A city block that heals the urban fabric

In autumn 2018, we initiated the groundwork for the zoning plan for the Gåsen City Block in Skebäck, Örebro. Marge Arkitekter was commissioned by property owner Länsgården Fastigheter AB to design two city blocks on the outskirts of central Örebro with space for several types of activities. Located next to the Svartån river, the city blocks are adjacent to Skytte Park and the Wadköping Open Air Museum and to the north-west it borders the area of Central Örebro, which is of national interest.

Historically, the area had a distinct urban character comprising three-storey residential buildings and smaller premises. These were demolished in the 1970s and replaced by a number of single-storey volumes consisting of a health centre, a residential care home and a large-scale catering establishment, all of which were populated mainly during daytime. The design created a perceived barrier to the previously integrated part of the city. Consequently, an important factor in the zoning plan was to reestablish the area’s interconnecting function in the urban fabric by recreating a coherent city block structure that harmonises with its surroundings.

To anchor the process, a comprehensive analysis was carried out, beginning with workshops with the City Planning Office, the City Antiquarian, representatives of local businesses and services, the City Architect, the Municipality and the property owners. The main aim of this process was to reach consensus on the development of the area, ensuring a functioning activity allocation model included risk assessments. The process also focussed on understanding the national interest for the cultural environment that the area is part of, which is why the County Administrative Board was brought on board early in the process. The presentation that formed the basis for the adoption of the zoning plan clearly identified the character of the area and what the city blocks wished to achieve in the city.

The new zoning plan has created space for a new healthcare centre, underground parking, a restaurant, commercial premises, housing, a pre-school and a residential care home. The goal is to recreate the grid structure that is designated as being of national interest while acknowledging the adjacent typologies. A grid system comprising three storey + attic buildings and clearly defined urban spaces is reintroduced facing the park and the street. While the height of the buildings facing the lower wooden structures of the Wadköping Open Air Museum has been reduced to two stories. The reinforced connections and paths running through the city blocks contribute to creating a clearly defined intertwined area that heals the urban fabric.