Design process

The design process is notable for the extremely high degree of local authority leadership, which permeates every stage from the development of the Masterplan to building on the ground.  The implementation and control of design is facilitated by the fact that the City has acquired the majority of land in Hammarby Sjöstad.

The design process started with the strategic Masterplan, the preparation of which was led by architect, Jan Inghe-Hagström, at Stockholms City Planning Bureau.  The plan is divided into twelve sub-districts, which are being implemented as a series of development phases, six of which have been developed to date.

A design process termed "parallel sketches" has been adopted in the preparation of detailed Masterplan for each sub-district.  The City selects three to four architects/masterplanners in the private sector who are appointed to 'test' the strategic Masterplan and draw up more detailed proposals for the sub-district. The chief planner at the City Planning Bureau responsible for Hammarby Sjöstad emphasised that they try to choose new architects for each sub-district, where possible, and that they encourage young architects and up-and-coming firms to take part.  The city evaluates the sketches and assimilates the best features from each to arrive at an agreed detailed Masterplan. 

Design codes

In order to complement the detailed plan, the City planning and design team then prepares a design code for each sub-district, in close partnership with the chosen developers and architects for each plot.  The design code forms an appendix to the development agreement between the City and the developer partner.  The aim is to establish a level of quality for the development that both the City and developer agree on.  The design code is taken through the local authority political process and therefore forms the basis for agreeing planning permission.

The design code sets out principles under a number of headings:

District character, combining traditional inner city (European) built form with modern architecture influenced and inspired by Hammarby Sjöstad's natural environment.  Key to this character is the mix of businesses and uses, density, built form (blocks built around inner courtyard or play area), public spaces and relationship to the water.

Layout, form and structure, including guidelines for each block, key landmark buildings, public spaces and pedestrian routes.  The guidelines are not prescriptive with regards to which materials are to be used or the number of storeys, but a descriptive rationale behind the concept for each block or key buildings is set out, which makes clear the principles which should apply, but which also manages to retain significant scope for innovation.  Two and three-dimensional illustrations are used to illustrate concepts.

Architectural style - a five-point programme for architectural style is set out as follows:

1. Traditional Stockholm inner-city character
2. Sjöstad local distinctiveness (larger dwellings compared to inner city, greater variation between buildings in terms of height and form, greater emphasis on outdoor spaces, balconies and terraces, flat roofs, greater variation of materials)
3. Building form and architectural style to reflect hierarchy of open spaces which buildings relate to (for example taller, more prominent buildings along waterfront and esplanade)
4. Scale, order and variation - density guidelines are set out but an emphasis on maintaining quality and variation is also articulated.
5. Architectural trends - this section articulates how the modern architecture in Hammarby Sjostad should both draw inspiration from and differ from early "modernist" architecture.  Similarities should include preserving the natural environment where possible and using it as inspiration rather than flattening for development, as well as light, views, access to green space, flat roofs, clean lines, light colours.  But this should be combined with the density and hierarchy of spaces prevalent in the traditional inner city and the architecture should be place-specific and respond to its local environment.  There is also an emphasis on mixed use rather than separation of uses.

Building types - different building types are identified (for example either long, thin blocks of 12m width or a large "cube" with dimensions of 40x40m).  For each building type, the number and location of stairwells is defined, as are the number of apartments (and apartment sizes) per floor.

Building design principles - façade materials, location of stairwells, window and balcony arrangement, roof type, and including specific guidelines for each block or key landmark building.

Building elements - guidelines and dimensions for entrances, balconies, windows and roofing, including dimensions, proportions, colours and materials.  Guidelines vary for each block and include sketches and drawings with measurements.

Apartment standards - layout, daylight, height of rooms, access to outdoor space, sound insulation and accessibility requirements for entrances, balconies, terraces and outdoor space.

Standards for additional services, including:

- Storage, stating a preference for storage within individual apartments and where this is not possible, to be located within reach of the stairwell and accessible by lift. 
- Laundry, stating a preference for space to be allocated within the bathrooms of apartments for both washing machine and dryer.  Alternatively, a laundry room to be provided for each stairwell.
- Garages, specifying height and accessibility for mobility impaired.
- Refuse collection, specifying a minimum distance from main apartment entrance to rubbish chute specified as 30m.

Building colour - Guidelines are given for each block and key landmark buildings, including façades and building details (windows, balconies, entrances, roofing).  The rationale behind the choice of colour palettes is described.

Design of courtyards and open spaces - reference is made to defining public and private space, the proportion of green to hard open space (50%), choice of planting, play areas, materials for hard areas and lighting standards.

Detailed architectural and design principles for each plot, to ensure distinctiveness - at this stage, 3-D images of each block are provided together with a detailed description of architectural and urban design form, making reference to links to open space and other blocks.  Drawings of typical apartment floorplans are provided, as well as sample designs for open spaces and courtyards.

Design of public spaces, parks and streets, including landscaping, paving, lighting and street furniture
Guidelines for public spaces are provided through a combination of 3-D illustrations, 2D plans and descriptive text setting out context and rationale.  2D plans and sections are provided to set standards for street and pavement width, cycle lanes and location of street furniture.  Standards for different types of streets are set out, including esplanade, tram stop and local streets.  A detailed lighting plan is provided, including street lighting, building lighting and lighting as part of street furniture and public art.  Street furniture - prescriptive approach, similar to lighting.

Appointment of development teams

Consortia of developers and architects are then invited to take forward the development of each plot or individual building within the sub-district, in order to ensure architectural diversity and a fine grain to the development, within the umbrella of a unifying code.  Each sub-district typically has between four and eleven plots depending on the size and complexity of development.

The biggest challenges for implementation were considered to be decontamination of land, land reclamation and relocation of a large number of small low-grade industrial businesses such as car breakers and scrap yards, which is an ongoing and expensive process.

Environmental programme

A politically-driven and now internationally-renowned sustainability programme lies at the heart of the project. The programme includes targets for decontamination, use of brownfield land, provision of public transport options to discourage car use, energy consumption, recycling of water and waste. 

In particular, the Hammarby Sjöstad project has piloted a new 'Hammarby model' for recycling energy, waste and water management, which has been developed jointly by Birka Energy, Stockholm Water Company and the City of Stockhom Waste Management Bureau.  The target for the project is to be twice as environmentally effective as normal new build projects in the inner city.  For example, new apartments in Hammarby Sjöstad should use half the amount of water compared to new apartments in the inner city.  Targets are monitored on information boards in the district as well as on the Hammarby Sjöstad website.

Sewage water is cleaned and purified at a large sewage plant just outside the area and the waste recycled into natural gas, which is used as an energy source for the neighbourhood.  Heat produced through the purification process is recycled for use at a district-heating unit.  Hammarby Sjöstad also has its own pilot sewage treatment centre, which opened in 2003.  The unit recycles nutrients from sewage for use on agricultural land.  Surface water is cleaned locally.  Any combustible waste produced is recycled into heat energy for use in the apartments.  Each apartment block has recycling facilities. Biodegradable waste is composted nearby.

In order to educate and encourage residents to make full use of all of the environmental features of the area, an environmental education centre - the Glass House - has been built in the centre of the district.  The centre provides an opportunity for Stockholm Water, the City's street cleaning department and the energy company, Fortum, to showcase the range of technical solutions used across Hammarby Sjöstad.  The Glass House also provides advice to local residents on environmental issues and organises presentations for study visits and regular exhibitions.  The Glass House centre cost in the region of £2m to build - costs were underwritten by the City of Stockholm, with approximately one third funded by a Local Investment Programme grant.  Ongoing revenue funding for the centre (approximately £110,000 a year) is split equally between Stockholm Water, Fortum and the City of Stockholm's land development bureau.