Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Studien tog sin början genom ett uppdrag från festivalledningen för Piteå Dansar och Ler. Uppdraget bestod i att uppmärksamma brister i festivalområdets områdesdesign. Under uppdraget framkom att begreppet områdesdesign var oklart och att innebörden växlade beroende på vem jag frågade. Komplexiteten hos begreppet ledde till att studien riktades mot att definiera begreppet områdesdesign.
Vid gatufestivaler används stadens centrum som arena. Detta innebär att funktioner och användningsområden, till exempel scener och toaletter, måste anpassas estetiskt och funktionellt till den befintliga stadsmiljön. Vid planering av gatufestivaler prioriteras idag funktionella och ekonomiska aspekter. Gestaltningsaspekten har av ekonomiska och tidsmässiga skäl hamnat i skymundan.
Syftet med studien är dels att uppmärksamma områdesdesignens betydelse i festivalens planeringsprocess och att visa hur besökarnas upplevelse kan påverkas av områdesdesignen. Målet med studien är att försöka definiera begreppet områdesdesign samt att uforma och presentera en arbetsmetod med praktiska riktlinjer som visar hur arrangörer av gatufestivaler kan arbeta med områdesdesign.

This is the examination paper of landscapearchitect student Stina Carlsson. The
paper corresponds to 20 credits. The study began as a commission at the request
of the festival management of Piteå dansar Och Ler. The commission consisted
of finding the shortcomings of the site design of the festival area. The meaning
of the site design of the festival area includes different aspects depending whom
you ask. The study therefore focuses on the definition and meaning of site
design of the festival.
City festivals use the city centre as a stage. This means that the functions and
activites of the festivals must adjust to the existing structure of the city. The
functional and economical aspects are given priority in the planning process
of today. The budget of the festival and the lack of time have put the esthetical
aspect in the background.
The purpose of the study has been to draw attention to the site design in the
planning process and to show how the site design can affect the visitor’s
experience of the festival. The goal is to define site design and to present a
method for the organizer’s work with site design.
I have been inspired of theories on communication between humans and
their physical surroundings. The physical surrounding sends a message to
the visitors and affects the visitor´s experience of the festival. Therefore the
organizer’s design of the festival area is very important . The study focuses on
the physical surroundings and the comminication theories is therefore adjusted
into a model for analysis of the festival´s physical properties.
By making a comparison of three city festivals, Luleå Kalaset, Storsjöyran in
Östersund and Piteå Dansar Och Ler, I have been able to discuss site design in
a larger context. The result showed that the organizers thought that they lacked
knowledge and guidelines for the work of site design. The lack of a general
picture of the festival’s planning process also became visible.
Through a detailed analysis of the festival area of Piteå Dansar Och Ler I
have been able to discuss the components of site design. The analysis showed
that the design of the festival area sent a message to the visitors about an
arrangement with a lack of concern of the design. The shortcomings of the
design included structural problems, disconnected design and problems for the
visitors to find their directions. As a visitor myself I experienced the festival
area as chaotic and badly physically planned.
I settled that site design includes the location of the festival area in the city,
the design of the structure and of its temporary elements. The work with site
design can be divided into three phases. Phase 1 contains of finding the city’s
existing values. The values can be used as a resource in the forming of the
festival area. Phase 2 includes the location of the festival area in the city and
the determination of the festival’s structure. Phase 3 contains the design of
the individual rooms of the festival and the design of the festival’s temporary
elements.
To show the organizers how to work with site design and its three phases I
have worked out a method: Step-by-step. The method describes the organizer’s
practical work with site design and consists of five steps. Advice for the
organizers practical work with every step was put in a checklist. The working
process has also been visualized through an application of the method on Piteå
Dansar Och Ler. The application has been made according to the advice in the
checklist.
When forming my method I used the city’s existing resources. My suggested
design was of simple construction. I noticed that the method of site design
could save money and time for the organizers. The method also helps profiling
the festival and gives the organizers an opportunity to send a positive message
to the visitors. With the help of the Step-by-step method the organizasiers can
improve their work with site design.