Turning our Backs to the Cars to Face the Water by Felicia Emanuelsson

Transforming parking space
to meeting point and market
in the city centre of Gothenburg

In the city centre of my hometown Gothenburg, Kungstorget (The Kings Square) is situated. The square is placed in front of Saluhallen (Gothenburg’s food hall), close to the moat, green parks, public transportation, restaurants, cafés, shops and the great theatre. The name and the magnificent placement might give the impression of a square full of life. Unfortunately a more describing name would be The Kings Parking Place. The only movement at the place are the cars driving around in circles to find a free spot. My project is positioned at this square and the assignment is to transform the parking lot to a meeting point in the city by designing a public building at its place. The new building, a bazaar, creates an inviting place in the city and it has a strong relation to the history of the square, to Saluhallen and to the moat.

The square is a site with wasted potentials. There, typical for Gothenburg, cars have been the main priority. There are on-going projects with the goal to reduce the cars in the city. The discussion of what to do with the existing parking lots when the amount cars are decreased becomes important. I believe that to reduce the parking lots could be seen as an effective way to start the trend of fewer cars in the city. The starting point of my project was therefore to remove the parking lots and to re-direct the roads at the square. The wonderful square should be for people, not for cars.

Kungstorget has the potential of becoming the meeting place in the city that Gothenburg is missing. The square has great placement, easy access, attractive aesthetic and interesting history.

The round shape of the bazaar gives a hint of the historical building and works well with the trees at the site. The circle can create a connection with the water at one direction and generate an intimate square at the other. The bazaar also creates a new space beneath the branches and the modules twines through the tree trunks.

The program of the bazaar invites people to the square and offers activities, food, seating, walking routes and shopping. The building can be used as suggested but it can also be seen as a framework which can be adapted after wishes and needs and that can be transformed from day to night and throughout the different seasons.

Name: Felicia Emanuelsson
Instagram: @felicia_e
Project name: Turning our Backs to the Cars to Face the Water
University: Aarhus School of Aarchitecture @aarchdk
Course and Year: Thesis Project, 10th semester project, 2017
Tutor: Karen Olesen