Workshop day #4

A long days work is comming to an end!

The activites among all teams have been focused on gathering, producing and sharpening the material for the final presentation tomorrow at the Gothenburg University. The event is open for the public and each team has about 10 minutes to deliever thier vision of a better city.
Here's our presentation:

Workshop day #3

If yesterday was a day of intense discussions and eyeopeners through the insight from different experts, today was the day of formulating and visualizing our ideas into clear documents and statements.

We formulated a series of questions releated to pictures taken from different parts and people of Gothenburg - like:
- For whom is this city made for? (showing pictures of a white middelclass family, an elderly couple, a group of young immigrants)
- How many stories does Gohenburg consiste of? (showing pictures of different urban situations)
- What if Gothenburg dare to embrace the full amplitude of life?

and finaly leading us to the main question:
- What if Gothenburg dare to be as global as it really is?

A 'Midway critics' was arranged by the Advicery board as a 2 minutes pitch, where Mette was answering 3 questions posed to all the teams in a common forum.

-What are the main drivers?
'The citizens of Gothenburg'

-What do you think should happen in Gothenburg?
'The north should meet south and vice-verse - but first we need to know what and who to connect.'

- What are your key idea(s)?
'Our equation is simple and takes it's fundaments in the 3 three key-words for this workshop:
GREEN - we plant trees and we start monday by doing so, stitching the city together physicly, creating a direct experince for people as well as different biotopes etc.
INCLUSION - the new green areas can be populated and activated on a recreative basis, making up a room for people to meet, a common ground for people from north and south, east and west.
DYNAMICS - when greenary and inclusion has taken place in these 'new' areas along the river, we believe that a great value and significanse has been created. The dynamics of people can develop further and eventually result in housing and other developments and last but not least  in a economic growth.'

Workshop day #2: Making Göteborg great for both the north and the south.

Today we made several conceptual breakthroughs.

In the morning we were conceptually still in the Thinking Big phase, which were well-matched by the client who offered conversations with several well-skilled local ‘experts’ in various themes such as climate, cultural contexts, real estate norms and crime prevention.

In the early hours we spoke (among others) with experts within climate, cultural analysis and crime prevention/safety.

The talks led to several new ideas about the real-life challenges of “stitching the city together over the river”; a statement made official by the advisory board yesterday.

Among other things, it became clear that we had to understand the north of the river (the working class + ethnic minority-dense area) as well as the south of the river (old city centre / shopping area / rich Sweden).

If you want to stitch the city together, you have to know what you are stitching together.

The insight from the experts, explaining the big social class differences between the south and north of the city made us rethink our use of the northern river shore; the free harbour, now occasionally occupied by 400 meter containerships, but otherwise empty.

Originally we thought of the free harbour as a place to seduce the south to travel the north side. But with the new insights from the experts, which included the fact that many Muslims commute from around the Göteborg region to a part of the northern city – creating a hidden centre not known to us before (and according to the expert; also hidden for the municipality) – enabled us to rethink the functionality of the free harbour. The free harbour has to be an amazing place for both the people in the south and north.

It might sound as an obvious decision, but when looking at the municipality’s existing plans for the north side, it doesn’t look like they want to get the best out of the two life forms. Instead, it seems like the culture of the rich south is planned to cross the river with no problems and thereby pushing the many less privileged, including immigrants from Gambia, Serbia, Somalia and other countries, further north, a population who in population-size will increase by 4,000 every year, thereby counting for 50% of the entire population growth in Göteborg.

Instead of pushing the north further away, we suggest to turn the entirety of the free harbour into an inspiring, relaxing, exciting and relevant free harbour for both the north and the south.

On the infrastructure part, a bicycle strategy for the north and south was developed and a new ring structure for cars was begun. Furthermore, a strategey for the south side was created to make it easier for the south to commute to the river.

The plan was very well received by the advisory board who did their first check-in on each of the ten teams.

In the late afternoon, we did a field trip to the north side of the city, to see the area with hour own eyes.

Tomorrow it’s all about being more practical ideas that will reflect our insights into concrete action steps and build constructions that can be started as soon as the workshop is done. Tomorrow is where we drastically move from Think Big to Start Small.

Inclusive - Green - Dynamic

Notes from our brainstorm session on the main goals of the workshop:

Inclusive

Inclusive projects

·         Public access and spaces along the riverfront – reclaiming the quays

·         Local gardens and neighbourhood.

·         Programmed meeting places across generations and cultures –

·         Common cultural meeting places.

Inclusive physical planning

·         Connections for bikes and pedestrians across the river - Establishing physical connections

·         Enable family dwellings in the city - Developing a mixed city with mixed dwellings

Inclusive activities and processes

·         Enhanced local ownership – by connecting schools, companies etc.

·         Sustaiunability projects as including activities

·         Engaging citizens in the city and the river

What caracterises the inclusive project

·         Temporary design

·         Multifunctional areas with different purposes and uses - New projects should include mixed users, inhabitants, owners etc.

·         Space for children

·         No tabula rasa – respect history and existing qualities 

 
 

Green

Multifunctional green urban spaces

·         Local green microclimate

·         Green urban spaces with recreational qualities

·         Green infrastructure for pedestrians and bicycles and biodiversity

·         Let the nature take over where we do not use the city

·         Local farming

·         Green is blue in Gothenburg - Using the river as recreational quality

Green transportation

·         Public transport and bikes – super-tramps, metro under the river

·         Easier, safer and healthier to bike

Climate city

·         Climate adaption partly by natural coastal dynamic 

·         CO2-neutral city

·         Renovating and developing the CO2-neutral city

·         Liquid city – water and ethanol

·         Analyzing stakeholders in sustainable development

·         Exporting clean-tech with green tankers 

Dynamic

Dynamic process and planning

·         Triple Helix development

·         Flexibility in local planning

·         Multilevel planning – different functions and timescale in planning – always space for small businesses

·         Start small and learn while you do it

·         Balance between the fixed and the flexible

·         Enhanced local ownership

·         Enable family dwellings in the city

Dynamic timescale

·         Starting tomorrow

·         Temporary design

Dynamic projects

·         Multifunctional areas with different purposes and uses 

·         Kick starting the city economy by renovating and developing the CO2-neutral city – low energy, sustainable transportation, clean tech – financing by ESCO

·         Foster the embryons – cheep locations, young entrepreneurs – fab-lab, business incubators – triple helix

·         diversity as business strategy

·         Daring to think small

·         New ownerships for new entrepreneurs

·         Enhanced local ownership

Workshop day #1

Today the workshop opened at the Gothenburg City Hall, where all ten teams will be working in one big space throughout the workshop. The media was present at the opening and our team leader Mette was interviewed by Swedish television (SVT4). Morning and afternoon was spent brainstorming, discussing and sketching around our team table. Our new working motto is: "Think big - Start small - Scale fast". Late afternoon/evening was spent sailing up and down the river, getting an overview of the city.

Some impressions from today:

Today's work:

Planning our own work process during the days of the workshop. Using the 'innovation diamond' - and be able to handle divergence and covergence to get to target. Each day we should reach one 'conclusion' - and publish this. Next day will build on the conclusion from yesterday and work toward a new target, and so forth...

Discussing the key words headlining the workshop "inclusive - green - dynamic". (summary to be published to blog tomorrow morning)

Discussing the importance of thinking about the big perspective, but also having ideas for what can be done in a very short time.

"Rivercity Gothenburg. Starting Monday!!" Today the main problem of Gothenburg is segregation, on a social as well as a psysical level. We will focus on finding the voids in the city and patching them. The key is to find the right kind of patch -  a new quality for the area, which should cater for the inclusive, green and dynamic strategy hand-in-hand. In time the neighbouring areas should claim ownership to the patches, the new urban spaces or institutions, and transform them into a hybrid, unique for just that place. The patches will become new meeting places transforming Gothenburg from segregated places to a close-knit carpet!

Looking at the rivercity from a large perspective - mapping the infrastructure, the water ways (streams), the recreational areas and finally the voids, the new potentials. We looked at the possibility of making a new infrastructural circle around the central rivercity. This also makes our main target areas the Frihamnen (Free Harbour) north of the river and Sheppsbroen south of the river. Tomorrow we will be looking at how to work with these areas - in a short and in a long time perspective.

5 about the rivercity to Morten Lund, Professor at Chalmers University

1. Why do you thin that there is an international workshop on the future development of Gothenburg harbor next week?

There is made a political decision on focusing on reprogramming the inner harbour and an organization named Centrale Ãlvstranden is established to facilitate the process.

Gøta River is not being used today, an area which is the same size as Ørestaden in Copenhagen but located right in the middle of Gothenburg. If you take a tourist boat harbor of Gothenburg you get associations to Manila or Bangkok, it's really worn down and the area is characterized asks industry and shipyards which have just been quiet since a mid-80s.

Gothenburg is Scandinavia's Motown, it's the private car city. The car is essential to succeed in Gothenburg. The whole city is spread out as a consequence of infrastructure, therefore it is important that the urban happen to be central and compact city, one of the successes at Ørestaden is precisely the focus on public transport.
It is a problem that society in Gothenburg is not consistent; it must be more inclusive and socially sustainable. So far, the problem of segregation is attempted solved by ‘starwars’ solutions on an ideological level and often slightly naive,

2. Do you feel like you are a part of Gothenburg Harbor?

People in Gothenburg have low thresholds and are unpretentious, proximity of patent leather shoes and oil on your hands and you easily get into conversation with people you meet.

3. Could you point out recent initiatives that have been good for the Harbor?

There are some good grips in the North side of the harbor where they have attempted to establish physical contact with the water.

The covered traffic tunnel, which has created a new center formation in the central city.

 
The ancient port strokes as follows the canal, it is wonderful and here there is a completely different scale because the city has a different typology in the form of moats and canals. Here you get a sense of ‘Nyhavn’ and ‘Christianshavn’ in the center of Copenhagen.

4. Could you point out initiatives that would make you use the Harbor more?

I want to be able to access the water, kayaking and swimming in the water, Now it's just something you look at, it's like the big green lawns of modernist residential areas, green one looks at the Gothenburg harbor the green is just blue.

5. What if Gothenburg city should start all over, what is the essentialism learning from the past?

Central ãlvstaden covers the same area as the core of Gothenburg and there is much to learn from the way the Dutch originally built the city, there was much more water then. Eastern/Western dock canal which is now Eastern/Western streets, water played a major role in the city at that time.

Citizens of Gothenburg are unpretentious and super professional businessmen, I really feel at home in Gothenburg.

5 QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RIVERCITY TO JOAKIM KENNDAL - STENA LINE

1. Why do you think that there is an international workshop on the future development of Gothenburg harbour next week?

‘The politicians and the inhabitants feel that there are some limitations to the city development, and due to that an uncertainty of what to do. We need some influences from outside.’

2. Do you feel like you are a part of Gothenburg harbour? If yes or no, then why?

‘Definitely! We are a part of Gothenburg harbour since 1967 and have always been a part of the harbour development. People living in Gothenburg say that ferries are part of a living city and a living harbour.’

‘The city was developed around the harbour and has a very long tradition of bringing boats to the city centre, which we still are guarantied for right now.’

3. Could you point out 3 recent initiatives that have been good for the harbour?

‘I think the development of the areas around Göta Älvsbron and the Opera House, around the Lipstick and Gullbergsvass, as well as the development of Lindholmen Science Centre.’

4. Could you point out 3 initiatives that would make you use the harbour more?

‘We need better infrastructure around the harbours. Stena Line brings a lot of people to the city and it’s still complicated to get into the city centre, which is probably the main reason that they are traveling with us.’

‘Gothenburg should develop the areas between the Opera House and the Stena quays, giving people access to the water.’

5. What if Gothenburg city was to start all over, where should it start, what is the essential learning from the past?

‘Gothenburg should focus and have a priority on certain areas on certain times, thus with a long term vision at mind.’

‘Start on certain places that are easy to develop - there are huge possibilities on the areas of Gullbergsvass and that of Frihamnen - and then move over to Södra Älvstranden. Each area will probably take around 5-10 years.’

Additional question:

What should foster the economic growth for Gothenburg in the future?

‘There is a bubbling scene of young entrepreneurship when it comes to fashion; small fashion companies are really creative and upcoming. Secondly it’s probably tourism that we should be able to build on.’


Joakim Kenndal is Head of Information at Stena Line Ferries.

5 QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RIVERCITY TO MARK ISITT

Mark Isitt is a freelance journalist, writing articles for Göteborgs-Posten among others.

1. Why do you think that there is an international workshop on the future development of Gothenburg harbour next week?

‘It is an area of the size of Halmstad, that is supposed to be rebuilt in the city centre in the 2^nd largest city in Sweden and probably the best located city in Scandinavia. It is an amazing opportunity!’

'The city sits on the shores of the Atlantic, and unlike Stockholm it’s lost it’s contact to the water. I never thought of Gothenburg as being a port town.’

2. Do you feel like you are a part of Gothenburg harbour? If yes or no, then why?

'No! Walking up the main streets of Gothenburg you definitely not sense that you are a part of the harbour. The reason might be that the whole city is facing southwards and turns its back to the river.'

‘As soon as you pass Brunnsparken on your way to the water, you come to something that really lost all its charm’

3. Could you point out 3 recent initiatives that have been good for the harbour?

'The area of Eriksberg has been good for the harbour. It started really nicely even though it lost track of the quality on the way through development.'

'The new Ryaverken water plant even though it doesn’t physically connect to the river - it’s a good initiative, something that is proud and just stands there without being ashamed of itself.’

'The Opera, which has a fantastic location, was a very good initiative. Gothenburg was very early and forthcoming in its decision to realizing it’s potential by placing an Opera close to the water.'

4. Could you point out 3 initiatives that would make you use the harbour more?

'The city most develop on the northern side of the river, making activities happen and the crossing of the river a natural part of all gothenburgers life.'

‘If we could establish some institutions on the northern side - a multimedia library, an arena or a Hasselblad photo museum and spread the eggs and not put them all in the same basket - then we would be challenged.’

'Create a harbour bath similar to the ones that exist in Copenhagen.'

'Criss-cross the river with bridges, not just one, but five or six of them. There is a lot of talk about boats crossing the river in Gothenburg, but it just doesn’t signal the same as a bridge – it’s permanent, it’s there, and it makes the north side accessible in a total different way then a boat would do.’ 
'The industrial activities in the harbour should not suffer from these new bridges; they should all be possible to open for passage of big boats. When it comes to public transport, the trams should be lead in a tunnel for an undisturbed flow of traffic.'

5. What if Gothenburg city was to start all over, where should it start, what is the essential learning from the past?

‘Gothenburg doesn’t have the same relationship to power as Stockholm – it’s got a strong relationship to trade and industry and to people who wanted to express themselves. One should try to make more out of that. Private initiatives should be welcomed, that’s the way the city got its character.' 
‘What we today see at Andra Långgatan - small businesses flourishing, helped out with low rents and an environment that isn’t to planned or proper – that is a climate we should encourage.’

‘If Gothenburg would start all over again, it should be it’s own potential of being – continental with an outlook to the rest of the world – it should have all the qualities that people expect it to have, but that has been lost as time went by.’