Hail, you proud city
by the river without equal!
Hail, you barren coast,
where dreams of future grow!
Hail, harbor and portal
in old Göta Rike!
Hail, industrious region,
where the brave sailors live!
- Evert Taube: ’Gothenburg’
A summer’s day 1925, the great Swedish poet and folk singer, Evert Taube, stood on the crest of Masthuggsberget and composed his enthusiastic and unequivocal tribute to the city of his birth: Gothenburg. To Taube, Gothenburg was the city of dreams. But not, as he put it, ”as an affectionate pastoral” looking backwards, but as a dynamic, industrious and enterprising city: The city of the future.
Today the words of Evert Taube still ring true. Gothenburg finds itself in a unique position to shape its own destiny, to face its coming challenges, and to grab the many possibilities lying in front of it; To harness, yet again, the ”conquering spirit” that Taube felt that summer’s day, more that 85 years ago.
Having worked closely with the many ambitious ideas, dreams and visions for ’The RiverCity’, we too feel the excitement and possibilities that Taube’s poetry still translates through the ages. As we see it, Gothenburg’s visionary pursuit of sustainability in all its dimensions, areas and forms is the ideal point from where new dreams of the future can grow: A socially inclusive, ecologically visionary, and economically diverse and prosperous city.
We, a transdisciplinary team of architects, urban planners, engineers, sustainability scientists, water experts, landscape architects, ethnologists and (not least) die-hard Evert Taube fans, believe that our team possess the perfect mix of competences, experiences and skills to contribute with innovative and dynamic ideas at the workshop in Gothenburg June 7-11.
Gothenburg is still the city ”where dreams of future grows”. With this workshop, we hope to dream them together with you.
Team SLA_HLA
A transdisciplinary team consisting of: SLA, Henning Larsen Architects, Orbicon, Social Action
