Low-Rise Settlements – Fast and Slow

Abstract

During an air approach to Stockholm the regional transformation over the last 50 years is impressive. Everywhere lie verdant clusters of single-family homes like pearls strung along the edges of the dominating green wedges and belts. These green remnants of fields, copses and hillocks remind the observer of a once widespread countryside. The large-scale suburban enclaves and industrial areas are embedded in a softer, airier and small-meshed settlement structure. It seems to the uninitiated as if the suburban high-rise housing at one time grew out of the undulating patchwork of low-rise settlements. The transformation is obvious along the landed approach roads from outside the regions and what once were widespread vistas are now occupied by low, rather dense, town-like settlements. In addition, there are single-family and row house areas, the latter grouped together into more or less clearly defined clusters of 5–600 dwellings. These clusters abut each other via their more open greenswards, but are also always next to continuous green and recreation areas. In these or next to them stand daycare centers and primary schools shoulder to shoulder with facilities for play and spontaneous sports, as well as the many facilities for institutional sports, though the latter are rather spread out over the whole.

Chapter written by Bosse Bergman, Paul Fuehrer, Anders Gullberg, Mattias Höjer and Ronny Pettersson.