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Frihamnstorget - developing modular creative zones

Reference number
Coordinator Blivande Idéer AB
Funding from Vinnova SEK 3 304 500
Project duration November 2021 - January 2024
Status Completed
Venture Future attractive habitats
Call Future attractive habitats - lessons learned from pandemic

Important results from the project

On a former parking lot in Frihamnen, an urban village for craftsmen, cultural workers, artists and entrepreneurs has emerged. It is a so-called "third place", neither private nor public, which shows how modularity can contribute to the new living environments of the future. Through the project, Frihamnstorget has been able to establish ten new container modules and create green spaces, art and infrastructure for water, electricity and fire safety. The result is a unique cultural platform and urban community that innovates temporary urban development for areas in transition.

Expected long term effects

The project has pioneered a new interpretation of build permit rules for temporary architecture, iterative working methods and modular constructions, that opens a way for similar projects to be established. Frihamnstorget is thus a concrete pilot example of how the city´s spaces can be activated in the meantime while awaiting explotaition. The project will provide feedback into the city´s planning process for Frihamnen and will thus have effects far beyond the end of the project.

Approach and implementation

Frihamnstorget´s approach has been to work with modular methods in the form of converted shipping containers. As the user owns their own module, the project has investigated how the artist´s agency in gentrification processes is affected. We have an organization that is fast-moving and adaptive, which has been a key factor in the success of the project as we have been affected by external factors such as the need for building permit and the current recession, which has meant that the work of recruiting and setting up new container modules has followed a different process than intended.

External links

The project description has been provided by the project members themselves and the text has not been looked at by our editors.

Last updated 31 January 2024

Reference number 2021-03764