Trädgårdsmästarbostaden : gestaltning av en visningsträdgård med växter från Nationella genbankens samlingar

Abstract: Older cultural plants that has been gathered within the framework of the Program for cultivated diversity (Pom), are preserved in the Swedish National genebank for vegetatively propagated horticultural crops. Pom is a result of the Rio-convention that in 1992 lead to the Swedish Riksdag taking a strategic decision. This strategic decision described how Sweden should work with biological diversity and how we can work to preserve and protect endangered species (Naturvårdsverket, 2006). The Swedish National genebank for vegetatively propagated horticultural crops, is based in Alnarp, Skåne. The staff have their office in the gardener’s house, built 1938 to the gardener at Statens trädgårdsförsök (Alnarpsarkivet, 1962). There is no place in Alnarp today where the plants from the genebank’s collection can be displayed in a garden context. The purpose has been to create a proposal for a design of a garden display on behalf of the Swedish National genebank for vegetatively propagated horticultural crops in Alnarp. Interviews with the staff at the National genebank was conducted to understand what plants they would like displayed in the garden and what functions they require. Research have been made, partly in archives in Alnarp at Swedish university of agricultural sciences and partly in regional state archives in Lund, to see whether there is anything in the history of the garden or the gardener’s house that could form a basis for a future garden display. Analysis of the location has been done where the soil was analyzed. The garden was measured, existing trees and shrubs and their vitality inventoried. These activities resulted in a current situation plan which have been one of the bases for the display. To get inspiration on how the garden area could be displayed, in a way that ties in to the plant material, at the time the house was built, to the geographical position and the purpose with the garden, information has been gathered in the garden literature. To highlight the colorful cultural plants in the National genebank’s collection, the display proposal has been given a formal design with inspiration from different eras within garden history. The proposal includes a presentation of an illustration, an axonometri, elevations, a detailed planting plan of trees, shrubs and perennials, a combined equipment plan and planting plan of bulbs, root tubers and corms, plant list, a list of materials with associated pictures and 3D images of views. The design proposal which this work has resulted in, means that the wishes of the staff for plants and functions had a big impact on the design. This also means that several of the existing trees have been preserved to give the garden its character and a sense of matureness. The plants that have been chosen from the genebank’s collection also have good possibilities to thrive on the location. An assessment was made based on soil analysis and partly also on other conditions such as light, competition with other plants etc. This also means that an assessment has been made of the previous use of the garden and of disability adaptions and safety devices. A display garden would also mean that plants in the National genebank’s collection can be displayed in a more accessible way, in a context and an aesthetic way together with other plants. This would give the visitors a better view of how the plants could be used than displayed in the genebank where the focus is on preservation rather than the aesthetic.