Trollhättan city park

“Our aim was to transform Folkets Park into a city park that feels inviting and functional for everyone,” says Ludmila Sandqvist, landscape architect at Tengbom in Gothenburg.

The new City Park emerged by merging the culturally historic Folkets Park with the adjacent oak park Lunnen. A full renovation and upgrade were carried out on site, and the first phase of the City Park was inaugurated in 2022.

A place to gather, rooted in cultural heritage

An important aspect of the design process was to reinforce the park’s role as a gathering place while preserving its cultural heritage. This was achieved by creating a park accessible to all, where several different activities attract a wider audience. Today, visitors can gather in both large and small groups, relax, spend time or play across generous open spaces in the form of lawns, meet friends at the park’s entrance square and enjoy richly planted borders, as well as attend concerts and theatre performances.

Re-use and intelligent water management

Sustainability has been central throughout the development of Trollhättan City Park. The old park benches have been restored and reused.

“We used materials and solutions that are both durable and elegant,” says Ludmila. “By reusing and thinking smart, we have created a park that is both environmentally responsible and visually appealing.”

We prioritised effective stormwater management with permeable stone-dust surfaces and expansive planting beds. Water is used as a creative element, where stormwater is delayed in open systems. The park faces a high risk of flooding during heavy rainfall. For this reason, we aimed to reduce existing impermeable hard surfaces, primarily asphalt. The planting is a mix of traditional and contemporary species, selected to flower in different seasons and to attract both people and pollinators.

“To ensure the park feels alive year-round, for both people and wildlife, we chose plants that bloom at different times.”

Ludmila Sandqvist

Trollhättan City Park – event-flexible

A new fence now supports the park’s ability to host larger events. Redesigned entrances and circulation make the park feel open and welcoming — even when no events are taking place.

“We wanted to create a park that is flexible and can be used in many different ways,” concludes Ludmila. “At the same time, our ambition was for the park to be a safe and accessible place for everyone, regardless of the time of year.”