TO KEEP or NOT TO KEEP are these the only ways forward? A study for future development in environment of national cultural importance of Södra Änggården

Abstract

Today sustainability is a big focus within construction and architecture. Simultaneously the preservation of older architecture is a great interest of the general public as well as an important topic in politics. These two subjects have been a main focus of many courses during my studies at Chalmers and I became interested in examining when sustainability and preservation work in symbiosis and when they don’t. To study this topic I decided to conduct a case study of the renovation and innovation project of eighth slatted houses located in the southern parts of Änggården in Gothenburg. Familjebostäder is the owner of the houses and the apartments have been rented to different tenants since 1945. Since the houses have deteriorated over time they are in great need of renewal but the design options are however limited since the buildings are included Gothenburg conservation program from 2000 and the area is protected under the National Interest for Cultural Heritage Slottsskogen - Botanical Garden - Änggården (O 2:7). This case study will address the issue of conservation and design innovation of a building limited by the laws and regulations on preservation in PBL and BBR as well as the previous renovations conducted in the building . In society today I can see that our built environment is treated in a dual manner with great contrast. There are buildings that have had the chance to stand for its entire projected life cycle where the goal is to preserve the built environment in more or less original condition against the passage of time. Or, the buildings are demolished halfway through their intended lifecycle to make way for a new, bigger, more efficient or a more ”environmentally friendly” building. In this work I will explore the possibility of combining these two ways of looking at our built environment. Is it possible to preserve while still developing our built environment? Is it possible to add new architecture to fulfil the needs of tomorrow’s society while still honouring the original architecture and the cultural values of the area?