Karlskrona (SE)

How can the site contribute to the productive city?

Founded and built right in the archipelago, as the naval base of Sweden, Karlskrona has generated an urban settlement structure that is unique in the Swedish context. In part due to this history, Karlskrona as a whole has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site. This distinct way of living in, rather than by the sea offers quality of life worth conserving and capitalizing on. Later economic and related urban paradigms have made this connection less obvious.
Nowhere else is this more clear than at the land entrance to the historical city. The main, formal entrance route was from the sea in the south, at the southern end of the city's north south axis.

City strategy

The northern connection to the mainland was traditionally the back door; to some extent simply a supply route. Today, this is the most important route for arriving in the city but this is not reflected clearly in the urban structure.
The arrival of the railroad meant some part of the connection to the sea was lost, and post-war, car centred planning and industrial paradigms effectively broke this connection on much of the northern facing parts of the (old) city. Land reclaimed along the previous shoreline and between islets was used to house modern infrastructure and industry.
These lost shorelines must now be adapted to the demands of inhabitants and an evolving economy. Recreating, reinterpreting "living in the sea » in this new context is the task of the coming decades.

Site definition 

Centrally located right on the main access route to Karlskrona, Hattholmen is the site of a disused oil harbour. The city centre, the main transport node, recreational areas and the Blekinge Institute of Technology all lie within walking distance. To the north of the site is a hill and green area and at its base, an old brewery. To the south and west are harbour basins currently used as docks for pleasure craft and a canal boat, reused as student housing. Hattholmen is a low lying, fairly flat site, surrounded by more hilly terrain. Urban planning patterns shift from a faithfully implemented 18th plan on Trossö to 19th century and 20th century paradigms further north. Hattholmen is bordered by all these and is itself of a 20th century zoning scheme.

How is Production Considered in the Urban Diversity Program?

Recreating, reinterpreting "the city in the sea" in this new context is the task of the coming decades. This will require a redesign of the land, sea and their shared boundary. Contestants at Hattholmen are asked to propose answers to a number of questions. How are these reclaimed, modified shorelines to be used to meet the cities' stated identity?
In order to meet demands for housing, a number of units are to be built on the site and the existing visitors marina will be expanded within the project site, but what productive uses could be located along the shoreline?
And in what way is the meeting with the water mediated physically? Designing the shape, profile and materiality of the shoreline are all issues to be resolved.
The surrounding area is very diverse. The historical city on Trossö, the water, a green hill, an urban ex-clave (Pantarholmen) and a park are all close. The site, on the other hand, is cut off from its surroundings. Integrating Hattholmen with its surroundings, making it part of an extended urban fabric is seen as the way forward a successful redevelopment of the site.

The city Marina, Hattholmen in background

Marine museum, Stumholmen from Bryggareberget

Stortorget (Main square)