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A Plan for Urban Dignity
Urban Design
RISD M.ARCH Core 03 Studio: Cities
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Group Project with Isabel Marvel & Katie Badenhausen
7 Week Time Frame
Hökarängen, Stockholm, Sweden
Hökarängen is recognized throughout Stockholm as being a safe and tranquil neighborhood located within the suburb of Farsta. However, recently residents have called attention to growing feelings of uneasiness walking alone in the dark and fears around increased basement flooding in the area linked to escalating storms influenced by climate change. To confront these concerns indicated in the RFP, this urban design project addresses change in perceived social and environmental safety in Hökarängen. The neighborhood’s entire sidewalk and bike path system is now redesigned and unified, giving it its own spatial zone independent of the street. The design of the pathway is dependent on the rain gardens and bioswales integrated throughout which divert water pooling away from low lying apartments. Addressing flooding issues through landscaping is a minimally invasive solution that will prevent considerable changes to the residents’ current ways of living. The existing apartment buildings on the site underwent renovations, with changes being made to both the interior and exterior of the buildings. The addition of shared balconies and communal entrances into the apartment buildings helps blur the boundary of an enclosed apartment unit and increases building and neighborhood interactions. The renovation of the apartment units sought to create a fluid layout providing the opportunity to increase the number of bedrooms in 25% of the units, allowing for the accommodation of a wider variety of family structures. Integrated into the path are two public luxuries that provide new leisure activities to Hökarängen residents of all ages. A new playground situated adjacent to an existing elementary school acts as an active hub for children and parents to socialize outside school hours. Lastly, an elevated path weaving into the forest serves as a quiet trail of serenity and relaxation.
