Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

When we, in the turn of the year 07/08 moved to Holma, Malmö,
I and my cohabiter immediately joined the self-management
on our tenement yard, partly because we both missed having
a garden since we moved to an apartment, partly because
of the rent reduction. The aim with this thesis is to examine
how the common outdoor environment in tenement yards is
affected when the tenets themselves are responsible for the
maintenance. But also to see what social affects self-management
brings. The purpose is to increase the understanding of how
self-management works in practice and how we as landscape
architects need to adjust ourselves and our design to create a
lasting design that works when the tenets are in charge of their
own outdoor environment.
I have been studying a number of tenement yards with selfmanagement,
both municipal and private tenement houses. I have
studied both their design and their self-management, how it is
working and how it is organized partly trough deep interviews
and also by questionnaires to the tenets of the yards in question.
I found three tenement yards with some differences. Fosiedal is
a yard with terrace houses, with the oldest self-management and
it’s existed since 1985. Many families with children live here who
use the yard for both playing and recreation. The yard is well
adapted for everyone with multiple playgrounds, a soccer field, a
basketball field and lots of benches. The design and maintenance
of the yard is to most tenets satisfaction.
Nydala is a million program area from the 1960s. They have had
self-management since 1977 with the same coordinator. Quite a
few single adults live here and many do not use the yard at all. But
the once that do they do so to see ones neighbour, to relax or to
work in the garden.
Ystadsgatan 13 is a bit different as the tenement yard lies
completely private inside the house, behind a locked gate, a
stone’s throw from Möllevångstorget. There are 14 apartments
and the self-management is completely voluntary and does not
give any rent reduction, rather the other way round. The yard
which is completely covered with asphalt is since 2002 a green
paradise thanks to interested tenets.
The result from the poll and from the deep interviews where the
importance of a good and consistent coordinator who is engaged
in the yard and its tenets, who successfully plan and organizes
the work together with the tenets. The number one reason to
get involved in the self-management is to socialize with the
neighbours, other reasons is that it is a pleasant occupation or so
that the yard would be properly maintained. Some of the tenets
also think that it is very important to be able to influence the
design of the yard.
Landscape architects needs to see the benefits and possibilities
with self-management and how to proceed to get the best result
when designing a tenement yard with self-management. To
create a green durable frame that allows changes in perennials
and annuals and tempt and encourage to creativity is preferable.
Areas that can easily be altered to fit the number of tenets
engaged are also preferable as it can vary substantially.