Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Rapid urbanization drives the transformation of industrial sites worldwide. On one hand these sites carry valuable heritage that faces the risk of being erased in redevelopment. On the other, they are offering opportunities to create ecological meaningful green spaces that strengthen biodiversity and resilience and connect people to nature.
This thesis investigates how heritage-based design and naturalistic vegetation design can be combined in such contexts, using Nyhamnen, a former harbor area in Malmö (Sweden), as a case study.
Through a twofold literature study, key design goals and strategies were identified for both heritage integration to strengthen place identity, and naturalistic vegetation design as a way of creating ecological resilience, increasing biodiversity, and improving human mental well-being. The strategies and findings from the literature studies and analyses were then applied in a design-proposal for a part of the urban landscape of Nyhamnen.
The resulting design demonstrates that the two strategies are not only compatible but can also elevate one another. Industrial heritage elements provide spatial structure and cultural legibility, while naturalistic vegetation softens and activates these structures ecologically. The findings suggest that post-industrial sites are particularly well-suited to this combined approach, offering both a strong connection to the industrial identity, and the local landscape while providing a chance to integrate nature in urban settings. All this results in a design proposal for the urban landscape of Nyhamnen that aims to create a meaningful and connective place for its users.