Urban development project to rescue the abandoned port of Jönköping in Sweden
23/01/2024.
[Jönköping] Sweden
metalocus, ANA GARCÍA LUJÁN
metalocus, ANA GARCÍA LUJÁN
The Danish architecture studio Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED in collaboration with Beek Architects, the advisors HallemarHejdelind and the urban planning researcher, Göran Cars have been the winners of the international competition 'Harbour Pier' with the project called 'Vattenstaden' located on the coast of Jönköping, a city in southern Sweden.
The project is located next to the world's sixth-largest lake, Vättern. However, access to the sea is restricted due to the port's industrialization. 'Vattenstaden', the winning project, aims to recover access to the sea by transforming the surrounding urban areas and the connection between the pier and the lake while proposing new leisure spaces related to community life and nature.
The project is located next to the world's sixth-largest lake, Vättern. However, access to the sea is restricted due to the port's industrialization. 'Vattenstaden', the winning project, aims to recover access to the sea by transforming the surrounding urban areas and the connection between the pier and the lake while proposing new leisure spaces related to community life and nature.
Site plan. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
Renders. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
Axonometry. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
Renders. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
Renders. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
Renders. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
Renders. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
Renders. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
Renders. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
Renders. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
Renders. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
Renders. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
Renders. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
In the proposal by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED, part of the existing elements are preserved, and a port elevated above the water is proposed so as not to alter the life of the lake ecosystem, generating a dynamic landscape.
Although the arms of the port are preserved, a flexible space has been developed with new facilities for winter swimmers, a rowing club and a green corridor around the lake for artistic installations. In addition to respecting nature with ecological wood pillars, recycled corrugated sheets on the roof, and solar panels.
Renders. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
Description of project by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects
Although Jönköping is connected to the 6th largest lake in Europe, Vättern, the access to the water has long been limited for the city's 100,000 residents. The city's harbour and canal bear the marks of an industrial era, which partially form a barrier to water access and recreation.
Now, an international architectural competition ‘Harbour Pier' has been decided and the winner is the Danish-Swedish proposal 'Vattenstaden', which revitalises the connection between city and water. The proposal rethinks the urban areas around the harbour pier and the quay line towards the lake and at the same time provides specific proposals for new recreational areas with a focus on movement, community life, diversity, and nature.
Renders. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
Behind the proposal is a team of Danish Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED together with Swedish Beek Architects, strategic advisors HallemarHejdelind and Göran Cars, professor and researcher in urban planning and infrastructure.
From industrial shadow to dynamic water community
The winning proposal rethinks Jönköping's relationship with the water and shows how an interdisciplinary architectural collaboration can anchor new architecture locally in realistic and realizable solutions. The team has focused on reusing many existing features and proposes a raised harbour course over the water on ecological wooden pillars, to limiting the shadows and disturbing the animal and plant life in the lake. Materials will include recycled sinusoidal corrugated sheets for the roof and lightweight timber structures that allow for flexibility over time. Solar panels will also be incorporated on the roofs. Finally, a consistent planting strategy in the urban plan will create a dynamic and biodiverse landscape both on land and in the lake.
‘Vattenstaden’ also induces new inclusive seating areas and facilities to create humanistic urban spaces for the locals. Winter swimmers will have new facilities, rowing club members will be able to practice their water sports and attract new members, and there will be a green recreational area along the canal, where art installations will come to life.
Renders. 'Vattenstaden' by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and STED.
"The winning proposal fascinated the jury by developing the pier in an innovative way while preserving the pier arms and challenging the idea of what a pier can be. With careful and functional design, a flexible meeting place has been created with a focus on community, education, and seafaring in all its forms, while at the same time providing year-round access to Lake Vättern regardless of age, gender, finances, ethnicity, and functional variation” .
Excerpt from the jury's report.
The winning proposal forms the basis for further work towards the local plan, and a staged process is now underway to ensure anchoring in the local area.
More information
Architects
Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, STED.
Project team
Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, STED, Beek Architects, HallemarHejdelind, Göran Cars.
Dates
2023.
Location
Jönköping, Sweden.
Render
Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, STED, Beek Architects, HallemarHejdelind, Göran Cars.
Vilhelm Theodor Lauritzen. Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects
Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects is a Danish architecture firm founded in 1922 by Vilhelm Theodor Lauritzen, one of the most important Danish architects of his time and one of the creators of Danish modernism. Today, several of his projects remain enduring examples of a revolutionary new architecture where form follows function.
The current studio culture and values date back to 1922 and the ideas and notions of the founder Vilhelm Theodor Lauritzen (1894–1984). He was primarily an architect and held throughout his life the belief that architecture is an applied art for the people, never a privilege for a few. He designed with a core vision to create functional architecture and design that would, in essence, advance human equality and induce general well-being for all users.
The architecture studio for more than a century has been based on the vision that good and sustainable architecture must be timeless, of high quality and for everyone. This form must follow the function from the inside out, respecting the context and with the basic intention of improving people's quality of life. This core belief ensures long-lasting designs that naturally adapt to changing uses and needs.
The current studio culture and values date back to 1922 and the ideas and notions of the founder Vilhelm Theodor Lauritzen (1894–1984). He was primarily an architect and held throughout his life the belief that architecture is an applied art for the people, never a privilege for a few. He designed with a core vision to create functional architecture and design that would, in essence, advance human equality and induce general well-being for all users.
The architecture studio for more than a century has been based on the vision that good and sustainable architecture must be timeless, of high quality and for everyone. This form must follow the function from the inside out, respecting the context and with the basic intention of improving people's quality of life. This core belief ensures long-lasting designs that naturally adapt to changing uses and needs.
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