Malmo
October 27, 2006
Malmo has a population of over 265,000 and is the third largest city in Sweden behind Stockholm and Goteborg. The population is set to increase over the next 10 years putting pressure on Malmo to expand.
For the Dare project a group of us went to Malmo, located on the south coast of Sweden.Here we were to pick a site that has been finished to of high quality and then we were to design something daring.
Bo01
This was a European exhibition of housing which ran from May 11th to September 9th 2001. It is located on the coast in the Vastra Hamnen (WesternHarbour) district of Malmo and is in walking distance of the city centre. It formed the first phase of the long term development for the western harbour. It then consisted of 800 apartments but has now grown to over 1500. The exhibition was to inform people about the ecology and sustainability of the project.
Today the apartments are still under construction as the project moves through the phases of development. The houses were designed by various architects but all have the common theme of sustainability. The area is to become a national and international example of sustainable living.
The urban district is supplied by renewable energy resources. Electricity will be produced by wind power, heating will be generated by solar panels and bio gas produced from the area’s waste. All the buildings were designed to minimise energy demands and increase energy efficiency.
Turning Torso
Located in the Vastra Hamnen district the Turning Torso forms the centre piece of the area and provides Malmo with a landmark. It was designed by Santiago Calatrava, based on the sculpture Twisting Torso. It was completed in 2005 and has the height of 190 meters which is 54 floors. The entire construction twists 90 degrees on its way up, hence its name.
Sundspromenade
Sundspromenade was designed by Jeppe Aagaard Andersen Landscape Architects. The promenade is located along the coast reconnecting Malmo to the sea, a reflection of the past. It is 300 metres long and is constructed out of wooden decking. It has large steps that lead down to the sea providing plenty of seating where you can watch the sun set behind the OrestrundBridge. The promenade sits parallel to boulders along the sea front and overlaps in places. Scattered within the boulders are some highly polished stones which is the art work called “Diamonds are everywhere”.
The construction of the promenade is of very high quality which reflects the whole of the B0o1 site. It is also shown with its various users from walkers to skaters and in the summer it becomes a vibrant place to be. Whilst you are on the promenade you feel very exposed to the elements, especially the wind, giving it more prominence and your experience of the site changes with each visit.
I really enjoyed the site but I would like to re-visit it in the future but during the summer to experience the atmosphere of the place. I have seen pictures and it looks a complete contrast to the winter where there are fewer visitors.
Dania ParkDania Park was designed by Thorbjorn Andersson and PeGe Hillinge. The park is located to the north end of Sundspromenade and forms a continuation with the link to the sea. However, Dania Park is more exposed to the sea at the north end of the park where two seas meet the Ribersborgsbucht and the North Sea. Here a bastion has been designed where you can walk out over the sea. Along the sea front there are 3 wooden decked platforms providing visitors a chance to swim in the sea.
Within Dania Park there is a grass field which people can use for recreational activities but in the summer it holds musical events. The park also provides more shelter compared to Sundspromenade. There are seating areas which resemble fortresses allowing people to find comfort out of the wind. The park still follows the linear shape, the same as Sundspromenade, but Dania Park also reaches into the sky. There are tall lamp posts which resemble construction cranes which light up most of the park at night. 
The materials used for the park were wood and walls and barriers were constructed out of granite. The choice of these materials was for their sustainable nature, the granite can be re-used at a later date if the park was to change. The construction is of good quality, the same as the rest of the area. I enjoyed the park more compared to Sundspromenade. It offered more variation with the different materials. The park also had planting adding to the quality of the area.
The encounter with the sea is also more dominant here. There are diving platforms and steps going into the sea connecting the sea and city. I also like the idea of the bastion; it gives the park a focal point and was clearly a favourite with visitors. The sheltered seating also allows people to stay in the park longer during the winter because it’s more comfortable. However, I don’t think the park worked particularly well at night. Most of the lighting fixtures were broken and therefore not lighting up the park very well which needs to be addressed. www.malmo.se
