ABC 2.0
The development of a growing metro city
Stockholm is one of the fastest growing regions in Europe. More and more people move into the area and in 2020, over one million people are expected to be living in this city. New homes, better public transport, commerce and service – available to all – are some of the challenges that have to be solved in order to create a good living environment for all the people of Stockholm.
The classic ABC city
The city concept, ABC, where the residents were to have access to Work, Home and a Town centre (Arbete, Bostad och Centrum), became very popular when planning the suburbs of Stockholm in the 50s, prime examples of which are Vällingby och Farsta. The need for an innovative approach was the result of the great housing crisis and the flocking of people to Stockholm after the second world war. The ABC city solved many challenging problems but it also created a new one – in reality, the city became fragmented and spread out over a large area. The suburbs became satellites that did not connect.
The railway station is the hub of the ABC 2.0
The result of the ABC project is what we see today. At the same time, we are facing a similar challenge including an enormous housing crisis. We need to find innovative and creative solutions and think in a different way when it comes to the existing environment. In the concept ABC 2.0, we would like to focus on the enormous potential of the railway/bus stations, both as a cross roads for public transport and a hub for our new travel patterns, as well as a catalyst for the development of all of Stockholm. Instead of fragmenting the city, we want to gather and concentrate it.
The station is the starting point of our concept, where we combine housing, services, and commerce. By using space more efficiently and building upwards, we create new types of homes with greater variety. The concept allows for more housing, better services, and improved accessibility. Shops, restaurants, and other activities add life to the public space.
