The permeability of a site: searching for a definition of the waterfront

Abstract: This project deals with the relationship between Stockholm and the water, investigating its history and searching for a definition of its future. As a city, Stockholm is defined by water; it creates physical distance in the city, but at the same time visually ties it together. Looking specifically at Söder Mälarstrand, an undefined waterfront with great potential, this project seeks to understand the current state of this site and propose a new use for it. How can this urban landscape be defined to accommodate a contemporary use of the waterfront? What should such a development look like architecturally? As a research method, this project looks beyond the physical extension of the site to the images of it constantly reproduced. Without romanticizing the past, the research searches for the character of the site to find a potential for its future use. The project proposes a new use of the waterfront. The quay is widened, and the new space that is created is anchored by the addition of three new volumes programmatically linked to the existing activity on the site, while also allowing new uses in the future. This approach aims to create a more defined public space, making the site permeable.