Jubileumsparken
Basic information
Project Title
Jubileumsparken
Category
Reconnecting with nature
Project Description
Jubileumsparken is one of the Gothenburg’s largest park projects and a fantastic way to celebrate the city’s 400th anniversary in 2023. The design runs on two parallel tracks. Firstly, a series of temporary parks and installations have been set up during public workshops dating back to 2014. Secondly, the first part of a permanent park was completed in 2023. The park is a meeting place between people and nature, but also an outdoor living room for people with different backgrounds and interests.
Geographical Scope
Local
Project Region
Gothenburg, Sweden
Urban or rural issues
Mainly urban
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
Jubileumsparken is a park collage created by tens of artists, architects and landscape architects, hundreds of volunteers, and thousands of visitors. It is a collaboration between several disciplines, interest groups and actors. The city of Gothenburg’s largest park investment since the third jubilee in 1923.
The park has been built in several stages year after year. Every new feature has taught the architects, the municipality, and the visitors something new about the place, about sustainable development and reconnecting with nature, and about us, people. This is the essence of project, which is about experimentation, learning, public participation, and collaboration. It is about prototyping in public space and then scaling it up in a park and post-industrial landscape.
When port operations relocated in the late 90s nature quickly made the space its own with extensive self-established vegetation across the site. It is this clash between fading heritage and (ever-) conquering nature that the design is based on. The post-industrial vernacular is an (ever-) present force providing a special quality of experience that is timeless and highly respectful to place.
Prototyping and testing over several years have made it possible to engage with the wider public, the city and other experts over an extended period. This approach initiates and maintains a discussion on urban ecosystems, wildscapes and aesthetics, highlighting the importance of landscape architects’ role not only in the design and detailing, but also in the management and maintenance of public spaces.
Ambitious sustainability and biodiversity goals have been safeguarded by the introduction of new “nature-park” maintenance and management regimes for the City of Gothenburg. It is these experimental, yet pioneering, works that positions Jubileumsparken quite uniquely in terms sustainability and inclusion.
In July 2023 the first permanent parts of Jubileumsparken opened to the public.
The park has been built in several stages year after year. Every new feature has taught the architects, the municipality, and the visitors something new about the place, about sustainable development and reconnecting with nature, and about us, people. This is the essence of project, which is about experimentation, learning, public participation, and collaboration. It is about prototyping in public space and then scaling it up in a park and post-industrial landscape.
When port operations relocated in the late 90s nature quickly made the space its own with extensive self-established vegetation across the site. It is this clash between fading heritage and (ever-) conquering nature that the design is based on. The post-industrial vernacular is an (ever-) present force providing a special quality of experience that is timeless and highly respectful to place.
Prototyping and testing over several years have made it possible to engage with the wider public, the city and other experts over an extended period. This approach initiates and maintains a discussion on urban ecosystems, wildscapes and aesthetics, highlighting the importance of landscape architects’ role not only in the design and detailing, but also in the management and maintenance of public spaces.
Ambitious sustainability and biodiversity goals have been safeguarded by the introduction of new “nature-park” maintenance and management regimes for the City of Gothenburg. It is these experimental, yet pioneering, works that positions Jubileumsparken quite uniquely in terms sustainability and inclusion.
In July 2023 the first permanent parts of Jubileumsparken opened to the public.
Key objectives for sustainability
Jubileumsparken meets a number of sustainability objectives in the following ways:
1. The designated topic of each workshop (formulated as Open Calls) was derived following idea-based public consultation. The Open Calls were then conducted as public workshops open for everyone. The ideas tested and experiences learned during these joint sessions informed the design of the permanent parts of Jubileumsparken and safeguarded user-defined quality of experience.
2. The Frihamnen (The Free Port), where the park is located, has been an industrial area with little to no public access since the early 20th century. Therefore, it was crucial to re-connect people with the site.
3. Abandoned urban sites offer unique habitat qualities for self-established flora and fauna. This was the case in Frihamnen. Several bird species uncommon in urban centers had been documented on the site alongside a wealth of vegetation.
4. Even the most elaborate biodiversity-oriented design is at risk of failing if those tasked with managing and maintaining such facilities do not share the same vision and understanding of the design’s intentions. Therefore, it was essential that an open dialogue with the municipality’s maintenance staff was embarked upon from the prototyping phase. The implemented maintenance regimes use existing plant composition and habitats as a foundation to create a dynamic park landscape enhancing local and regional biodiversity.
5. The design of Jubileumsparken aims to prepare the new park for the unknown. Our strategy to manage extreme weather such as drought or cloudburst, violent storms, or flooding, is adaptation through planting and maintenance strategies and varying landforms. The topography of new park landscape can sink, set, bend, shrink or expand in various directions as years pass. Change over time is characteristic of any landscape.
6. To provide a largescale public park space to reconnect people with (new) natural areas in central Gothenburg.
1. The designated topic of each workshop (formulated as Open Calls) was derived following idea-based public consultation. The Open Calls were then conducted as public workshops open for everyone. The ideas tested and experiences learned during these joint sessions informed the design of the permanent parts of Jubileumsparken and safeguarded user-defined quality of experience.
2. The Frihamnen (The Free Port), where the park is located, has been an industrial area with little to no public access since the early 20th century. Therefore, it was crucial to re-connect people with the site.
3. Abandoned urban sites offer unique habitat qualities for self-established flora and fauna. This was the case in Frihamnen. Several bird species uncommon in urban centers had been documented on the site alongside a wealth of vegetation.
4. Even the most elaborate biodiversity-oriented design is at risk of failing if those tasked with managing and maintaining such facilities do not share the same vision and understanding of the design’s intentions. Therefore, it was essential that an open dialogue with the municipality’s maintenance staff was embarked upon from the prototyping phase. The implemented maintenance regimes use existing plant composition and habitats as a foundation to create a dynamic park landscape enhancing local and regional biodiversity.
5. The design of Jubileumsparken aims to prepare the new park for the unknown. Our strategy to manage extreme weather such as drought or cloudburst, violent storms, or flooding, is adaptation through planting and maintenance strategies and varying landforms. The topography of new park landscape can sink, set, bend, shrink or expand in various directions as years pass. Change over time is characteristic of any landscape.
6. To provide a largescale public park space to reconnect people with (new) natural areas in central Gothenburg.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
With our work in Jubileumsparken we set off to challenge the way urban greenspaces are perceived, designed, and maintained. The wide interest in ecologically sustainable urban regeneration has resulted in a newborn enthusiasm towards urban habitat creation (at a time of declining biodiversity). However, this has also raised several questions. How are these areas of high biodiversity perceived by people? What happens at the meeting point of the landscape architect´s ambitions and the aesthetic expectations of the public eye?
Research shows that urban areas with high biodiversity are appreciated by people. However, such landscapes can also be perceived as unsightly, unmaintained, unsafe, and forgotten, resulting in a negative public impression (especially of newly financed and constructed public park facilities).
Natural planting compositions promote bird and insect diversity and provide a clear visual identity.
The plantings relate to both the pre-industrial and the post-industrial vegetation. Materials such as large cobblestones, boulders and rocks, details in metal and concrete relate to the site’s industrial heritage. Past, present and the future are woven into the fabric of the park safeguarding the quality of experience for generations to come.
The park is composed of several spaces. In the core, one can find shelter from the noise, the light and the traffic, the wind, and the rain, and instead, experience a glimpse of urban wilderness that is both playful and restoring. Physically, the existing terrain has been remodeled. A wonderful series of rooms and passages enclosed by mounds and vegetation has been created. As the newly planted vegetation grows, the visual impression of the park changes, as does the composition of species found on site. We have witnessed that the new vegetation attracts wildlife, provides shelter, create possibilities for play, and seemingly meets with the (aesthetic) expectations of the visitors to the park.
Research shows that urban areas with high biodiversity are appreciated by people. However, such landscapes can also be perceived as unsightly, unmaintained, unsafe, and forgotten, resulting in a negative public impression (especially of newly financed and constructed public park facilities).
Natural planting compositions promote bird and insect diversity and provide a clear visual identity.
The plantings relate to both the pre-industrial and the post-industrial vegetation. Materials such as large cobblestones, boulders and rocks, details in metal and concrete relate to the site’s industrial heritage. Past, present and the future are woven into the fabric of the park safeguarding the quality of experience for generations to come.
The park is composed of several spaces. In the core, one can find shelter from the noise, the light and the traffic, the wind, and the rain, and instead, experience a glimpse of urban wilderness that is both playful and restoring. Physically, the existing terrain has been remodeled. A wonderful series of rooms and passages enclosed by mounds and vegetation has been created. As the newly planted vegetation grows, the visual impression of the park changes, as does the composition of species found on site. We have witnessed that the new vegetation attracts wildlife, provides shelter, create possibilities for play, and seemingly meets with the (aesthetic) expectations of the visitors to the park.
Key objectives for inclusion
Between 2013–2020 several workshops were held with local elderly, newly arrived migrant youths, urban recreation groups, gardening students, and others — continued public engagement is fundamental to the creation and preservation of sustainable park communities.
Lessons, experiences, and input from the earlier workshops was later used in the design process. One such example is construction of a temporary Shoreline Park built during several public workshops in autumn 2017 together with municipal staff and volunteers. These workshops were held jointly with gardening students to share knowledge and rekindle our professions. During the workshops, several hundred trees, shrubs and bushes, and thousands of bulbs were planted with the help of more than one hundred participants. Shoreline Park has thrived and has been revisited again and again so that we can study plant growth and establishment, meet friends, and park visitors and remind ourselves of the rewards of prototyping works.
These Open Calls as well as all the activities and facilities in the new park are free for everyone. This includes the sauna, the pools, sailing schools, outdoor classroom with a water playground, themed playgrounds and many more.
The park is designed so that all areas and activities are accessible to all. At times cut cobblestones are used to create an even surface, whereas playgrounds have a mixture of surface materials including cork. The boardwalks running along the waterfronts, connecting the floating pools to the park, have a universal design.
An NGO in partnership with the municipality is employing youth with different backgrounds, functional variety, knowledge, and interest from Gothenburg's various neighborhoods to work as Park Stewards. They receive training in sailing, lifesaving, resuscitation, leading groups, fire protection and theory around norm criticism. Their task is then to receive visitors to the park and to help develop the park as a public place.
Lessons, experiences, and input from the earlier workshops was later used in the design process. One such example is construction of a temporary Shoreline Park built during several public workshops in autumn 2017 together with municipal staff and volunteers. These workshops were held jointly with gardening students to share knowledge and rekindle our professions. During the workshops, several hundred trees, shrubs and bushes, and thousands of bulbs were planted with the help of more than one hundred participants. Shoreline Park has thrived and has been revisited again and again so that we can study plant growth and establishment, meet friends, and park visitors and remind ourselves of the rewards of prototyping works.
These Open Calls as well as all the activities and facilities in the new park are free for everyone. This includes the sauna, the pools, sailing schools, outdoor classroom with a water playground, themed playgrounds and many more.
The park is designed so that all areas and activities are accessible to all. At times cut cobblestones are used to create an even surface, whereas playgrounds have a mixture of surface materials including cork. The boardwalks running along the waterfronts, connecting the floating pools to the park, have a universal design.
An NGO in partnership with the municipality is employing youth with different backgrounds, functional variety, knowledge, and interest from Gothenburg's various neighborhoods to work as Park Stewards. They receive training in sailing, lifesaving, resuscitation, leading groups, fire protection and theory around norm criticism. Their task is then to receive visitors to the park and to help develop the park as a public place.
Results in relation to category
Jubileumsparken has been one of the main drivers initiating the physical transformation of the former industrial port to new city quarter.
The introduction of 22,000m2 extensive new park area is the starting block for regeneration of the wider Frihamnen area. Focus has been placed on the protection of existing qualities and character through inclusive design works. The park, as new soils, plant species and processes start to establish themselves will over time restore natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
With the park in its first year of opening we do not have access to nature-based statistics. Several surveys are planned for 2024.
Park activities have been monitored up until the pandemic restricted the public use of temporary park facilities in 2019.
In 2016 the pool received 22,484 visitors which grew to 45,338 in 2019. 981 people enrolled for sailing schools during 2017, increasing to 2374 in 2022. It is commonplace that visitors plan their visits and spend time in the park with family and friends.
The playgrounds, within which the play equipment has been specially designed for this project in collaboration with local architects and artists, have been very well received since opening to the public in august 2022. This is evident from the high levels of wear and tear which offer a new layer of interest. Low maintenance strategies together with heavy usage provide a third dimension to these spaces, a user defined dynamic. Vegetation thrives on the lesser used edges of the play spaces complimenting the design of the landscape structure of the park wonderfully.
Jubileumsparken provides the publicly requested park space with water activities in a central location. The project now already provides significant social and environmental improvements and is starting to offer economic returns.
The project has engaged people from far and wide and is the driver for the regenerative and sustainable transformation of Frihamnen, Gothenburg.
The introduction of 22,000m2 extensive new park area is the starting block for regeneration of the wider Frihamnen area. Focus has been placed on the protection of existing qualities and character through inclusive design works. The park, as new soils, plant species and processes start to establish themselves will over time restore natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
With the park in its first year of opening we do not have access to nature-based statistics. Several surveys are planned for 2024.
Park activities have been monitored up until the pandemic restricted the public use of temporary park facilities in 2019.
In 2016 the pool received 22,484 visitors which grew to 45,338 in 2019. 981 people enrolled for sailing schools during 2017, increasing to 2374 in 2022. It is commonplace that visitors plan their visits and spend time in the park with family and friends.
The playgrounds, within which the play equipment has been specially designed for this project in collaboration with local architects and artists, have been very well received since opening to the public in august 2022. This is evident from the high levels of wear and tear which offer a new layer of interest. Low maintenance strategies together with heavy usage provide a third dimension to these spaces, a user defined dynamic. Vegetation thrives on the lesser used edges of the play spaces complimenting the design of the landscape structure of the park wonderfully.
Jubileumsparken provides the publicly requested park space with water activities in a central location. The project now already provides significant social and environmental improvements and is starting to offer economic returns.
The project has engaged people from far and wide and is the driver for the regenerative and sustainable transformation of Frihamnen, Gothenburg.
How Citizens benefit
As previously described the Prototyping and subsequent Open Calls engaged citizens from far and wide to the project.
As a result of the Open Call process several local craftsmen were engaged in the design and construction of temporary waterplay equipment at the Outdoor Classroom area. The temporary nature of this part of the project meant that the waterplay equipment not only needed to be interestingly designed to meet user expectations but also robust enough to facilitate the desired request for mechanical or motorized waterplay.
The resultant sketch designs were tested at one-to-one scale at a local Workshop where design ideas and functional requirements were explored with the client, end users and consultant teams prior to installation on site. The circular economic nature of these works had distinct local advantages in the form of inward investment and paid engagement for local craftsmen. The subsequent monitoring and management works were also awarded to the same craftsmen. The equipment has successfully been in operation since 2020 with little to no vandalism.
Visitors to the Outdoor Classroom, particularly school and nursery groups, have free access to waterplay elements that engage all users – teachers and students, parents and children, youth, and the elderly. Water play is universally enjoyable and thereby a self-rewarding activity.
The distinct added benefit of engaging the local stakeholders is the added sense of community this approach to project works offers. Whenever present on site together we talk of daily experiences and project challenges quite naturally sharing vested interests in the operation of the park, a sense of community and ownership that simply cannot be bought. This is unique considering the scale and scope of this project.
The operation of the pool and sailing facilities have also been far-reaching in terms of engaging citizens and civil society in the operation and management these facilities.
As a result of the Open Call process several local craftsmen were engaged in the design and construction of temporary waterplay equipment at the Outdoor Classroom area. The temporary nature of this part of the project meant that the waterplay equipment not only needed to be interestingly designed to meet user expectations but also robust enough to facilitate the desired request for mechanical or motorized waterplay.
The resultant sketch designs were tested at one-to-one scale at a local Workshop where design ideas and functional requirements were explored with the client, end users and consultant teams prior to installation on site. The circular economic nature of these works had distinct local advantages in the form of inward investment and paid engagement for local craftsmen. The subsequent monitoring and management works were also awarded to the same craftsmen. The equipment has successfully been in operation since 2020 with little to no vandalism.
Visitors to the Outdoor Classroom, particularly school and nursery groups, have free access to waterplay elements that engage all users – teachers and students, parents and children, youth, and the elderly. Water play is universally enjoyable and thereby a self-rewarding activity.
The distinct added benefit of engaging the local stakeholders is the added sense of community this approach to project works offers. Whenever present on site together we talk of daily experiences and project challenges quite naturally sharing vested interests in the operation of the park, a sense of community and ownership that simply cannot be bought. This is unique considering the scale and scope of this project.
The operation of the pool and sailing facilities have also been far-reaching in terms of engaging citizens and civil society in the operation and management these facilities.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
Time and flexibility have been two exceptionally reoccurring factors on the project. The bankruptcy of the Main Contractor was one major changing point that required innovative solutions to maintain quality yet save money, but the project has further examples that demonstrate innovative thinking and practices.
Open communication with other major infrastructure projects in the Gothenburg area gave us access to several hundred cubic meters of blasted granite for the Pressure Bank and Mineral Shore, and 40 semi-mature trees for the park. The Park was “in the right place at the right time” to receive these trees and had the flexibility that no other major project in the region had to accept and incorporate the trees. On their arrival to the park the trees, especially the Oaks, added an immediate sense of maturity to what was at that time a barren post-industrial landscape (groundwork stage).
The trees provided our first understanding of the parks scale and structure.
Circular thinking has been paramount to the project. Small scale interventions such seed collection and documentation to the reuse of natural materials have been implemented. If the site, municipality, or even neighboring projects had materials or objects that the project could accept then the project looked for ways to incorporate them. This was also the case with the transition of prototyping to permanent works.
The design of the park located primary movement and circulation routes parallel to the shorelines, the backbones of the park so to speak. Thereafter the park is constructed via a series of free formed park glades – the spectator lawn, play spaces, park areas, water treatment areas etc. The designed glade structure gives the park a flexibility that gives the park a form of modularity that became in to its own when the project budget was almost halved prior to tendering. Several glades were removed to save money without detriment to the overall structure of the park.
Open communication with other major infrastructure projects in the Gothenburg area gave us access to several hundred cubic meters of blasted granite for the Pressure Bank and Mineral Shore, and 40 semi-mature trees for the park. The Park was “in the right place at the right time” to receive these trees and had the flexibility that no other major project in the region had to accept and incorporate the trees. On their arrival to the park the trees, especially the Oaks, added an immediate sense of maturity to what was at that time a barren post-industrial landscape (groundwork stage).
The trees provided our first understanding of the parks scale and structure.
Circular thinking has been paramount to the project. Small scale interventions such seed collection and documentation to the reuse of natural materials have been implemented. If the site, municipality, or even neighboring projects had materials or objects that the project could accept then the project looked for ways to incorporate them. This was also the case with the transition of prototyping to permanent works.
The design of the park located primary movement and circulation routes parallel to the shorelines, the backbones of the park so to speak. Thereafter the park is constructed via a series of free formed park glades – the spectator lawn, play spaces, park areas, water treatment areas etc. The designed glade structure gives the park a flexibility that gives the park a form of modularity that became in to its own when the project budget was almost halved prior to tendering. Several glades were removed to save money without detriment to the overall structure of the park.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
Not only did the project group consist of several nationalities but several areas of expertise too – horticulturalists, ecologists, geologists, hydrological engineers, artists, landscape architects, lighting designers, project leaders, environmental experts, quantity surveyors, construction leader, architects.
The park consists of several major items of works such as the Pressure Bank or Boardwalks. These works required the engagement of several areas of expertise to ensure that the designed visions of the architects and artists involved in the project could meet statutory and environmental legislative requirements and then be constructed on budget. A challenging puzzle.
The pressure bank is a largescale example of how geotechnical engineering combined with flexible and open design processes can result in an optimal and sustainable solution, whereby recycled stones from neighboring projects preparatory works (blasting) were used extensively for slope stabilization.
A distinct objective of the project team was the minimization of “overly” designed solutions and to take inspiration from natural processes instead. We often questioned whether certain items were necessary, for example the underground management of surface water which in part was necessary in areas where contaminated soils remained but not in other areas. Gabion wall constructions designed for recycled wooden timber seating double up as collection point for surface water run-off. Surface water permeates through the stones in the wall connecting directly plant beds behind. Should excessive quantities water be received the beds are safeguarded with permeable pipe drainage system that stores the larger volumes of water prior to filtration (rather than full underground drainage system with numerous manholes, inspection chamber etc).
The gabion wall solution came about following a series of multi-disciplinary workshops during the detail design stage of the project.
The park consists of several major items of works such as the Pressure Bank or Boardwalks. These works required the engagement of several areas of expertise to ensure that the designed visions of the architects and artists involved in the project could meet statutory and environmental legislative requirements and then be constructed on budget. A challenging puzzle.
The pressure bank is a largescale example of how geotechnical engineering combined with flexible and open design processes can result in an optimal and sustainable solution, whereby recycled stones from neighboring projects preparatory works (blasting) were used extensively for slope stabilization.
A distinct objective of the project team was the minimization of “overly” designed solutions and to take inspiration from natural processes instead. We often questioned whether certain items were necessary, for example the underground management of surface water which in part was necessary in areas where contaminated soils remained but not in other areas. Gabion wall constructions designed for recycled wooden timber seating double up as collection point for surface water run-off. Surface water permeates through the stones in the wall connecting directly plant beds behind. Should excessive quantities water be received the beds are safeguarded with permeable pipe drainage system that stores the larger volumes of water prior to filtration (rather than full underground drainage system with numerous manholes, inspection chamber etc).
The gabion wall solution came about following a series of multi-disciplinary workshops during the detail design stage of the project.
Methodology used
The project has been on-going for several years. Involving many locations and design approaches, it should be seen as a park system rather than just one park. It runs with an evolutive design process on two parallel tracks — temporary and permanent. Such a process has been successful in Ile de Nantes, France, where the development of a former harbor was launched in 1999. The named project was identified as an exemplary case study for both Frihamnen and Jubileumsparken. But in Jubileumsparken this approach has been taken a few steps further through a wider engagement of different professions, designers, and the directed and continuous participation of the public.
This rather unique method has already been noted by researchers and practitioners. In recent years, both the master plan for Frihamnen and the design process of Jubileumsparken have been awarded the Swedish Architectural prize for Best Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture.
Gothenburg is a medium-sized city on the Westcoast of Sweden. In the city’s recently adopted Green Strategy the report identifies a need for new wide corridors of greenery to penetrate the city fabric from the north and the south, stating that the quality and quantity of accessible and usable green-blue infrastructure in Gothenburg is poor. Jubileumsparken provides valuable new park spaces, an escape from urbanity. The Park creates refuge for people, flora, and fauna alike. It gently transforms the former harbor to a much-needed green heart for the city center, providing a vital steppingstone in the larger green-blue network.
Jubileumsparken is the city’s biggest commitment to providing new park facilities this century.
In Frihamnen, the ecosystem is inseparable from its socio-cultural heritage. In this design methodology, coastal character with wetlands and dense vegetation were recreated as the backdrop while the industrial tone was retrieved through choice of materials and details – a new post-industrial vernacular
This rather unique method has already been noted by researchers and practitioners. In recent years, both the master plan for Frihamnen and the design process of Jubileumsparken have been awarded the Swedish Architectural prize for Best Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture.
Gothenburg is a medium-sized city on the Westcoast of Sweden. In the city’s recently adopted Green Strategy the report identifies a need for new wide corridors of greenery to penetrate the city fabric from the north and the south, stating that the quality and quantity of accessible and usable green-blue infrastructure in Gothenburg is poor. Jubileumsparken provides valuable new park spaces, an escape from urbanity. The Park creates refuge for people, flora, and fauna alike. It gently transforms the former harbor to a much-needed green heart for the city center, providing a vital steppingstone in the larger green-blue network.
Jubileumsparken is the city’s biggest commitment to providing new park facilities this century.
In Frihamnen, the ecosystem is inseparable from its socio-cultural heritage. In this design methodology, coastal character with wetlands and dense vegetation were recreated as the backdrop while the industrial tone was retrieved through choice of materials and details – a new post-industrial vernacular
How stakeholders are engaged
The engagement of stakeholders at a local level has been one of the most challenging aspects of this project due to the Post-industrial nature of the site. An area surrounded by water and large-scale road and rail infrastructure.
On regional level, statutory authorities played a significant role in permitting the development of the park. The project was subject to complicated and somewhat unusual planning situations. Changes in land-use (from industry to park) and the extensive de-contamination prior to permanent site works needed to be consented to enable the park to progress from the exploratory, prototyping stage.
On a national and European level, the strength and diversity of the international design teams working on the project has really helped engage people from different cultures and backgrounds. An open, welcoming, and inclusive Team. Several students engaged in prototyping works went on to obtain full time employment with companies involved in the project.
English was the common language used to communicate between those involved but this often switched to various mother tongues to decipher ways forward! The following is an example of the Nationalities involved – Swedish, German, Spanish, Danish, French, English, Estonian, Hungarian, and Welsh.
Following the public tendering of the project within Europe the construction contract was awarded to a Danish Contractor. This was a major stage in transitioning from temporary, exploratory works to permanent park facilities. Whilst the design team retained involvement with the project engaging those whom had been involved with prototyping and other placemaking activities became harder. This changed when the Contractor went bankrupt ca 70% through the works. The project paused and the Client Team reconsidered how the remaining 30% of the works could be complete. This re-opened the door for some elements of the project to be complete with the desired stakeholder engagement.
On regional level, statutory authorities played a significant role in permitting the development of the park. The project was subject to complicated and somewhat unusual planning situations. Changes in land-use (from industry to park) and the extensive de-contamination prior to permanent site works needed to be consented to enable the park to progress from the exploratory, prototyping stage.
On a national and European level, the strength and diversity of the international design teams working on the project has really helped engage people from different cultures and backgrounds. An open, welcoming, and inclusive Team. Several students engaged in prototyping works went on to obtain full time employment with companies involved in the project.
English was the common language used to communicate between those involved but this often switched to various mother tongues to decipher ways forward! The following is an example of the Nationalities involved – Swedish, German, Spanish, Danish, French, English, Estonian, Hungarian, and Welsh.
Following the public tendering of the project within Europe the construction contract was awarded to a Danish Contractor. This was a major stage in transitioning from temporary, exploratory works to permanent park facilities. Whilst the design team retained involvement with the project engaging those whom had been involved with prototyping and other placemaking activities became harder. This changed when the Contractor went bankrupt ca 70% through the works. The project paused and the Client Team reconsidered how the remaining 30% of the works could be complete. This re-opened the door for some elements of the project to be complete with the desired stakeholder engagement.
Global challenges
Jubileumsparken is designed to face several global challenges. Gothenburg is a coastal city with a large river running through it and severe floods are not uncommon here. Predicted sea level rise, more frequent storms and cloudbursts will worsen the situation further. In the park, land slopes gently into water - a rare feature in Gothenburg - embracing it instead of fighting it. Sloping Wetland and steps along the Mineral Edge allow the park to adapt to changing tides and sea level rise. The modular jetty along the shoreline is built from highly water-resistant and sustainably sourced wood (Accoya) and the pool construction is a floating structure.
Most of the planting areas are situated on mounds slightly higher than the rest of the park and encircle the activity areas. These shaded and calm pockets improve park microclimate and mitigate the impact of drought, heat, and wind. The plantings are dense and are allowed to evolve through natural spreading of species. Over time wind will carry the seeds of local poplars, birches, pines, and alders into the planting areas allowing these to mix in with the design. Carefully chosen exotic species add diversity and increase adaptation to warmer climate.
To make sure that the visual appearance, vistas, and spatial structures are maintained over several decades we have created a maintenance vision. Flexibility and awareness are embedded in the design, allowing the park to evolve over the coming decades.
Gothenburg is Sweden’s one of most segregated cities, hence, social integration became one of the cornerstones for Jubileumsparken. The ideas for different park activities came from the public, throughout the years different social groups have been represented during numerous workshops ranging from sitting preferences of elderly to urban recreation, and most importantly, the park and the activities are all free to use.
Most of the planting areas are situated on mounds slightly higher than the rest of the park and encircle the activity areas. These shaded and calm pockets improve park microclimate and mitigate the impact of drought, heat, and wind. The plantings are dense and are allowed to evolve through natural spreading of species. Over time wind will carry the seeds of local poplars, birches, pines, and alders into the planting areas allowing these to mix in with the design. Carefully chosen exotic species add diversity and increase adaptation to warmer climate.
To make sure that the visual appearance, vistas, and spatial structures are maintained over several decades we have created a maintenance vision. Flexibility and awareness are embedded in the design, allowing the park to evolve over the coming decades.
Gothenburg is Sweden’s one of most segregated cities, hence, social integration became one of the cornerstones for Jubileumsparken. The ideas for different park activities came from the public, throughout the years different social groups have been represented during numerous workshops ranging from sitting preferences of elderly to urban recreation, and most importantly, the park and the activities are all free to use.
Learning transferred to other parties
Several aspects of the project have potential to be transferred and replicated.
On a large-scale prototyping. Prototyping is unique and dynamic to context. The prototype can be either something physical - a place, an installation, a technical solution - or something structural - a network, a collaboration model, or a manual for a work method. The process surrounding the creation and use of the prototype is highly transferrable. Everyone who interacts, activates, visits or builds the prototype contributes to the result. While prototypes take shape, social spaces are also built and thereby can be replicated.
On a more communicative scale, we have published a book titled “Process Prototype Park” with the intention to communicate the theoretical thinking and collective experiences behind the project. A PDF version of the book is appended to this application. The book describes MARELD’s work between 2016 - 2022.
Works have begun on a full edition of the book to summarize the project to present day. The book will be interview based and reflect the dynamism of the project and the community that has established itself around the park. The book will also describe learnings from the key stakeholders.
Such documentation and publication of the project allows a global public to access knowledge and thereby provides the opportunity, if so desired, to replicate project works.
At a smaller, more refined scale, the project has allowed us to experiment with new planting design philosophies and methodologies. New maintenance ideas have enabled us to introduce the Nature Park management regime to the city (not just the park) and several innovative technical solutions for the design and management of rainwater in the park.
The post-industrial area the park is built on was heavily contaminated. Therefore, it was essential to us that the park is free from plastics, impregnated wood and other pollutants. The creation of new urban nature must be done sustainably.
On a large-scale prototyping. Prototyping is unique and dynamic to context. The prototype can be either something physical - a place, an installation, a technical solution - or something structural - a network, a collaboration model, or a manual for a work method. The process surrounding the creation and use of the prototype is highly transferrable. Everyone who interacts, activates, visits or builds the prototype contributes to the result. While prototypes take shape, social spaces are also built and thereby can be replicated.
On a more communicative scale, we have published a book titled “Process Prototype Park” with the intention to communicate the theoretical thinking and collective experiences behind the project. A PDF version of the book is appended to this application. The book describes MARELD’s work between 2016 - 2022.
Works have begun on a full edition of the book to summarize the project to present day. The book will be interview based and reflect the dynamism of the project and the community that has established itself around the park. The book will also describe learnings from the key stakeholders.
Such documentation and publication of the project allows a global public to access knowledge and thereby provides the opportunity, if so desired, to replicate project works.
At a smaller, more refined scale, the project has allowed us to experiment with new planting design philosophies and methodologies. New maintenance ideas have enabled us to introduce the Nature Park management regime to the city (not just the park) and several innovative technical solutions for the design and management of rainwater in the park.
The post-industrial area the park is built on was heavily contaminated. Therefore, it was essential to us that the park is free from plastics, impregnated wood and other pollutants. The creation of new urban nature must be done sustainably.
Keywords
Evolutive Design
Prototyping
Urban Wildscape
Microhabitats
Public Participation
