Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

In 1998, 'the Naval Port of Karlskrona' was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and thus, it is equally protected as China’s Great Wall and the Pyramids of Egypt.
The essay is a case study of Karlskrona, one of Sweden's most well planned cities, where famous urban planners and architects such as Erik Dahlberg and Nicodemus Tessin the Elder has been involved.
Today, Karlskrona is a rather unknown small town in Sweden's outskirts, where population growth has been a problem. When Karlskrona was founded, in the late 17th century, Sweden was a major power. The Blekinge archipelago was in the middle of the Baltic dominion and Karlskrona represented a midpoint in the kingdom. Therefore, Karlskrona has a small town charm with the history and style of a cosmopolitan city.
By initially studying how the town’s character of today is expressed, the history of Karlskrona is explored. Through literature studies and interviews, I try to understand how the original idea behind the city's function and vision of urban life is connected to the Karlskrona of our time.
In this essay, I intend to bring a sense of the importance of town identity in urban planning. Karlskrona is being developed from a closed naval town, with a strong influence of the military, to an open tourist and summer resort. Until the mid-1990's, all foreigners was prohibited from visiting the archipelago, which belonged to the military area. As a World Heritage Site, Karlskrona has received considerable publicity and an increased tourism. In order to benefit this industry, reduced military activities has been essential.