Karlskoga (SE)

Urban City Strategy

Currently in planning, the Nobel railway line will be a new fast train between Stockholm and Oslo, connecting the two capitals where the Nobel Prize is awarded every year, shortening the travel time to less than three hours. A new station for the Nobel railway line is proposed in Karlskoga. Faster commuting opportunities and accessibility will provide great benefits for business and economy, but also for Karlskoga as an attractive place to live.
The station and the travel-hub is located in the south part of the town and the area will be developed into a mixed use and residential district, connected to the rest of Karlskoga and the nature around it. The aim for the district is to be well designed, logistically smooth, and environmentally at the forefront.
The area shall contain many urban functions such as multi-family houses, offices and different functions such as production facilities, schools, shops, various services and parks.

Site Definition

The town of Karlskoga is placed in a region largely covered by forests and and the area contains many rivers and lakes. It is also set within the heart of Sweden’s historical iron production district. Karlskoga was the home of the industrialist Alfred Nobel and the company Bofors, once Sweden’s largest iron producer. Today, Karlskoga is again a growing town with an expanding and more diversified industrial sector.
The competition area is placed on the western side of lake Möckeln, and its shore contributes to the unique character of the cultural landscape. Today, the area contains mostly nature and agricultural land. The land is owned by the municipality.
A study of the future location for the Nobel railway line points out the proposed site connected with a bridge over lake Möckeln and a station directly south of Storängen shopping area. The bridge may double as a future pass-by of the E18 motorway.

How Must Metabolism and Inclusivity Be Developed and Connected?

The ambition of the municipality of Karlskoga is to build a district around the new station for future generations, to create a place that people will be proud of for a long time and where sustainability is a key aspect in terms of social, economic, technological and environmental aspects. The municipality considers sustainability as primarily aiming at achieving qualities that will last for a very long time.
As sound and carefully designed external and internal environments affect people’s health and well-being positively, the municipality must build with technical and architectural quality, using material and methods with low energy and carbon emissions, low heat consumption and with a smart infrastructure.
A sustainable development must also consider its relationship to the landscape. Nature has a great social significance and is also very important from an ecological perspective.
The station district shall connect to the other areas of the town. A well-connected area also benefits accessibility and safety for all. Both the road network and layout of buildings contribute to this.
Pedestrian and bicycle routes within the area and their connections to existing network must be shown. The environment around the pedestrian and bicycle lanes must be inviting, exciting and varied for all people in the area.
The “Convention on the Rights of the Child” has a strong judicial standing and status as Swedish law. The design of the area must take into consideration the best interest of children.
The competition proposal shall demonstrate how aspects of gender equality are considered.
Ideas for handling surface water shall be explained.