The Tolerant City / Adept Architects + Schonherr Landscape

The municipality of Helsingborg, in Sweden, chose Schonherr and Adept Architects as winners of the planning competition with their proposal entitled the Tolerant City. Their contextual project will add value to its urban environment by creating a new identity and exploring the future possibilities for Helsingborg. 

More on the project after the break.

Inherent wishes for proximity to water, sustainable design, and meeting places to connect the diverse population of the province, were key elements in the early design stages of the project.  The structure plan was created not only thinking about how the project could influence the site currently, but what its potential to the site will be when the city grows and is fully formed.  In this way, although the framework has exact objectives, the plan offers developmental potential where the users can effect the transformation.

City squares and recreational areas facilitate the coexistence of a wide variety of people.  Martin Krogh from Adept stated, “The motor mechanics, the skaters, the designers and the clandestine lovers all belong in The tolerant City, where low rent, little workshops, commerce without invoices, and experimental reuse of buildings create growth areas and nonconformist milieus.” 

The jury noted that proposal offers, “the most extensive and balanced range of solutions to the challenges posted by the competition. With its strong blue green connection, the structure plan is very convincing. The authors have understood and worked with the specific needs of Helsingborg. The proposal also shows how cultural, provisional, entrepreneurial and sustainable initiatives can be integrated with the area’s physical environment.”

The full team includes Transsolar Klima Engineering, VIA Trafik, General Public Agency, bbn consult, FB Engineering and Professor, urban planner Jens Kvorning.