Linstow and Vestre Pilot a Circular Operating Model for Inclusive Public Spaces

At the former Norwegian School of Veterinary Science at Adamstuen in Oslo, Linstow and Vestre are piloting a circular operating model for the use and maintenance of urban furniture ahead of the area's long-term redevelopment. The ambition is to explore how such models can contribute to more vibrant public spaces, make better use of existing resources and create employment opportunities for people facing barriers to the labour market.

The collaboration combines long-term maintenance, social inclusion and flexible use of outdoor spaces throughout the development process.

"We are committed to creating places that generate long-term value – socially, environmentally and economically. This pilot is built on circular principles and demonstrates how property developers, manufacturers and social inclusion partners can work together in new ways to create vibrant places, in line with Linstow's commitment to health-promoting place development," says Benjamin Barth, Senior Urban and Area Development Manager at Linstow.

Circular Resource Management
The model is based on a simple principle: sustainability is not only about producing better products, but also about ensuring they remain in use for as long as possible.

For many years, Vestre has developed urban furniture designed for long service life and easy repair. Through this collaboration with Linstow, the company is also taking greater responsibility for the use and maintenance phase of its products.

Social Inclusion
Maintenance is carried out by Unikum AS, a social enterprise owned by the Church City Mission and the City of Oslo, which is responsible for the operation, repair and ongoing maintenance of the furniture across the site.

"Our experience is that circular resource management and social inclusion reinforce one another. When the Unikum team maintains our furniture, we achieve both longer product lifecycles and create meaningful employment opportunities," says Bjørn Fjellstad, CEO of Vestre.

The collaboration also provides greater continuity and predictability for vocational training and employment programmes.

"We have previously collaborated on maintenance services, but this agreement with Vestre and Unikum enables us to work in a more structured and long-term way. It improves resource efficiency while providing a more stable framework for vocational training and workplace inclusion," says Andreas Hellstrøm, Property Manager at Linstow.

Creating Better Public Spaces During Early Development
The pilot project is taking place at the former Norwegian School of Veterinary Science at Adamstuen, where Linstow and Oslobygg are transforming the site in phases over time.

The outdoor areas are actively used as a living test environment to explore how flexible meeting places, green spaces and social areas can promote wellbeing, activity and a sense of belonging—even before the permanent development is completed.

The initiative is closely linked to Building Health, a research and innovation project led by Linstow and SINTEF that explores the relationship between urban development, health and quality of life.

A Pilot for Learning and Inspiration

The collaboration between Linstow, Vestre and Unikum is first and foremost a pilot project designed to generate learning and inspire similar initiatives across the industry.

The ambition is to develop solutions that combine:

• Longer product lifecycles
• More sustainable use of resources
• An inclusive labour market
• Attractive, health-promoting public spaces

"Great public spaces are not defined solely by their physical design, but also by how they are managed, activated and shaped through people's involvement over time. The partnership between Vestre, Unikum and Linstow demonstrates how social inclusion and urban development can be advanced through strategic collaboration between organisations with complementary expertise. That is exactly why this type of partnership is so important to us," concludes Benjamin Barth.