There are references to the High Line in New York and the benched landscape of Roppongi Hills in Tokyo; at least if you chose to believe what visitors to our Pop Up Park on Humlegårdsgatan say about the experience. Here, on the street’s lower 50 meters we have created a temporary street park, commissioned by the life insurance company Gamla Liv, and the City of Stockholm. We feel it’s like the living room moving out into the street, to meet Danish sand dunes and Italian sorbet.

Four similar Pop Up Parks will be created in Stockholm during the summer of 2016 with the ambition to highlight the potential of a handful of specific streets and their surrounding area.

Danish sand dunes meets Italian sorbet.

“Our analysis of Humlegårdsgatan is that it’s quite a narrow, dirty and noisy street. Despite being busy it’s quite anonymous, with little-to-no space for relaxation.

Pause, play, and stay

The aim with this project is to strengthen the path between the popular Stureplan and Östermalmstorg Squares, and also highlight Humlegårdsgatan as a destination with a character of its own. We wanted to brighten it up, give it air and add places to pause – rather than simply pass by. A room to live in,” says Åse Larsson, architect in charge at Tengbom.

A cluster of wooden platforms, painted in mint green and pink, actively reduces the pace on the street, where all traffic by car is forbidden during the time the park is open. The wooden furniture become urban stylized islands, with seats in different levels and in all directions. By docking them to the pavement we extend the width of the ‘outside room’ and erase the borders between street and pavement. So far, the islands have been used for both morning meditation and as a buffet stand when the park was inaugurated.

“We wanted to create a space that is easy going, democratic and filled with activity.”

– Oscar Malmerberg and Anders Brandstedt

“We’re happy to see passersby and people in the area already making the park their own, using it for their own purposes. We wanted to create a space that is easy going, democratic and filled with activity, so it’s really fulfilling our vision,” says Oscar Malmerberg and Anders Brandstedt, landscape architects at Tengbom.

Summer vibes on the street

Greenery fills the islands, and sorbet-colored paint enhances the summery feel. Even the ground features a sprinkle-like pattern, adding to the playful atmosphere. A careful analysis of the traffic flow and current conditions shaped the concept. The goal was to find ways to improve the area while bringing in a sense of fun and relaxation. If the initiative proves successful, the Traffic Office and the City of Stockholm may see potential for more Pop Up Parks. Larger, perhaps even permanent, versions could appear across the city. Together, we reclaim the streets.

Gamla Liv initiated the project. As the property owner on both sides of the street, they played a key role in making it happen.