A house for a person is not at home - A critical analysis and design proposal for Hökarängen and Gubbängen

Abstract: Since most of the inner city of Stockholm and its nearest surroundings is built, the city is now aiming its strategy of development towards the suburbs of the outer city. Two of these are Hökarängen and Gubbängen of which both have seen several housing densification projects lately. The regional plan states how planning investments in the outer parts of the city should contribute with public space and urban connections. Despite this, what is built is housing with low public ambitions. In this thesis I therefore propose how Hökarängen and Gubbängen could be developed in terms of public space that contribute to the urban connection of the two suburbs. I propose a series of typical public buildings, a bath, a library, a cinema, and a theater. The bath attaches itself to the character of Gubbängsfältet as a sports and recreational field. The library and the cinema are placed in the middle of the two suburbs as a central meeting place, while the theater is placed towards Hökarängen. The gathering buildings are kept together by lower perimeter buildings creating embraced courtyards for cultural meetings, recreation, bath, and play.