In a city where green space and water is carefully considered, prioritised and implemented in the city planning, the ‘green and blue’ natural infrastructure can fill several functions, contribute to synergies, and supply ecosystem services. To date a total of 77,055 m2 of green space, such as green oases, green courtyards, and green roofs have been established in Stockholm Royal Seaport.
Etapp | Norra 2 | Brofästet | Gasverket Västra | Gasklocka 4 | Västra | Norra 1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Norra 2 | Brofästet | Gasverket Västra | Gasklocka 4 | Västra | Norra 1 | |
Status | Completed | Planned | Planned | Planned | Completed | Completed |
Proportion green area of total area, % | 33 | 34 | 17 | 67 | 39 | 46 |
Green oasis*, m²/residents | 6,2 | 5,5 | Not relevant | 18 | 5,6 | 11,7 |
Incorporating high-quality green areas in the public space is crucial to enable ecosystem services. All stormwater from the public space and excess water from the properties is, via inflow basins, led to plant beds consisting of a mixture of gravel, biochar and compost. The plant beds stores the water and ensures healthy plant growth. The plant beds temporarily detain the water which is then slowly discharged into Husarviken. In case of a downpour, ponds and watercourses have been designed to detain the water that otherwise would have caused flooding. Public parks and other green areas have been designed with capacity to store large quantities of water. Planted trees give shade, regulate the temperature, and reduce the effects of heat waves. Green areas also provide possibilities for recreation, peace, and proximity to nature.
Public green space accounts to 26% for the first two completed phases. In total, almost 50,000 m2 of green parks have been built, which is equivalent to an average of 20 m2 per residential apartment. See table 4.1 above.
Etapp | Norra 2 | Brofästet | Gasverket Västra | Gasklocka 4 | Västra | Norra 1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Norra 2 | Brofästet | Gasverket Västra | Gasklocka 4 | Västra | Norra 1 | |
Status | Completed | Planned | Planned | Planned | Completed | Completed |
Share of apartments that have access to parks and nature areas within 200 m | 100% | 100% | Not relevant | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Park, m² per apartment | 18 | 12 | Not relevant | 39 | 12 | 30 |
Rain gardens m² | 700 | 400 | 38 | UU | 2 350 | 0 |
Plant beds, m² | 137 | 904 | 500 | UU | 64 | 0 |
Trees, piece | 120 | 104 | 66 | UU | 209 | 118 |
Access to nature and green areas promote health and well-being. In Stockholm Royal Seaport the maximum walking distance a property to green area is 200 meters. See map below.
Stockholm Royal Seaport is located adjacent to the Royal National City Park, and the green structure in the northern part of the district is of great importance, as it is part of a dispersal network for species that live in oak-trees, as well as amphibians. In the planning and construction process, these environments have been preserved and enhanced by planting trees, as well as by building wetlands, pond, and a tunnel for the amphibians. Within the development, there are threatened red-listed and protected species, see map below.
The use of the Stockholm Royal Seaports Green Space Index (GSI), in combination with its stormwater water strategy contributes to well thought through solutions that benefits both nature, stormwater water detention and recreational qualities, within the building developments.
The size of the properties’ individual courtyards, roofs, and walls determines the size of eco-efficient surfaces required.
To achieve the set targets it is important that developers, architects and landscape architects collaborate in the early stages. In addition, the correctly constructed plant beds with ample soil depths, a large amount and variety of plants, and serially connected surface water solutions that supply the vegetation with water, are crucial for a good outcome.
In total, 16,700 m² of green roofs, and 12,850 m² of green courtyards have been built to date. See table 4.3 below.
Requirements:
Etapp/xx | Norra 2 | Brofästet | Gasverket Västra | Gasklocka 4 | Västra | Norra 1 | Värtaterminalen |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Norra 2 | Brofästet | Gasverket Västra | Gasklocka 4 | Västra | Norra 1 | Värtaterminalen | |
Status | Completed | Planned | Planned | Planned | Completed | Completed | Completed |
Proportion court yards that fulfills GYF | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 11% | 25% | 100% |
Proportion green roofs of total roof’s surface | 44% | 35% | 32% | 57% | 44% | 14% | 27% |
The first two phases, Norra 1 and Västra, lacked Green Space Index requirements when design began, as shown in chart below. The results show that in early design stages Green Space Index is higher than the final result. There are several reasons for this, for instance, lack of coordination between various disciplines such as architects, landscape architects, and structural and water and sanitation engineers. In the developments later phases there are plans to incorporate green roofs that can be used by the residents and at the same time provide several ecological values, so-called biotope roofs.
Norra 2 was the first phase with strict sustainability requirements. All developers met the requirements, but the high ambitions at the beginning of the process had to be modified during the course of the work. For example, the weight of the green roofs had not been properly accounted for in the structural design, which led to modifications, such as thinner sedum roofs. All roofs, courtyards, as well as several of the walls had to be used to achieve the requirements. The courtyards are designed to be used by the residents and are perceived to be greener than those built in the earlier phases.
In Brofästet, the Green Space Index requirements were exceeded with a larger margin during the design stage than in Norra 2. It is clear that the understanding of Green Space Index had increased, and that a system approach to the management of stormwater and integrated planting areas had been adopted early in the design process.
Due to their cultural and historical values of the buildings in Gasverket Västra the existing buildings are omitted from the requirements.
The surface area surrounding the sports centre, the school, and the preschool are subjected to a greater use than other courtyards, this makes it more difficult to achieve all the requirements. The school require hard surfaces for the kids to play on, this meant that the vegetation had to be placed on the border zones, roofs, and vertical surfaces.
Gasklocka 4 differs from other neighbourhoods in the district, as the surface of the courtyard is larger, which creates an atmosphere of a public park, with several social areas. The greenery consists of meadows and woodlands, with both open and dense areas, that create different rooms.
In general the early design for Södra Värtan exceeds the GSI requirements.
The area plans top use green roofs a more extensively than in previous phases, for example, several biotope roofs, and roof terraces with social qualities are being planned.
Ports of Stockholm have achieved a GSI of 0.39. The terminal has a green roof that covers about 50% of its areas with many perennial plants, which makes the roof feel like a garden.
The voluntary requirements have not been met, as they were introduced too late in the planning process. Consequently, the results have not been reviewed by the City of Stockholm and are based on reports by the developers.
The voluntary requirements have not been met, as they were introduced too late in the planning process. Consequently, the results have not been reviewed by the City of Stockholm and are based on reports by the developers.
(Only in Swedish)
Green Space Index is a tool for calculating the eco-efficient surface, i.e. the surface that contributes positively to the ecosystem and the local climate of the area, as well as social values related to greenery and/or water.
Ecosystem services consist of all the various benefits that humans obtain from nature, and that contribute to our welfare and quality of life. Urban nature is more than just decoration for the city’s residents, it also has many important functions. Through good planning, one green area can contribute to improved public health, provide food for insects, reduce noise, and manage rainwater, all at the same time.
Climbing plants in the block of Hornslandet in etapp Norra 2.
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