Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Discussions about the sustainable city are now all over the world and many believe that the solutions are merely technical. But what gives the city its character is what is happening in the public places. It is these spaces that bring the people together. Design is the key to sustainable urban spaces. We must produce public places that reflect our society. If not, we have not created sustainability.

This essay will highlight a shortcoming of the Swedish landscape architecture, which is not addressed in the public debate on Swedish landscape architecture. Swedish landscape architects rarely passes the limit of what can be considered common or normal. This mainly shows in the non-use of powerful colours and noticeable patterns. Each human being is different from one and other, our public spaces should reflect such differences and be more diverse.

This paper primarily consists of literary studies and case studies as well as a conversation and a lecture. The literature studies have included studies of websites, magazines, literature on the modern landscape and architectural theory.

Swedish landscape is described as uncomplicated, functional and uses a large extent of domestic materials. Extremes can be considered taboo in Sweden and Swedish landscape architectures rarely dare to stretch boundaries. There are many reasons for this. In Sweden there are almost no debate on Swedish landscape architecture, the field lacks a forum for such debate. The Swedish people have long been influenced by the image of themselves as a people with a uniform taste, “the Swedish taste”, which is simplicity and functionality. Sweden is young as an urban country and urbanity is a prerequisite for innovation and creativity.

There are many different landscape architectural expressions you can work with and develop to get a more innovative approach. Colour and pattern are the landscape architectural expression that this thesis mainly deals with and to illustrate this, four different projects have been studied and described. These projects are pushing back the limits of what can be considered as normal in the use of bright colours or noticeable pattern as the basis of the design.

One conclusion to be drawn from the paper is that the Swedish landscape architectural field rather relates to the Swedish landscape architectural tradition than to the complex context in which we live and operate in. However, there are opportunities for development.