Sjödalsparken by LAND Arkitektur

Water is at the heart of Sjödalsparken, the new public park situated somewhat secretly behind Huddinge center. In the new design scheme for the park, Fullerstaån – a water stream hidden beneath the park – is brought back into the light and consciousness of people.

The entire central Huddinge area is built on ancient lakebed, and the land holds remnants of the landscape that once existed here, mainly found in the clay soils of the ground. Before Huddinge centrum was developed, this land was farmland, with the Fullersta water stream (Fullerstaå) running through the open fields. In the 1950s, the stream was diverted into an underground culvert with the support of government funding, hiding a vital part of Huddinge’s water system from public view.

Huddinge, although rich in nature and parks, lacked a central urban park. With the development of Huddinge centrum, it was decided that the strategically located Sjödalsparken would be revitalized and upgraded into Huddinge’s main urban park. LANDs proposal enhances the park’s existing structure, primarily improving its current qualities while adding new elements where possible.

Sjödalsparken serves as a green lung and living room for the people of Huddinge. It’s a place for daily movement and a gathering spot for weekend picnics and socializing. Throughout the year, the park hosts numerous activities, including Walpurgis and midsummer celebrations, Huddinge Days, sport sessions and jazz and blues festivals. Through the introduction of two spatial sequences, the landscape park and the people’s park, all functions that could be expected from a main park are addressed. The concept of a landscape park is based on making Fullerstaå visible by pumping water from the culvert and guiding it through the space in a system of channels and collection areas. Creating new biotopes, adding aesthetical value and sensory experiences, opportunities for play as well as a connection to the hidden water beneath. By revealing the hidden waterway of Fullerstaå the park connects the landscape of today to the history that shaped the land.

The west-east sequence draws inspiration from the traditional people’s park and includes the entrance area, the formal garden, the stage area, picnic spaces, and the fruit orchard. The new design builds upon the existing framework of vegetation and the main structure with two circular spaces, which are spatially reinforced through added vegetation. At the center, a large grass surface that, alongside the park’s partially altered topography, has been distinctly scooped, enhancing the spatial experience while also improving the ability to manage stormwater in the natural low point where the park is located.

The vegetation concept preserves the existing structure of trees and shrubs, reinforcing it both structurally and in biodiversity. By integrating water, meadow areas, and dense shrubland, increasing species diversity, and managing stormwater and runoff from the adjacent urban area, the project adds significant ecological value to the site and its surroundings. The project received substantial funding from the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning’s ‘Greener Cities’ fund to create new biotopes that benefit plant and animal life, as well as a transition to meadow areas (1/3 of all open spaces), increased canopy coverage, stormwater and runoff management, and a nature-based educational program for play and specially designed informational signs.

Several of LAND’s specific design methods were influential in the design process. Throughout, the work continued based on LAND’s established site-visit methodology, conducting careful inventory and 1:1 scale testing on-site. By repeatedly verifying the designs in the actual location, adjustments were made to the design based on the discoveries made.

Great attention was paid to the detailed design of the various objects and furniture specifically created for the park, a combination of physical models and 3D modelling played part in the design process. The different elements that make Fullerstaå visible and guiding it through the park was in particular focus; the brick water channel with integrated lighting, the pond with water lily planting and custom-designed light poles that reflect the surroundings, a streambed with crossing wooden bridges, the boardwalk in the wetland area, and the miniature water table representing the lake system, including Fullerstaå and Sjödalsparken. Several of these components feature integrated lighting, playing an important role in providing a sense of safety and enhancing the park’s experiential qualities during the winter months. These elements contribute significantly to the park’s intricate details and are an essential part of the overall design, which seeks to create a cohesive experience from the large scale down to the smallest detail.

Other credits:
Michael Hallbert (light), Robert Jönsson och Peter Ridderstolpe (water), Eva Åberg (construction leading), Greens Anläggning AB.

Photo credit: Ulf Lundin and Björn Bergman.

Client: Huddinge municipality

Location: Sjödalsparken, 141 47 Huddinge, Sweden

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