Stockholm, Sweden

The wasteland is situated between Hammarby Allé and Sjöfartsgatan in the Hammarby Sjöstad (roughly translated: Hammarby Sea City or Hammarby Lake City) district of Stockholm.  Hammarby Sjöstad is currently undergoing major urban development and this wasteland has very recently been created.   The majority of the wasteland is flat land consisting of rubble and debris leftover from the demolition of the buildings that once stood here. In the centre of this area is an overgrown green area.  Secluded within the overgrown trees and bushes of this area is a grass lawn, a stone paved circle, two benches, a bin, Rose and Rose Hip bushes. Viewing maps of the location (and Google maps which has not been recently updated) it is clear that the intended function of this space was a green/courtyard for workers in the surrounding buildings. The area was situated in the middle of the factory-building car park and was probably used as a relaxation area/smoking area.

The intact green area, oasis like and geometrically framed, poses a question; why is this place still here amongst the demolished surroundings?

We have been informed that the original intention for the development of the Hammarby Sjöstad district that started in early 1999 was to provide residential apartments for 55+. However it became apparent that younger people and families where attracted to the area. This has resulted in a demand for particular children facilities that are not currently available to the extent that is needed in the community; such as parks, schools and day care centres. On one of the surrounding fences we found poster with text reading "Förskola?" (Translated; Kindergarten?) On the website framtidensforskola.nu/2011/sjofartsgatan/ it states a campaign message;

'Sjöfartsgatan- In new construction, it is extremely important that politicians do not make the same mistake as when the first parts of the lakeside town was planned. You have to make demands on developers to pre-school premises should be found in the houses.'

It is expected that the land will soon be developed, perhaps before the start of winter or early next year.

Land nick names, Neologisms and slang terms

Hammarbyterrassen, Sjöfartsgatan

Location

Address

Hammarbyterrassen, Stockholm, Sweden

Land Topography

Size of the Land in sqm (approx.)

13,000

Surfaces

• Trees
• Heaps of soil and rubble
• industrial materials.
• Gravel
• bricks
• plants
• rubbish
• two benches
• stone paving
• parking number signs

Features

• Flat
• wide open space
• geometric
• an overgrown green area in the centre of the space
• red brick rubble
• A poster attached to the fence saying "Förskola?" (Kindergarten?)

Land status and definition

Basic

• Post-Industrial

Legal Status

• In Private Ownership

Current Land Owner

Unknown at present

Known intended future use by the land owner(s)

The block the wasteland is located on will be developed for offices, trade and residential housing (mostly freehold not rental) with related facilities like preschool.  It is expected that the land will soon be developed, perhaps before the start of winter or early next year.

It seems the green will not exist in the future development.

Official Development Plan 2008 (PDF Download, 1.8MB)

Historical (basic)

'In the early 1990s Stockholm's City Planning Administration became aware that the population of the city was growing and predicted that this trend would continue into the new century. The 1999 'city plan' identified several areas across the city for development, the majority of which were ex-industrial sites. These developments were planned to be extensions of the city rather than new suburbs in order to meet the growing demand for urban living.

Setting targets for Hammarby Sjöstad

The design and development of Hammarby Sjöstad was overseen by two of the city authority departments, the City Development Administration and the City Planning Administration. They worked with a number of architecture firms and 40 building contractors to deliver the masterplan.

At the project's inception the land in Hammarby Sjöstad was privately owned. The area had fallen into disuse and had attracted a number of industrial squatters. The unregulated nature of this industrial activity had contributed further to the pollution of the site, which had reached such a critical point that the local eco-system was at risk of collapse.'

www.futurecommunities.net/case-studies/hammarby-sjostad-stockholm-sweden-1995-2015

 

Weblinks

http://www.hammarbysjostad.se/
http://www.stockholm.se/
http://www.futurecommunities.net/case-studies/hammarby-sjostad-stockholm-sweden-1995-2015

Land Access

Accessibility

• Accessible with effort

The Site surrounded by wire fencing but has an opening for vehicle access.

Borders

The site the fenced on three sides delimited by the pavement of the street, the site visually is exposed to the passing public.

Land Users

Land is occupied by

• wildlife
• construction workers

Activities

The site looks relatively unvisited apart from a few beer bottles, food packaging and several a footballs, although these could have been thrown over the fencing into the site.