The way from parking lot to shared space

Purpose and goal:

The project aims to contribute to the transition to more sustainable, inclusive and aesthetic living environments by co-creating and testing to transform unused parking areas into social places for the residents. Three public property owners worked with researchers and architects to design solutions for the transformation in Kortedala, Gothenburg, Markbacken, Örebro and Gottsunda, Uppsala.

The residents have been involved in both design and physical transformation. A common design concept was developed which was adapted and tested at the three different locations. Expected results and effects:

The result of the project is partly the three converted places that can be visited and continued studying. The main insights are that it is possible to do things easily, and involving residents provides great added value. The real estate companies involved have increased their knowledge not only with the central strategist who was in charge of the project, but also with area managers and wider organizations.

The design concept that was developed can be spread. There are a digital guide and a project report to support the dissemination of good examples requested by property owners. Approach and implementation:

The three housing companies, the research organization and the architects have worked in a project group with different steps in the project. Each property owner has been responsible for ´his´ transformation, but all parties have visited all the locations both in the start-up phase and during the project. The work has been inspired by methods for site-led development and the design concept that came up can be adapted to very different places. Challenges in the project are how transformation can be done easily and in a short time.