Skogskyrkogarden - Sweden

We were very fortunate to be able to visit this world Heritage site all the way in Stockholm. I see cemeteries every now and then usually when I’m on the bus to university I pass one. Never has it ever occurred to my mind to visit one without visiting a loved one that has passed. So the idea to visit Skogskyrkogarden in Sweden was a bit irregular for me however our course director assured us that this is worth the wait. Now bearing in mind there had been a heavy snow storm in Sweden the week before so practically everything was covered in a very thick layer of snow. I was surprised at just how easy they cope with it as appose to this country then again they get copious amounts of it. Skogskyrkogarden was originally a large forest that has been converted into a cemetery and that’s what makes it special. It’s the fact the incredible landscape has hardly been tampered with rather respected and in return a sense of respect for what has been accomplished must be observed.





Walking around this place you can’t help but feel tiny, the very size and purpose makes you feel just how small life is and that it will have an end. Yet everything is so beautiful and peaceful, like a walk in the park. Snow of course has a dramatic affect on the landscape; its white colour creates a seamless affect on any landscape making everything the same. However I would have preferred to see Skogskyrkogarden without the snow as I wanted to see what it really was without the facade of snow.

Windrush square - Brixton

I went to a site tour of Windrush square in Brixton organised by the NLA urban markers. We were led into a church were the initial presentation would take place outlining the project from start to finish. We were shown images of what the square use to look like and can be described at cluttered, unclear and would be avoided by people. The square and the surrounding areas were a hubbub or crime. There was people drinking alcohol daily around the square which put a lot of people off. Crime around this particular area had been quite bad due to this and the drug dealers and thieves. I remember growing up people told me Brixton was a rough place and not so nice so I can see were people would get this idea from. However this is why Brixton had decided to redesign the square and its surrounding areas. It is also a way to improve transportation links by cars, buses and bicycles.

Initial plans to create a far more open space that invites rather than deters people had been hatched by London Borough of Lambeth, the London Development Agency, Design for London, designers Atkins plc and landscape architects GROSS.MAX.

Starting from the beginning there were issues regarding the initial planning:

• Increased through traffic in nearby streets due to proposed road closures
• Value of money for overall scheme, including roads re alignment
• Loss of existing trees
• Under sized grass areas
• The need to reinstate the public toilets.
• Need for active programme of uses to discourage drug dealers and street drinkers

The issues that were raised during construction were mainly the fact that the road closures caused so much traffic and the space available for footpaths.

The issues that have arisen since the opening of the square are:
• Risk of inadequate protection of retained features
• Mist fountain can be potential hazard in the cold and windy weathers
• Cluttered layout risks the potential for large scale events
• Loss of public toilet provision

I was told during the presentation that the square has had trouble executed large scale events so that matter must still yet to be resolved. The space to be did seem quite open and accessible and there were adequate green space in contrast with the granite. The one large tree is a triumph that looks magnificent and grand, there are other smaller trees but don’t quite catch your eye. Traffic and bus routes have improved greatly and there has been a reduction in accidents .The need to reinstate a public toilet seems unnecessary. Crime has actually been reduced by 30% which in my belief is quite an accomplishment and shows that designing goes far more than just aesthetics. The benefit to cost ratio is an amazing 5.5:1. There has been positive pedestrian flow through the space as a whole and the informal seating has gone down well. Overall I was pleasantly surprised by the space and did not expect to see quite a well developed plan and strategy.

London's Serppentine's summer Pavilion

Last year I visited the Serpentine Gallery and noticed quite a large construction site and was quite keen to know what would replace the Frank Gehry structure. So it was quite a pleasant surprise when i was on the bus reading the Metro newspaper when and came across a very interesting article. What caught my attention was the colour RED. It would appear that the construction site had been the making of a new summer pavilion for the following year designed by Jean Nouvel . The Pavilion is almost entirely decked out in red, red walls, curtains, chairs and tables even the floor. It mainly features as a cafe selling food and drinks quite pricey but expected for the area. It does feel quite surreal walking through the space as you are thrust into a world of red. I was pleasantly surprised to see a small area dedicated to urban agriculture. They had peppers, green chillies and tomatoes; this type of endeavour in the urban space seems to be growing quite nicely. I also noticed that on the far side of the Pavilion they had created a row chess boards. As i was with a friend we sat down to play a few games, however as the sun was very hot that day and the shade in that was not so good so we could’nt play many games. Whilst we were playing an Italian news reporter asked us if she could take pictures so hopefully i can find these pictures online and post them too.

As i was walking around the forest area in Liverpool i found that it is a perfect example as to how the walking experience would be like if i was walking around the forest in my proposal for New Brighton.

These are part of my walking experience on the route i picked in New Brighton.