Sweden is turning parking bays into places to play, meet, relax and more | Inquirer Technology

Sweden is turning parking bays into places to play, meet, relax and more

/ 06:17 PM February 24, 2021

sweden

In Sweden, former car parking bays are being transformed into urban spaces that are practical, ecological and convivial. Image: courtesy of Lundberg Design

More and more major cities are opting to encourage cycling to the detriment of car use, helping to improve air quality and cut CO2 emissions. But what about all those unused parking bays? In Sweden, former car parking bays are being transformed into urban spaces that are practical, ecological and convivial.

Fewer cars and more bikes in cities means more parking bays to recycle. Many global cities are rethinking the layouts of their centers as they adapt to new urban mobility policies, as seen in Portland (USA), Barcelona (Spain) and Paris (France). In Sweden, where tens of thousands of parking bays are set to be removed, cities like Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and Helsingborg are actively participating in a large-scale government plan to improve public spaces.

Article continues after this advertisement

To this end, prefabricated modules featuring street furniture, made largely from wood, are starting to be deployed to cover over former car parking bays. Most of the time, these modules include tables, chairs, and plants, providing spaces to rest, eat, or park a bike or e-scooter. The largest modules can take the form of urban gardens or open-air gyms.

FEATURED STORIES

Sweden’s national center for architecture and design (ArkDes) and the Lundberg Design agency — which worked on these projects in collaboration with the residents of certain neighborhoods — drew inspiration from popular culture, and by elements seen in the worlds of Lego, Minecraft, and even in Ikea, to create these new pop-up public spaces.

This scheme forms part of a wider project called the “one-minute city,” which aims to reclaim spaces for urban dwellers so that they can enjoy their immediate neighborhoods with ease. This approach evidently recalls the “15-minute city” concept in Paris, destined to make all types of services or amenities accessible in just a few minutes. NVG

Article continues after this advertisement

RELATED STORIES:

Article continues after this advertisement

Upcoming Johannesburg library built with local stone, wood and mud

A vertical garden experiment aims to measure the impact of city pollution on horticulture

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TOPICS: Sweden, Urban Planning
TAGS: Sweden, Urban Planning

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.