Clean up this mess? : in search for qualities and translation modes in the city district of Vilans strandängar

Abstract: Today we see a demand for diversity and specifics as well as a more process-orientated design within the field of architecture, landscape architecture and urban planning. We also see the need of transforming already existing structures so that they become resilient for economic, societal and climatic changes. The motivation of this master’s project is to explore the concept of site and time specificity and translation, and to experiment how these concepts can be carried out on a particular site, in this case, Vilans strandängar in the city of Kristianstad. The municipality of Kristianstad have plans to integrate Vilans strandängar, located on the fringe of the city, into the urban fabric in a sustainable way. In this thesis the site interpretations, the read qualities on site, have been the driving force behind the suggested development. The translation of qualities through strategic phasing, has formed the design process. This has been been done to avoid static design interventions. To conclude, this thesis shows in practice how an alternative design method, using extensive site readings and a method of phasing, can be helpful when developing site and time specific design proposals. It also shows how the concept of translation in practice can be helpful when striving to leave the thought of design as creation of the new.