Critique of Kvarteret Backklövern detailed development plan in Solna
While the plan introduces positive elements, such as city plinths and a bike mobility center, crucial aspects demand careful review and reconsideration.
On the 11th of January 2024, a public hearing was held to discuss the recently unveiled Kvarteret Backklövern detailed development plan in Solna. The design choices presented in the plan sparked lively conversations among attendees. They shared their opinions and concerns about its proposed features. The hearing served as a platform to gather feedback from the public and ensure that their voices are heard in the planning process.
Segregation by Design
One glaring issue with the plan is the clear segregation by design, with villas confined to one side and larger buildings to another. This design decision could worsen Sweden's existing problem with segregation.
In Sweden, urban design often poses a challenge when individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds are situated in the same neighborhood or neighborhood nearby. While this is a positive step towards inclusivity, there is still a frequent issue of income-based segregation. The wealthiest individuals tend to live in separate areas of the same neighborhood leading to a divide in the community. This can lead to a lack of diversity and limited opportunities for less financially well-off, resulting in isolated villa areas and social and economic disparities within a community. To address this issue, it is crucial to encourage diversity in building typology (1) within the same neighborhood. By including a variety of housing styles, such as apartments, townhouses, and detached homes, we can create more inclusive integrated neighborhoods. This means people from all different backgrounds can live together, supporting each other and thriving as a community. (2)
In Sundbyberg municipality, the yellow villa area is one of the wealthiest areas in Stockholm. It is just a 5-minute walk away from the concrete dystopia in gray, separated by a park.
Talking about the Backklövern quarter again, it doesn't make sense to expose villas and gardens to the football field.
A great example of mixed-type buildings is the Hartree plan by Kjellander Sjöberg Architects. This plan seamlessly blends different typologies. It creates a vibrant, cohesive community that values diversity and inclusivity and combines different housing styles.
Hartree visualization by Kjellander Sjöberg (3)
Pedestrian and Cyclist Accessibility
When designing the main promenade in urban areas, it is important to prioritize sustainable modes of transportation, such as walking and cycling, instead of focusing on cars. Cars don’t need to be on every street. Especially not on the one considered the main street in the future quarter. This way, pedestrians and cyclists will have a safer and healthier environment. Barcelona's superblocks have shown that redesigning the main promenade as a car-free zone can promote a more sustainable lifestyle. Solna could follow this example and create a similar car-free zone to prioritize the needs of pedestrians and cyclists.
What are Barcelona's superblocks?
Barcelona's superblocks are an innovative urban planning approach to transform city neighborhoods. These superblocks comprise a grid of nine city blocks where cars are restricted to the perimeter. This creates pedestrian-friendly spaces at the core. The design prioritizes walking, cycling, and community activities. It reduces noise and pollution while fostering a more sustainable and livable urban environment. Barcelona's superblocks focus on well-being and create people-centric spaces. (4)
Image credit: Nature Sustainability / Sven Eggimann
Purposeful Nature Planning
Including a forest in the detailed development plan is a positive step, but questions arise regarding its purpose and functionality. City forests should be more than green spaces and have specific meeting points. It is essential to clearly outline the planned activities and features of the forest to ensure that it becomes an engaging and meaningful space for residents. In case of this plan, the forest creates the problematic situation of segregation mentioned earlier. I recommend reading my previous article, Green Patch - Bällsta bro, to get more informed about green spaces serving a purpose.
Entertainment and Cultural Facilities
Recognizing the importance of city plinths, adding bigger entertainment or cultural facilities to the detailed development plan would make the community more lively. This gives residents more recreational options. Balancing practicality and cultural enrichment is crucial for a thriving city.
What are city plinths?
This was a topic I became familiar with when I was analyzing different facades in Stockholm for my master’s thesis. City plinths refer to the ground-level spaces of buildings, typically commercial or mixed-use. They directly engage with the urban environment. These places often have shops, cafes, and services at street level, making the city more lively and attractive to pedestrians. Well-designed city plinths add to a dynamic street view, creating a welcoming and engaging urban atmosphere. If someone is interested in this topic, an eye-opening book I can recommend is The City At Eye Level by Stipo! (5)
Reconsideration of the Main Building
The prominence of a garage as the main building in the detailed development plan raises eyebrows. While including a mobility center for bikes is a positive aspect, the design of the garage building could be more human-scale.
The proposed parking garage in Solna
Architectural visualizations are essential tools in the design and planning stages of a project. They help communicate ideas, gather feedback, and make informed decisions before construction begins. However, sometimes the finished building differs from its visual representation. The images may exaggerate positive aspects of the design, such as shimmering sunlight and lush greenery, which may not always be present in reality. The visualizations may not reflect the actual conditions of the site. For instance, in Sweden, most days are grey and cold without much vegetation, and people tend to avoid spending time outside.
Therefore, it would be better to make renderings of buildings in realistic settings, rather than idealized conditions. For example, renderings could be made on a typical Swedish day rather than on a rare sunny day. This would ensure that the visualizations accurately represent the actual conditions of the site and make the design more relatable and practical.
To underscore the notion that appearances can be deceiving, I found pictures showcasing the contrasting elements between the promised ideal and the actual reality of architectural projects of similar buildings in Sweden.
Parking garage in Piteå, Sweden (6)
Sven-Harry's Art Museum In Vasaparken, Stockholm (6)
Selma Lagerlöfs Center In Gothenburg, Sweden (6)
General Aestetics
After sharing details about this project on my blog and Instagram, I received strong feedback from readers. The majority expressed disappointment in the aesthetics of the buildings, emphasizing a desire for more traditional architectural styles.
Inviting a few traditional architects to the project might introduce a more balanced aesthetic, enhancing the visual appeal.
Environmental Considerations
Despite the negative comments my readers and I point out, this plan is not as bad as it seems. It is essential to identify the flaws and correct them before proceeding further. However, this does not mean that the plan has no positive aspects.
The plan takes into account the importance of preserving nature reserves, green spaces, and the needs of flora and fauna.
The plan for the new park in the quarter
Reduced Parking Needs
The plan wants fewer parking spaces by putting bike parking and car garages in a central place. It also encourages using other ways to travel. This includes public transport and places to charge e-bikes, following modern and sustainable ideas.
Public Space Considerations
The plan outlines the allocation of public space for parking and includes the option to rent out space to car share providers. This approach promotes innovation in mobility solutions. We must recognize that private vehicles are not a sustainable solution for future mobility. However, it is important to note that car-sharing is a much more efficient alternative. Since the car is on the move most of the time, it does not need to be parked for most of the day. (7)
Including different types of bikes
Cargo bikes now account for 10% of bike parking, reducing car usage when carrying heavy items.
Concept of parking in the quarter
Conclusion
The detailed development plan for Kvarteret Backklövern in Solna has good parts, but some design choices should be rethought. It's important to mix things well, make it easy for people to walk and bike, plan good parks, add cultural places, improve key structures, and plan bike lanes for a balanced and sustainable city. Working with residents and architects is key to making a detailed development plan that makes Solna a better place to live.
I have taken the first step and shared my feedback with the Solna municipality. I look forward to seeing how this can help make a positive impact in our community.
Sources
Understanding Building Typology - archisoup: Architecture Guides & Resources (2023) archisoup. Available at: https://www.archisoup.com/understanding-building-typology (Accessed: 24 January 2024).
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237518185_Housing_for_Low-income_Groups_in_Ho_Chi_Minh_City_between_ReIntegration_and_Fragmentation_Approaches_to_Adequate_Urban_Typologies_and_Spatial_Strategies (Accessed: 24 January 2024).
Hartree (2023) Kjellander Sjöberg Arkitektkontor.
Available at: https://kjellandersjoberg.se/projekt/projekt/hartree/ (Accessed: 21 January 2024).
Castrezzati, M. (2023) Barcelona’s Superblocks: Putting People at the Centre, CityChangers.org – Home Base for Urban Shapers.
Available at: https://citychangers.org/barcelona-superblocks/ (Accessed: 20 January 2024).
(2021) The City at Eye Level.
Available at: https://thecityateyelevel.com/stories/the-city-at-eye-level/ (Accessed: 20 January 2024).
Bliabaitė, E. (2023) 50 Examples Of Architecture Expectations vs. Disappointing Reality, Bored Panda. Bored Panda.
Available at: https://www.boredpanda.com/home-design/architecture/disappointing-architecture-expectations-vs-reality/ (Accessed: 23 January 2024).
https://www.transportenvironment.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Does-sharing-cars-really-reduce-car-use-June%202017.pdf (Accessed: 21 January 2024).
Information from Solna municipality
Plandescription
https://www.solna.se/download/18.7829a82a18bf5ffb15d55f/1700650004396/Planbeskrivning.pdf
Power-Point presentation
https://www.solna.se/download/18.1ee03cb218c3dd263145722/1702019364871/Presentation%20fr%C3%A5n%20digital%20samr%C3%A5dsm%C3%B6te.pdf
Decision protocol
https://www.solna.se/download/18.7829a82a18bf5ffb15d561/1700650125397/Beslutsprotokoll.pdf
Process timeline
https://www.solna.se/jarvastaden
Wow. Those comparisons between architectural mockups and real-world photos are harsh! Maybe not entirely fair, as perhaps a real estate photographer could visit them in ideal lighting conditions and make them look a bit better, but I guess in daily life, for most people, most of the time… Yeah they're going to look like those dreadful piles of bleh! ☹️