From serving merely as a mean for transportation and walking, the streets of Norra Djurgårdsstaden now also functions as an element of landscape in the city. The new district of Hjorthagen, in Norra Djurgårdsstaden in Stockholm, is built on the old industrial ground. As a part of an old industrial gasworks from the early 20th century, the site holds few ecological values. Its location between forest-clad steeps and the natural and cultural landscape of Norra Djurgården, which is a part of the National City Park, has made it necessary to create new ecological pathways. A system of green streets combined with a fine mesh of parks results in a structure of greenery, all playing a part in strengthening and visualizing the ecological relationships.
Together Jaktgatan and Lövängsgatan form a green link and become the main street in the western parts of Norra Djurgårdsstaden. The street stretches between Storängstorget, a central square, in the south, up to Husarviksparken, a park along the waterfront, in the north. The streets make an important link in the district as it connects residential buildings with the bay of Husarviken and the natural landscape of Norra Djurgården. It is designed for movement, but at different speeds – and it also provides spaces for staying.
With the width of 25 meters, Jaktgatan and Lövängsgatan, contains a 6.5 meters wide submerged green stripe, asymmetrically located in the street. This green outstretched surface manages the stormwater of the street and contributes to a lush environment. The location of the green stripe within the street, with a pavement alongside – makes a large part of the street car-free and therefore safe for pedestrian to use as an urban space. Seating wooden platforms are located within the greenery, linked together by narrow wooden footbridges, which makes it possible to move inside the plantings. Not only does these footbridges and wooden seatings add a playful addition to the street, they also offer a tranquil setting for recreation, staying and strolling in an urban environment.
Trees and shrubs of different species and sizes, together with tall and short perennials, favours biodiversity which gives the street both ecological, visual and social values. Trees are placed in groups in both the green submerged stripe and along both sides of the driving area. The submerged planting contains perennials planted in fields across the stripe. Every field contain one certain species of perennial, and together they create a scenery of different texture, colour and hight when moving both inside and outside of the greenery. Tall grasses and flowering perennials are specifically chosen to give blooming the whole growing season of the year.
The submerged planting is framed by granite walls. The hard-made parts of the streets are coated with Swedish cobblestones of three types, with walkways of large concrete slabs. Aiming to facilitate cyclists, the traffic lane has fields of flat more accessible cobblestones.
The street was rewarded with Architects Sweden’s prize for best landscape architecture 2019.
Landscape Architecture: AJ Landskab
Other designers involved in the design of landscape: Ramboll
Project location: Jaktgatan and Lövängsgatan, Norra Djurgårdsstaden, Stockholm, Sweden
Design year: 2004-2014
Year Built: 2014-2015
Photo: Kasper Dudzik
Designers: AJ Landskap /
