4. /4
Sanden Island is a fantastic and attractive place situated beside
Vänersborg centre, a great location for future developments;
regrettably its current state does not enhance its positive
characteristics and therefore it is not perceived as an attractive
site by many.
The aim of the in-depth project is to address these challenges,
and to meet various local objectives of this central and essential
part of Vänersborg, providing a vision for a sustainable Sanden
Island, with a special focus on dwellings.
Local Development Objectives in focus
RICH AND DIVERSE CULTURE
VIBRANT TOWN CENTRE
LIVING WITH WATER
DENSE TOWN WITH DIVERSE HOUSING
INTRODUCTION
geographical location
5. 5/
BACKGROUND
satellite view
Sanden island’s geographical location has many great qualities. The
island is surrounded by water and nature with many points of interests,
making the island a pleasant place to live.
However the current state the area is not valued being divided in two
main parts by a bridge: the northern side is mainly a green public area
and the southern is used by heavy industries, while the west side is
occupied by a rarely used industrial harbor. The rest of the island is
occupied with parkings.
The municipality is aware of the potentials of the island and there is the
intention to create a new, attractive and sustainable living area.
6. /6
MASTERPLAN
The starting point of the development is to design an attractive and
vibrant area that will make Vänersborg alive all year around attracting
new people to move in. The strategy is to create new and integrated
function areas working as a whole generating a diverse and dynamic
community.
The main focus of the project is to identify diverse and functional
dwellings, critical in bringing everyday life in the area. The different
house typologies create the opportunity to attract residents with
different needs (from families to young people) and to establish a
diverse and multicultural environment.
Dwellings are envisioned in a system of communal and recreational
areas that work as a link between residents. The communal areas,
park, water parks, city lounges are designed to engage residents
with multifunctional spaces as well as joint planned activities such as
food markets to increase interaction and sharing.
The new sustainable Sanden island is directly connected with
the whole municipality but more essentially with the town centre as
the development is meant as its extension, supporting sustainable
mobility.
The human scale is fundamental, the existing dimensions of the
town centre is used to calibrate the design of new development.
compositional scheme
8. /8
parking
building for already existing businesses
units (1000)
floating houses
visitors harbor
waterpark floating stage
promenade
waterpark
inner courts
the parking has a soft ground,
avoiding the use of asphalt, it
also Has a safe green area where
people, especially kids, can walk
through it avoiding the risk of
accidents
ICA is designed with a double
inclination roof, it enables
the use of solar panels while
facilitating natural illumination
ICA supermarket
9. 9/
FLOODING
The development is designed with an anti-flooding component
as the area could be subjected to flooding. The aim is to protect
dwellings and residents and to enhance water qualities. Various
are the measures and strategy used: in the central area of the
island there are two extensive lowered parks, their function is to
act as a tanks, in case of a rising of water levels, as water is
channelled in the parks thanks to proper floor inclinations.
As an additional measure, dwellings are protected from flooding as
all units sit on a security concrete belt. The house boats typologies
are flooding resistant for definition. The ground of the island is
thought as a soft ground, in order to drain the excess water. The
units have green roof that retain storm water.
flooding diagram
soft ground
concrete belt
floating houses
waterpark
waterpark
10. /10
LIVING IN THE AREA
The area is nearby different points of interest as the town centre and train station are directly
connected to Göteborg. As part of the sustainability plan, residents have access to goods and
services in a 500 m radius, reducing the need of private transportation. The project envisages
a car-free community while at the same time encourages a sustainable mobility. The area is
therefore well connected to the town centre where all shops are located. The projects aims at
keeping the existent commercial activities profitable and increase their work by the higher number
of people residing in the area.
11. 11/
LIVING IN THE AREA
promenade detail
trainstation
400 m
town centre
ica
housing development
floating houses
visitors harbor
park
points of interest nearby
12. /12
BLOCKS
Each block is designed according the dimensions of the town centre. The average dimension is
100x100m, however blocks dimensions may vary as the project adapts to the morphology of
the island. Block composition is standard and consists of a ground floor, a concrete belt, acting
as a protection against flooding and at the same time, provides different services and communal
area residents have access to. The ground floor functions are: bikes parking, common living
area, guest rooms, storage, laundry room and a common activities area. These functions, which
are to be reserved by residents, offer space to community members.
The block inner court represents an intimate and functional space. Part of the court is dedicated
to urban farming where vegetables and fruits can be grown. Some of the residents have also
the possibility to use their gardens, situated in the rooftop of the unit below. Lastly, blocks are
designed in a way that the size of the court makes possible for the sun light to reach most units.
14. /14
HABITATIVE UNITS
Units are the base of the whole composition, measuring 5 x 11m. All units are designed in wood
taking advantage of the cross lam technology which enables a solid structure. Thanks to the high
insulation level of the wood and the added insulation layer, the energy usage per square meter is
very low. These units are also affordable, especially when many are built.
The flexibility of this system is the most important aspect, it enables the units to be added over time
and also it provide easy modification. Each unit has interchangeable panels between the wooden
structures; these panels according to necessity could be converted into windows, doors or walls.
This system makes possible the “change over time” as necessity of people and of the community
evolves over time.
21. 21/
CONSLUSION
The overall aim of the in-depth project is to provide a vision for
a possible development of Sanden island with the objective of
establishing a diverse community part of a sustainable environment.
22. ARCHITECTURE
Master’s Programme Design for Sustainable Development 2014/ 2015
VÄNERSBORG - SustainabilityVisions for a Centre on the Fringe
Design studio part B / In-depth project
Damiano Maurizi
Living in(on) Sanden Island
