Gothenburg Central Station Area Study

WHAT IF THE IDENTITY OF THE CENTRAL STATION AREA COULD BE TRANSFORMED FROM SMOG AND HUSTLE INTO BUTTERFLIES AND PLAY?

CONTENT/DENSITY/SCALE TEAM SLA_HLA_SOCIAL ACTION

A B S T R AC T GO T HENB URG C EN T R A L S TAT ION FROM ANT TO HUMAN BEING The central station area today is already a hot spot of Gothenburg. It is one of the most popular places in Gothenburg, here people move, use transit and meet, as well as it has the highest diversity of people in origin, age and interests. For a large number of visitors, citizens, strollers, shoppers, commuters and people in general, it is the face of Gothenburg. The prognosis in the future states that the number of users in the area will more than doubled, In other words, there exists an opportunity for this area to become the most vital, living and welcoming part of the city. Therefore, regarding content, density and scale, our approach is a handson strategy for implementing a different type of city than seen before in Gothenburg.

Challenges; ‘I feel like an ant when I’m in the area’ At our first workshop and site visit the 9th of April, Anna Karin Sintorn (Landskapsarkitekt Park- och naturförvaltningen), said ‘I feel like an ant when I’m in the area.’

When she is in the Central Station area, Anna Karin should not feel like an ant, but rather as a human being. Instead, she and other users should have much more positive, sensous everyday experiences and a manifold set of opportunities.

Getting more than improved infrastructure The task at hand in the Central Station area includes a set of national and regional interests, regarding infrastructure in particular. An image for making a city development program for the Central Station area of Gothenburg is like getting the task to solve a crime locally, while knowing that the suspect is based somewhere else, maybe even far away. We are only to deal with the ‘top of the iceberg’, which defines our approach on starting with local projects daring to challenge the traffic flow that is present and predominant today.

A BRIGHT GREEN VERSION OF GOTHENBURG, STARTING WITH THE CENTRAL STATION AREA Our theme is to respond to content, density and scale in the Central station area.

The brief is to create a new, denser business center by adding 250,000 m2, distributed into 200.000 m2 offices with 8000 workplaces and 50.000 m2 housing with 1200 residents.

We have thus created a proposal for the area considering content, density and scale, which include commuters and travelers, business people and retailers, as well as diverse citizen groups to benefit and enjoy everyday life year-round in the area, where they can shop, dwell and pass through.

In short, the potential for a new identity in the area relies on content, density and scale that can accommodate a micro-climate that creates the best conditions for transit, dwelling and strolling, as well as for the future 8000 business people and the 1200 residents.

The strategy for developing the area is to build on what you know (Tobias: about what?) and challenge the use of the area today. This includes making small interventions, aligned with a master plan, that ensures that the national investments on infrastructure become added value for the everyday user of Gothenburg and secures a bright green version of Gothenburg.

A precedent to dealing with car traffic issues is the development that has happened in NYC. For one month the City Council closed Times Square for cars and as a result learned that traffic is an intelligent system that is adaptable to what traffic experts was said to be impossible. Today Times Square is a car free square on a permanent basis and the City Council is approaching other areas of what is referred to as will-planning instead of prognosis planning.

OUR VISION We recommend to: • Make infrastructure strategy easy and applicable • Create attractive workplaces for 8000 people • Improve the microclimate in the urban spaces • Start tomorrow with small actions, align them with a future masterplan for adding 250.000 m2 • Phase out infrastructure and make Gothenburg green, accessible and valuable Furthermore, we want to build on the strategy from Rivercity in an aim to make the Central Station area inclusive, green and dynamic:

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Inclusive; there is a paradox in that the central station is where the most people pass, transit move everyday and still the suface of the area is dominated by car infrastructure. The area does not benefit from being the natural social hot spot in Gothenburg. Our intention is to transform the area into an inclusive space for all user and to create a new face of Gothenburg that respects Gothenburg’s industrial city of yesterday while welcoming you to Gothenburg’s sustainable living city of tomorrow.

Green; there is a huge lack of green space in the Central Station area, but there exists a huge potential to add more green. This echoes our approach to start small with temporary activities and pilot projects in the area, in which green is an active part of the leverage to improve the equity and economic benefits in the area. The green can encourage smaller developments of dwellings and on top of these, offices will create spaces that start a new bright green version of Gothenburg where small green areas are your neighbor and invite you to be a part of a livable city all year around.

Dynamic; we propose to make a dynamic plan for temporary projects that aims to influence and shape a new identity for the area’s public realm. By aligning the larger investments and developments with smaller and temporary projects, we urge the city to dare to take risks by, for example, blocking the car traffic for Nils Ericssons Gatan and see what happens.

TURNING GREY TO GREEN INTO GOLD Taking a huge step forward in time, we have made a master plan layout with the 250.000 m2 added in the Central Station area. In an effort to make a more sustainable livable city center, we have some suggestions that we find crucial.

First we suggest that starting tomorrow the city council will replace every street with green recreational space that enhances everyday life in the area. This could be a code of conduct for the future development, as well as a potential for bringing Gothenburg a new identity.

The public transport network with transits should be strengthened and made visible in the public space.

Starting this morning the Gota Alv bridge can already be included as a recreational project, with e.g. sport activities as well as an openair cinema. The idea is that in the future the existing bridge will be transformed into a recreational element of urban space using tracks from the old structure.

Götatunneln should be covered in phases and included as a recreational area for the whole city of Gothenburg. This creates a green attraction and destination for the citizens and becomes a direct main link between Central Station and the River.

GOTHENBURG CENTRAL STATION A GREEN HUB For sustainable development of the Central Station are, there should be synergy in design between outdoor and indoor spaces.

Added green is not only an add-on. The design between indoor and outdoor can assist in the performance of environmental issues if indoor and outdoor are integrated in the early phases. Potentials such as managing storm water, cleaning polluted air or creating shade, while still adding recreational values to create a livable city for people.

We suggest that the city development programme for the Central Station area starts with a set of operative guidelines, that ensures benefits environmentally, socially and financially.

The development of Central Station area should be socially, environmentally and economically sustainable. Sustainability is a result of the synergy designed between buildings and urban spaces.

Environmental issues include rainwater handled locally, natural ventilation of urban spaces, trees as sunshade in summer in front of glazed facades and increased biodiversity in flora and fauna.

Social urban spaces will support meetings and active lifestyle, and public transport will be an easy choice in people’s daily journeys.

Financially, we believe that ‘turning grey to green into gold’ is a core concept, which has already proven to be an economic leverage in many other cities throughout Europe. Urban spaces will make green an amenity that is a recurring element which will thereby create an added value per square meter. All homes and offices will have unique green spaces close to the sea and close to the qualitative urban spaces.

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GUIDELINES ARE DECIDED AND CONSOLIDATED IN A QUALITY PROGRAMME We recommend that the city decides on a set of guidelines and recommendations for the furture developing of the Central Station area of Gothenburg, to ensure that each ad hoc initiative will add up towards a brigth green city center of Gotenhenburg. These recommendations and guidelines could be concluded in a quality programme. A quality programme could be the backbone for the further development of the Central Station area. Sustainable development is difficult to achieve afterwards renovating and densifying and area, as a kind of add-on, but there exists a huge potential if you include it as vital operative parameter in the development of the Central Station area from the start.

FROM SMOG TO BUTTERFLIES‌ As an ambitious goal, we propose that for every street we remove, we add green value back to the city!

If we ask planners of Gothenburg to add a roof of green space on expensive highways, what will the answer be? The answers from the citizens, we think, will be a YES! Can we transform the identity of Gothenburg from smog into butterflies?

200 years ago when the city of Gothenburg was growing and the rampart lost its function, the city decided to turn the space into a green park instead of building on it, for they knew that keeping the rampart as a recreational space would pay back manifold, both socially and economically.

Can we learn from the past and do it again? We believe that the answer is YES! But learning from the past is not the same as repeating the past. Today we have a new set of sustainable values and climate parameters to take into account. We have higher expectations as to the energy consumption, the user comfort and the aesthetics of our built environment.

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INDE X

1. ABSTRACT

7. CONTENT AND IDENTITY - Density typoligies

2. APPROACH 3. CHALLENGES

- Trafic barriers and a new business area - Question to be answered

4. USERS 5. VISION

8. TIMELINE

- 2013 - 2050

- Tomorrow 2013 - Events - Tomorrow 2013 - 2021

9. A NEW STRATEGY FOR GOTHENBURG - Questions to be answered

- The old and the new Green Gothenburg - From smog into butterflies...

6. DENSITY AND SCALE

- Central Station Area today 2013

- From highway to park - A new business area - Microclimate - A new green transport HUB

- Masterplan 2050

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A P P ROACH

Con ten t , D ensi t y and S cale

A Ne w Str a te g y f or Go thenbur g ..s tar ting w i th the C en tr al Sta tion ar ea

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CH A L L ENGE S Tr a f f ic bar r ier s and a ne w business ar ea

Br idge, r amps & v iaduc t

Gรถ ta tunneln and E45

2 50.0 0 0 m2 ne w cit y

Ramps and ele v a ted r ail w a y s w ill hinder sigh t and mo v emen t

T he high w a y blo ck s the conne c tion to the r i v er

8 0/ 20 O f f ices/D w elling s 20 0.0 0 0 m 2 O f f ices (8 0 0 0 pe ople) 5 0.0 0 0 m2 D w elling s ( 10 0 0 pe ople)

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CH A L L ENGE S Ques tion to be ans w er ed

W H AT A DDED VA L UE W IL L T HE CI T IZENS OF GO T HENB URG GE T W HEN 30 BIL L IONS SEK A R E IN V ES T ED IN NE W INFR A S T RUC T UR E ?

Ho w can w e make Go thenbur g a mor e li v able cit y ?

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USER S + T HEIR NEEDS

T HE P O T EN T I A L GUE S T S

Wan t s t o v isi t an d s t a y in t h e

T HE COMMU T ER

C han g e s t r ansp o r t a t i o n

T HE NON-MO T OR IS T USER

P ass e s t hr o u g h t h e ar e a o n f o o t

T HE W OR K ER /INH A BI TA N T

Wo r k s o r li v e s in t h e ar e a .

o r b y b ike.

sp a c e.

“I need a saf e and

“I need a f as t e f f icient

” I need saf e accessibi-

“I w ant access to my

comf or table env ir on-

commute and an ap-

lit y to d w ell and pass

w or k place, comf or ta-

ment to s tay, play and

peal to make the time

thr ough the ar ea”

ble sur r oundings, f un

shop in”

w aiting mor e f un”

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V ISION

• M A K E INFR A S T RUC T UR E S T R AT EG Y E A S Y A ND A P P L IC A BL E • CR E AT E AT T R AC T I V E W OR K P L ACES F OR 8000 P EOP L E • IMP RO V E T HE MICROCL IM AT E IN T HE UR B A N SPACE S • S TA R T T OMOR RO W W I T H SM A L L AC T IONS, A L IGN T HEM W I T H A F U T UR E M A S T ER P L A N F OR A DDING 250.000 M2 • P H A SE OU T INFR A S T RUC T UR E A ND M A K E T HE CEN T R A L S TAT ION A R E A GR EEN, INCL USI V E A ND DY N A MIC

F OR E V ERY 1M 2 P H A SED OU T INF R A S T RUC T UR E A DD 1M 2 OF GR EEN

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DENSI T Y A ND S C A L E 20 13 Cen tr al Sta tion A r ea today - heav y inf r as tr uc tur e and lit tle gr een

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DENSI T Y A ND S C A L E 2050 Fr om highw a y to par k - E45 is co v er ed, par tl y, b y br idges or lar ger sur f aces

F ir s t s tep - T he Ci t y Oasis Fu tur e e x tension o f the par k w hen the E 45 is co v er ed T he tr ace o f the old br idge f or ms a pedes tr ian r ou te to the r i v er

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DENSI T Y A ND S C A L E 2050 Simplif y ing inf r as tr uc tur e - all v ehicular tr af f ic is colle c ted in a f e w s tr a te gic v eins

Tr am and busses C ar s TEAM SLA_HLA_SOCIAL ACTION PAGE 14

DENSI T Y A ND S C A L E 2050 Gr een added to the Cen tr al s ta tion ar ea - healing the cit y

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DENSI T Y A ND S C A L E 2050 A ne w business ar ea - Ma x imum v olumes

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DENSI T Y A ND S C A L E 2050 Micr o clima te simula tions qualif ies use and pr o gr amme o f buildings and ur ban spaces E x is ting condi tions

June 2 1. 12:0 0

North

Wind direction (112 DEG Inc)

205 0 condi tions

June 2 1. 16:0 0

a

North

d

b

Wind direction (112 DEG Inc)

c

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DENSI T Y A ND S C A L E 2050 Building s ar e adap ted to w ind, sun and con te x t - 2 5 0.0 0 0 m2 ne w cit y

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DENSI T Y A ND S C A L E 2050 T her e is al w a y s a par k out side y our door or w indo w - small par k s 19,000 m2, office rooftops

new green areas

3,500 m2, residential rooftops

existing green areas

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DENSI T Y A ND S C A L E 2050 A ne w gr een tr anspor t HUB, op timizing the s ta tion

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DENSI T Y A ND S C A L E 2050 Sug ges ted building v olumes adap ted to lo cal condi tions and scale

COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL RETAIL

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DENSI T Y A ND S C A L E 2050 T he ne w plo t s can accomoda te 8 0 0 0 w or k places and 10 0 0 r esiden t s

30.000 m² 600 residents

25.000 m² 1000 workspaces

60.000 m² 2400 workspaces 50.000 m² 2000 workspaces 65.000 m² 2600 workspaces

20.000 m² 400 residents

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R EN T GRE

AFIC

DENSI T Y A ND S C A L E Mas ter plan 205 0

The old track of göteälvbroen The new viaduct Shared space TEAM SLA_HLA_SOCIAL ACTION PAGE 23

CON T EN T A ND IDEN T I T Y

UNDER T HE B R ID GE

“ H i g h - lin e” p a r k o n p a r t o f o l d b r i d g e O p e n -a ir c in e m a , m us i c s c e n e F o o t b a ll + b a s k e t b a ll S k a t e + p a r ko ur Of fices

CI T Y OA SIS

Park with open spaces U n d e r g r o un d p a r k in g L un c h t a b l e s P la y g r o un ds Of fices

L I V ING CI T Y

R e s i d e n t ia l b uil din g s Green roof tops C o ur t y a r d s

OF FICE CI T Y

O f f i c e b uil din g s Tr a in t e r min a l a c c e s s e W a i t in g a c t i v i t i e s W e a t h e r c h a n g in g s h e l t e r s

C ULT UR E DOCK R e s t a ur a n t s Cafés F is h in g H a r b o ur p o o ls W a t e r- F un a c t i v i t i e s

PA R K S TAT ION

Park Cafés S h o p p in g Tr a m a n d b us t r a f f i c Green roof tops

CEN T R A L S QUA R E S e a t in g Tr e e s P la y in g a c t i v i t i e s Tr a m t r a f f i c Leveled seats by canal

sup er bike pa th + gr een walk

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CON T EN T A ND IDEN T I T Y

UNDER T HE B R ID GE

CI T Y OA SIS

THE POTENTIAL GUESTS

OF FICE CI T Y

THE COMMUTER

C ULT UR E DOCK PA R K S TAT ION THE NON-MOTORIST USER

CEN T R A L S QUA R E

T HE W OR K ER /INH A BI TA N T

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CON T EN T A ND IDEN T I T Y D ensit y t y polo gies

T HE IN T IM AT E SPAC E

T HE MO V ING SPAC E

T HE COMMUNI T Y SPAC E

Smaller ar eas – Sui t able f or being alone, per sonal in ter ac tion or small gr oups of people.

Nar r o w ar eas s tr e t ching thr ough lar ge spaces – Sui ted f or mo v ing in space – w alk ing, r unning and c y cling as an ac ti v i t y.

L ar ge s cale ar eas – Sui t able f or so cial in ter ac tion, mee ting people, ac ti v i ties and e v en t s.

T he in tima te space can be enclosed or f r amed b y pa ths or tr ees.

T he mo v ing space can be in dif f er en t le v els depending on w ha t en v ir onmen t i t mo v es tr ough.

T he communi t y space can be open to w ar ds the w a ter f r on t s, the sk y or lar ger spaces in be t w een o ther s.

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NIL S ER IC SS ONS P L AT SEN T ODAY

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NIEL NIL S SER ER ICIC SS SS ONS ONSP G L AT ATA SEN N 2030 IN T HE F U T UR E

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T IMEL INE

THE JUBILEE PARK NEW BRIDGE

NEW VIADUCT

2013

2021

TOMORROW

2050

250.000 M2 OFFICES/DWELLINGS

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T OMOR RO W 20 13 Ev en t s

1. O P E N A IR C IN E M A / M U S I C

2. NO C AR WEEK 3. FREE PUBLIC TR ANSPORT

4. BENCHES A N D GR E E N

1

2

3

4

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T OMOR RO W 20 13 - 20 2 1

T HE CI T Y OA SIS: Co v er the E45

PA R K S TAT ION: Engage the user s

PARK STATION: Densify Nils Ericssonsgatan w i th lif e spaces and gr e en

UNDER T HE B R ID GE: Super bike pa th

PA R K S TAT ION: Super bike pa th

UNDER T HE B R ID GE: Open air cinema has 20 0 sho w ing s each summer

20 16 20 13

2020 20 18

PARK STATION: No car week

PA R K S TAT ION: P lan t P ar k a t Dr o t tning s tor ge t

202 1 THE CITY OASIS: Super bike path

UNDER THE BRIDGE: Football, basketball, parkour and skate facilities.

T HE CI T Y OA SIS: Star t plan ting tr e es

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A NE W S T R AT EG Y F OR GO T HENB URG Ques tions to be ans w er ed

W H AT A DDED VA L UE W IL L T HE CI T IZENS OF GO T HENB URG GE T W HEN 30 BIL L IONS SEK A R E IN V ES T ED IN NE W INF R A S T RUC T UR E ?

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A NE W S T R AT EG Y F OR GO T HENB URG

W E P ROP OSE T H AT F OR E V ERY OL D S T R EE T W E R EMO V E, W E A DD GR EEN VA L UE B ACK T O T HE CI T Y !

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P U T T O A N E X T R EME...

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IF W E A SK T HE P L A NNER S OF GO T HENB URG T O T R A NSF OR M INF R A S T RUCT UR E T O GR EEN R ECR E AT ION A L SPACE, W H AT W IL L T HE A NS W ER BE ?

We think the ans wer fr om the citizens will be a Y E S!

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A NE W S T R AT EG Y F OR GO T HENB URG

Can we transform Gothenburg

fr om smog to but ter flies...

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L E A R NING F ROM HIS T ORY

20 0 y ear s ago w hen the cit y w as gr o w ing and the r ampar t los t it s f unc tion, the cit y de cided to tur n the space in to a gr een par k ins tead o f building on it...

Can we lear n fr om the pas t and do it again?

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T HE CEN T R A L S TAT ION A R E A T ODAY

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T HE CEN T R A L S TAT ION A R E A IN T HE F U T UR E

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