Drøbak

Drøbak has the option to “let the politicians decide” which has led to corruption within projects. Developers and friends of politicians have projects go through and be approved easier.
The preservation plan submitted last year was denied by politicians and they ended up submitting their own plan instead that was riddled with holes and nonsensical. The region denied the plan and sent them back to draft a new one. The byantikvar are currently working on putting together a new one, through they admit they were asked for a “potential for development” plan not a “preservation” plan. Autumn 2017 saw nearly all of the Frogn Kommune quit because of pointless leadership.
I participated in a workshop going through the town with the proposed new preservation map and making comments on areas of proposed development. The comments were well received by the department. It seems they lacked a mission statement for the town’s preservation plan and a definition and significance of cultural identity in their plan. Without this, architects, developers, and politicians questioned the reasoning behind regulations. With it, they will have something to reference. I suggested that giving a more emotional connection to the city by using language like “identity” can help others understand why the regulations exist.
I would allocate a large part of the town’s success in preservation to Per Willy Fægerstad and his Restoration Center. By repairing old windows, doors, milling new trims, giving workshops and classes to locals and tradesmen, and advising and consulting on new projects, the town has an invaluable resource. Outsourcing this work would raise costs, time, and knowledge of such methods that the town may not end up using them.
Mathilde is the new byantikvar, with a fresh perspective. She has created a clever system of registering buildings with a cube diagram and colors associated with the age of materials for each main detail of the house. Both her and Per Willy believe that the authenticity of buildings lie in the details.
Major political problems. Entire kommune quit and was replaced about a year and a half ago. Telegrafen project is very interesting.