Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The purpose of this master dissertation is to show an example of how to renovate three different parks in an area of national interest in Höganäs, Sweden aiming to deal with their heritage value as well as making them attractive to today’s user. The question formulation can be described as following: How can i as a landscape architect renovate parks with different characters conserving their existing qualities. By studying and documenting the park´s history and current usage and using methods of evaluating a park’s heritage value ( Kulturhistorisk värdering av bebyggelse, Unnerbäck 2002) i could conclude which qualities to conserve and suggest and motivate what features to add or renovate. The remains/features with high heritage value formed my basis for design. Additions such as new sitting possibilities, lightning and accessible walking paths makes the park attractive to today’s visitors. I wanted to let as many historical layers as can be to remain side by side in the park making it possible for future generation to reevaluate the establishment according to their view upon conservation. In my opinion this is typical way of handling heritage value of parks/buildings today. The three parks of Höganäs have different importance to the national interest. The “Tivolipark” is a typical city park, the “Kaptnenens trädgård” is an old private garden and the “Ruuthspark” is manly a green leftover from former building establishments. The two first parks are included in the national interest as parts of old Höganäs pattern of settlement. The third park has no connection to the national interest as a part of a pattern. Features such as the statue of Ruuth, and a chestnut alley constitutes the heritage value. The parks of Höganäs are situated in an area of national interest but only in premier parks containing high heritage value it can be motivated to make a costly archeological investigation to complete the documentation of a park. A landscape architects role can be to decide the level of ambition to be used in a renovation project of an existing park to achieve a proper focus on future design and usage.