Karlstad (SE)

SITE / CONTEXT

The project site includes Våxnäs industrial area and Låglandet Park, and presents a unique opportunity to shape the future Karlstad. Developed during the 1970s and designed for increasing car use, today the area is dominated by industry, commerce, and sports facilities, leaving it disconnected from its surroundings and unsafe at night.Våxnäs’ strategic location—just two km from Karlstad’s city centre—positions it as a key site for redevelopment into a vibrant, multifunctional district where housing, businesses, public infrastructure, and green spaces coexist. Flooding is a significant challenge due to Våxnäs’ flat terrain and clay-rich soil. Integrating water management strategies into public spaces is critical. Låglandet Park, central to stormwater management, could evolve into a multifunctional district park that blends flood resilience with recreation. Green infrastructure can transform flood-prone areas into assets for recreation and biodiversity, enhancing quality of life and connecting built environments with natural systems.
The I2-Forest, Karlstad’s largest outdoor recreational area and a great biodiversity asset, borders Våxnäs but remains underutilised due to limited access points. Developing green corridors and creating clear entrances can link Våxnäs with ecological networks and strengthen biodiversity. Similarly, connecting Våxnäs to the city centre and other districts through an expanded public transport network, alongside enhanced pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, will reduce car dependency and promote sustainable mobility.
Våxnäs’ redevelopment should be phased, considering existing resources to ensure a sustainable evolution. Key opportunities include the planned relocation of the bus depot, the reconfiguration of areas around the sports fields and Låglandet Park, the temporary use of spaces for cultural or recreational purposes, and the potential repurposing of vacant industrial lots. These incremental changes can catalyse further regeneration, supporting both economic and social sustainability/

QUESTIONS TO THE COMPETITORS

Participants are tasked with reimagining the area as a lively mixed-use neighbourhood, active throughout the day, that integrates a variety of housing, businesses, public spaces, and green infrastructure. The vision must address challenges such as flooding, connectivity, and social cohesion while leveraging existing resources and phasing strategies.
How can flood-prone areas in Våxnäs be transformed into assets for recreation, resilience, and biodiversity? How can water management strategies be integrated into public spaces to address flooding while enhancing quality of life? What strategies can strengthen links between Våxnäs and Karlstad’s green infrastructure, such as the I2-Forest and ecological corridors? How can Våxnäs prioritise pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport while reducing car dependency?
What strategies can ensure coexistence between human activity and the preservation of non-human life?
What phased transformation process and collaboration among stakeholders can ensure long-term success? What existing resources, such as industrial buildings and infrastructure, can be repurposed for sustainable development? How can key sites like the former bus depot and the reconfiguration of areas around the sports fields and Låglandet Park, serve as catalysts for regeneration?