Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Today, many people have the need of contemplation due to higher stress levels in every day life compared to before. By examining the conditions of a secularized place of contemplation in greenbelts close to residential areas, I hope to contribute to a more balanced picture of how we utilize our greenbelts in the future. This kind of place is not a common phenomenon in our everyday outdoor environment.

I have taken my starting-point in the traditional memorial and by that means been able to study the design of an existing delicate environment intended for mourning and contemplation. In this paper I review foremost the secularized place of contemplation in greenbelts close to residential areas from two central questions. First I examine its possibility to function as a place for mourning and contemplation. Further more I have tried to bring forth the essential elements and materials that are of importance in its design. Based on the result, a design proposal has been produced in aim to examine what a secularized place of contemplation can look like. I base my work on the conviction that there is a need of easily accessible, secularized places of contemplation in greenbelts.

To achieve a realistic design as possible, I have worked with an existing area in the Stockholm suburbs, Rågsved. It has worked as an experimental area and it is here that I, through interviews have been able to produce my analysis and develop a design that is principally based on the result from my analysis.

This work gives an introduction of the suburb and experimental area that is studied. I also describe my motive behind choosing this area in particular. Further theories, regarding design for contemplation, but also of the human need of contemplation, is studied. With support from theoretical studies, the function that nature has in a contemplationary context, is illustrated.

Furthermore, the interview material is analyzed based on those central questions I used during the interviews. A summary over important factors in connection with contemplationary design of a secularized place is also completed. At the end of the essay I present my design of a secularized place of contemplation. In the last chapter I describe my conclusions from this work and thoughts around these.

This work builds on literature studies and interviews with users but also to a certain extent on study travels with an inspirational aim. With support from these I have then developed a design.

The result shows on a positive attitude from the interviewed to the building of secularized places of contemplation in greenbelts close to residential areas. Likewise, a lot of the literature I have studied highlights the positive effects on people's physical and mental health that both sojourning in greenbelts and conducting of contemplation has. The result shows on a surprisingly open attitude to the possibility of using this type of contemplationary places for mourning and contemplation. The feeling of spirituality that the nature can give many people is experienced as important in this context. It has also appeared that the abstract and diffuse qualities that the nature create conditions for, is hugely valuable.

From this work, I take with me an even greater respect for nature's importance to people. We are naturally linked to it and this fact facilitates for the practice of contemplation. This work has strengthened my faith on the importance of making room for secularized places of contemplation in our greenbelts. I have learned to respect the great in a simple, but well founded design, and believe I have a better understanding for how people relate to their surroundings.