DESIGNING CYCLES AT 64° Interior urban landscapes / case study Umeå

Purpose and goal:

The goal for the project was to change buildings and inhabitants from consumers to producers and provide models for passive architectural solutions at 64° latitude.

Based on site specific conditions and parameters from the case study inventory, 3 prototypes for greenhouse extensions and envelopes were developed using participatory processes. A test bed for a nature-based water harvesting system was designed and constructed to evaluate water and soil quality and building with circular materials.

Expected results and effects:

The two-year project was planned as a preparatory phase to outline the possibilities for a prototype implementation in Umeå which was intended to be realized through the follow-up call (which was cancelled.) The results therefore remain as speculative design proposals that have the potential of being realized as part of other funding alternatives together with public or private stakeholders to integrate passive architectural solutions on the building and neighborhood scale.

Approach and implementation:

The initial work packages (case study inventory and site analysis) were planned and delivered more autonomously within the project team whereas the following work packages (participatory design and user and implementation models) required input, coordination and feedback from stakeholders that were not included as project partners. Building productive interfaces between communities, public/private sector and academia has resulted in a network to continue building on through future projects.