Many parents swing by Väständaparken after picking up their children from preschool. Just like the joggers who enjoy a run here. Or the dog owners who check off their daily stroll through the park.

Movement on multiple levels

With a significant elevation difference from the lower section in the southwest to the highest point in the northeast, we wanted to embrace the valley’s dynamic topography, shaped by nature. This way, the park connects the area’s older buildings with the newly developed neighborhoods, forming a cohesive district park. The seating areas are framed by slopes and terraced spaces, encouraging both high-energy activity and quiet moments. Through the park, an open green space winds its way, featuring lawns, stone dust, wood chips, and areas for play, exercise, and picnics—or sledding in the winter.

A staircase where you’ll want to linger

The natural, soft contours of the landscape meet structured, geometric elements such as staircases, walls, and wooden decks. We introduced a lightweight metal-grid staircase that connects the central parts of the park with the surrounding buildings. But the staircase is more than just a passage. With seating areas on different levels and a slide down to the play area, it becomes a place for both relaxation and activity.

— The soft shapes establish a clear connection to the landscape, while the structured, built elements add a sharper and more contemporary contrast, explains Jenny Söderlind, lead landscape architect at Tengbom.

The valley set the shape. We filled in the details.

A park that improves with time

The materials were chosen to withstand the test of time and age beautifully while also creating a resilient park environment. Wooden decks, concrete planting areas, and grass are recurring elements throughout the park, forming a cohesive whole that keeps the landscape at the forefront. Sunken planting beds and curved areas with blooming perennials and stepping stones manage rain and stormwater while creating exciting spaces for play.

Väständaparken is designed to welcome everyone—people of all ages and during all twelve months of the year—whether you want to move up, down, or simply sit and take in the surroundings. Alone or together with others.

Intense rainfall, driven by climate change, can have severe consequences. It erodes the ground, washing away roads and damaging building foundations, while also overloading drainage systems, allowing pollutants to enter lakes and rivers. This increases the risk of waterborne diseases affecting both humans and wildlife.

So how do we prevent this?

“We need to become better at treating water as a resource,” says Linnea Bohlin, landscape architect at Tengbom. “Many municipalities and water authorities are now recognising the benefits of stormwater ponds. Not only as efficient drainage solutions but also as attractive public spaces where people can interact with water in a meaningful way.”

When designing the pond, it was essential for us to see water as a resource.

Strengthening the natural landscape

Our landscape architects at Tengbom Uppsala worked on the design and planning of Gunsta stormwater pond, located east of Uppsala. The area is set to become a key recreational space as part of a broader development that includes 1,500 new homes.

The design carefully integrates the pond into the natural landscape, supporting biodiversity by creating diverse aquatic environments.

“We wanted to introduce a flowing body of water that would preserve, or even enhance, the openness of the existing landscape while also adding value for the people who live here,” Linnea explains.

Balancing technical demands with natural beauty

The project includes a pedestrian and cycling path with a bridge, offering panoramic views to the south and connecting residential areas on either side of the pond. Additional walking trails and seating areas invite people to stop, explore, and enjoy the surroundings.

“There were strict operational requirements, such as ensuring vehicle access around most of the facility,” Linnea explains. “To maintain the feeling of a nature path while still allowing for maintenance traffic, we covered half of the service road with grass. This makes it blend into the landscape while remaining functional for work vehicles.”

Planting for variety

To keep construction costs down and reduce resource use, we chose smaller plants and repurposed local stone blocks.

“Adding vegetation was key to creating a varied experience, but we also wanted to preserve the open character of the landscape”

Linnea

Sustainable water management despite unstable ground

The geotechnical conditions in Gunsta posed a significant challenge, with an increased risk of landslides. Additionally, the pond had to handle large volumes of water while delaying runoff to prevent flooding.

By designing the permanent water surface in a meandering shape, the pond helps slow down water movement, improving its natural filtering function. The system is designed to manage stormwater from a five-year rainfall event, while excess water from a ten-year event can be temporarily stored on nearby sports fields.

A nature-based design

The pond’s gentle, organic shape allows it to blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, creating a diverse experience for visitors moving through the park. The design also enhances the pond’s purification function, as the winding form forces water to move more slowly through the system.

“We’re incredibly proud to have contributed to a project that improves the local environment while promoting sustainable stormwater management,” says Linnea. “It reduces the burden on drainage systems and treatment plants, and by sharing space for multiple functions, less land is required overall. Multifunctionality for the win!”