Plant Uddevalla

TEAM DATA

Team Representative: Yrsa Nilsson Öhrn (SE) – landscape architect; Associate: Maja Olofsson (SE) – landscape architect

Nobelvägen 81, 214 33 Malmö (SE)
+46 762327749 – yrsanilssonohrn@gmail.com

See the complete listing of portraits here
See the site page here

^{M. Olofsson & Y. Nilsson Öhrn}

INTERVIEW

1. How did you form the team for the competition?

We are friends and have studied on the landscape architectural program together. Over the years we have talked about participating in an architectural competition together. So, when this year’s edition of Europan came up, we felt that we wanted to try and see what perspective we, as landscape architects, could contribute to the competition.

2. How do you define the main issue of your project, and how did you answer on this session main topic: the place of productive activities within the city?

The main issue at our site was fairly classic for a Swedish “million program area”, that people choose to move away from the area if they have the opportunity. Therefore, our main idea takes advantage of all the existing conditions of the site. We saw great benefits in working on a site with strong cultivation initiatives, many people and large undeveloped areas. With that, we were able to create a proposal where we, with the help of committed citizens, could create a green production of trees and allow the citizens to be part of the urban development.

3. How did this issue and the questions raised by the site mutation meet?

Today, as cities become increasingly densified, the green factors can easily be pushed away in favour of new buildings. Here, as landscape architects, we feel that we have an important mission to advocate for the importance of green infrastructure and show new ways to get more greenery into the city. Trees don’t only have incredible aesthetic qualities they could also contribute to increased health, better air and water absorption.

4. Have you treated this issue previously? What were the reference projects that inspired yours?

During our studies, we have been discussing what the factors are that makes people want to stay or live in a certain area. We believe that the green values such as trees, parks and areas for recreation have a great importance for this. The initiatives already at the site, such as the cultivation group, was an inspiration that we had in mind working with our proposal. The feeling of being involved in one's community can contribute to a willing to both feel- and take care of your surroundings. We also tried to get inspiration from Uddevalla itself and found some interesting architecture, like the old sports hall down in the city centre.

5. Urban-architectural projects like the ones in Europan can only be implemented together with the actors through a negotiated process and in time. How did you consider this issue in your project?

We considered this issue and for us it was important to visit the area to get a better understanding of the conditions at the site as well as its inhabitants. We believe that the dialog between the actors and the inhabitants is important and to develop an area it is favourable to use participative tools and methods so that the inhabitants gets an insight and can take part in the process for urban productivity.

6. Is it the first time you have been awarded a prize at Europan? How could this help you in your professional career?

Yes, it is our first time awarded as well as participating. We believe that being awarded and seen in the context of Europan gives positive signals to current and future employers and clients. It also gives a quality stamp to the work we have done and can be useful to promote future projects.

TEAM IDENTITY

Office: /
Functions: Landscape
Average age of the associates: 30 years old