The Challenge
Architecture students need to get out in the real world. Our challenge involved bridging the gap between academia and local communities, having the students stepping into real-world scenarios. We worked with the area of Järva in northern Stockholm and its stigmatised communities to shed light on their true stories and lived realities, moving past societal biases. Our mission was to create connections between local businesses, entrepreneurs, governmental agencies, academia, KTH students, and the real residents of these areas. Through this, we curated an inspiring and novel experience for our students and utilized this momentum to make the most significant impact possible.
MY ROLE: I have taught at the school of architecture for 6 years in the master course Sustainable Urban Planning and Design. In the last year, I held my own course with a new topic: landscape urbanism. I designed the course pedagogy and contents, held lectures and tutorials, and created a network of actors together with 2 other teachers to bring the course to life outside of academia.
process & outcome
Including local businesses, activists, residents and the government in a university course
In an immersive workshop with local businesses, activists, community leaders, and government representatives, we formed a vibrant tapestry of voices from Järva. Each student group was paired with an 'actor' or stakeholder, their role being to delve deep into their lives and stories through qualitative ethnographic research and interviews. This not only widened their understanding of Järva, but it also sparked initiatives among the actors and helped shape the ongoing transformations in the area.
Creating scenarios for the future of Järva
With just a single image and sound narrative as their canvas, students envisioned multifaceted futures of sustainable development. These exciting narratives ranged from rewilding nature to the evolving role of the cultural reserve and the innovation of circular systems to build and reuse mineral resources. Balancing the fantastic with the realistic, students painted sustainable futures for Järva that catered to its current residents, while also paving the way for sustainable growth beyond 2030 and the use of SDGs.
The creation of a podcast
Finally, we transformed these narratives into a captivating podcast series. As curator of this series, I made sure each story's essence was captured in an audio format accompanied by a single image. The podcast was not just a culmination of our work, but a powerful tool in shaping positive narratives for Järva, an area whose identity is often overshadowed by societal biases and the exploitation pressures facing Stockholm. Our stories, therefore, sought to inspire desirable, innovative, green, just, and beautiful futures for Järva.
Tune in here to celebrate and be inspired!
