the Norwegian Broadcaster (NRK) is moving to Ensjø, the former radio building is to be transformed. In a parallel competition together with a team consisting of Nordic Architects, Dronninga Landskap, Norconsult and Florian Kosche, Natural State is looking at how this beautiful space can develop into Norway’s most edgy cultural hub.

Natural State is evolving. We have secured some major projects for 2022 and are looking for new team members. We have four open positions: Senior Project Manager, Project Manager, Creative Copy and Art Director/Graphic Designer. If you or someone you know are looking for meaningful work and ambitious colleagues — apply by March 20, 2022.

In 2020 Natural State founded Circularities — Circular Economy by Natural State, spearheaded by Cathrine Barth. The purpose of the department is to offer competence, circular transition strategies and market solutions for clients within public and privat sector. In the beginning of March we spent half a day with Blank, where we looked at circular economy in the design and technology industry.

Budor is a unique destination, easily accessible from several large citys, located between the forest and the mountain. Budor is already a well-established winter destination, but has great potential to have more visitors all four seasons. Natural State is suggesting a careful development focusing on identity and adding new functions and activities based on local values.

We are excited to start the planning of Gamlebyen Gatefestival 2022 — a food and music festival for the entire family hosted by Natural State in collaboration with Fuglen, Jansen Records and other tenants at Gamlebyen Loft.