Public gardens shape a greener future in Sweden
Central public gardens form the social heart of the 155,000 m2 urban masterplan Humlestaden outside Gothenburg, Sweden - designed to reframe city life through a green lens.
We have won the competition to develop a 15.5-hectare urban masterplan south of Gothenburg, Sweden. Named Humlestaden, the new development represents a community model that refocuses urban energy around green foundations.
Developed in coordination with Stena Fastigheter and Ikano Bostad, Humlestaden presents an urban framework for sustainable future development in the region.
For Partner and Design Director Søren Øllgaard, Humlestaden fuses familiar urban attitudes with a green-focused foundation.
“We drew inspiration from the thriving street life of Gothenburg’s Haga district, and reframed that energy in a green context,” Søren Øllgaard said.
“Planted gardens can be just as strong a gathering point as a town square or shopping mall – at Humlestaden, we’re using nature as the driver for the community.”
The Humlestaden masterplan occupies a 155,000 m2 plot in Gothenburg’s Högsbo district, formerly home to the Pripps brewery. Three thousand residences, a central public garden, and multi-use commercial space will define the new community, which aims to establish outdoor green space as the primary setting of public life.
Garden City
The ‘garden city’ concept dates back to the turn of the 19th century, originating in England as a reaction to the hectic, crowded life of industrialized cities. Garden cities sought to balance city life with rural agriculture, emerging as networks of smaller, self-sustaining communities.
Humlestaden is an urban reimagining of the concept, laying the groundwork for an active urban community based primarily in public green spaces. Grounded in the green central commons and in close proximity to the Sandås forest and Änggårdsbergen nature reserve, Humlestaden masterplan also seeks to emphasize and activate natural space among commercial and industrial surroundings.
Humlestaden, which translates to “hops city,” references the local history as the site of one of Sweden’s largest breweries. Prior to the brewery, the area was dedicated to local agriculture, home to commercial gardens and fruit orchards.
Construction on Humlestaden will begin in 2022, slated for completion in 2024.
