Flex square : a robust and flexible square for today’s contemporary dilemmas Stora torget, Falköping

Abstract: The year 2020 will be remembered as a year that both shook and changed our society completely when the COVID-19 pandemic spread and affected people all around the world. Never before in modern times have green urban public spaces been as important for both the citizens and for the environment. However, the pandemic is not the only contemporary crisis that is affecting the world. Global warming has devastating consequences all over the world with rising sea levels, increased bush fires, more frequent extreme weather and intense heat waves. These contemporary issues are affecting both humanity and biodiversity and efforts to mitigate these issues. This master thesis focuses on the consequences these issues have for the urban city and how to mitigate them while making urban city centres inclusive and welcoming for citizens. An urban city center is meant to be inclusive and welcoming for all, no matter gender, background or age. Although, it is not always easy to satisfy everyone since people have different opinions and needs, and trying to achieve the goal of making the city centre inclusive and welcoming for everyone may have negative effects on other aspects. An urban dilemma is defined as “two or more competing goals, such as stakeholder interest and related strategies which potentially fail to achieve their aims as implementing one strategy hampers or prevents the achievement of another” (Riegler & Bylund 2020, p. 19). The aim of this work is to create a robust and sustainable design proposal for Stora Torget in Falköping city center. A robust and sustainable design proposal means that it must be prepared for both contemporary and future crises such as pandemics and climate change. By defining Stora torget’s dilemmas, the Flex square was created. The Flex square, or as we can call it, the flexible square, is designed to easily adapt to different needs and conditions, which could be different seasons, time of the day, different groups like women, girls, children, youth, men, elderly or other sexual or ethical minorities. The Flex square is a place that is inclusive and safe for all, provides meeting points and privacy, greenery and recreation, a clear moving pattern whilst practicing social distancing, as well as includes sustainable adaptation measures to mitigate climate change.