Droppeparken; where the city’s rhythm meets nature’s cycle : a design proposal to raise awareness on stormwater in Goathenburg

Abstract: We live in a time of disruption as a consequence of climate change. Our cities are facing increasingly extreme weather events such as drought, more frequent rainfall and flooding. Therefore, in order to address these challenges, urban planning and landscape design can be utilized to find sustainable solutions and at the same time create attractive urban environments. With this vulnerability in mind, waterside cities such as Gothenburg need to be open to adopting new sustainable stormwater practices that use blue-green infrastructure. In recent years, sustainable stormwater management and strategies to achieve this such as Low Impact Development (LID) have been practiced in many urban projects. Hence, the technical aspects of this approach are very well developed. However, from a social perspective less attention has been given to how these systems can potentially increase the quality of life between buildings. The integration of open storm water systems in public spaces is an area that has a great potential for research. In addition, communication with the public about an open stormwater design can be a challenge if the aim is not understood correctly. Pedagogical design can be used as a tool to overcome this challenge and better inform citizens about extreme weather events. Through the application of research-by-design and the investigation of open stormwater projects in northern Europe, this project aims to explore the potential for designing a similar system for the Eriksberg area of Gothenburg. An important outcome of this project is to demonstrate that storytelling in design can be used as a pedagogical tool to raise awareness of environmental issues. The design proposal introduces elements in the design area that narrate the story of a falling raindrop. These elements integrate the technical solutions of stormwater management with the visual and acoustic characteristics of water to create a multisensory experience. This emphasises the role of water to represent the identity of the place. The design presents a story that highlights the identity of the place and potentially helps visitors to understand the designer’s intention. This will possibly encourage active participation of inhabitants. Finally, it is crucial to have a multidisciplinary perspective when working with stormwater projects. In addition, investment in prototyping and innovative test beds offer new possibilities for waterside cities that explore social and artistic potential.