1/2 Space Urban Landscape Design Approaches for Gothenburg Riverside Development

Sammanfattning: Nowadays, rising water level is a problem faced by many cities which has put alert to us. If we don’t continue paying more attention to these issues, we will lose our homes. Therefore, it is time to change the way we build our cities. This paper uses flood control as a precondition and proposes an urban landscape design method for riverside development. Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden and has serious flooding problems when facing the potential extreme weather. Based on data analysis, there are two main reasons that cause the flood issue: one is the saltwater intrusion, and the other one is climate change. There are many abandoned industrial areas next to water in central parts of the city which need to be renewed. Such as Ringön, our study site, its central location and proximity to the water become important opportunities to get more attention and development. Ringön area has a good chance to be changed into public space and residential area, especially the waterfront area. This paper depends on the methodology of Ian Thompson’s theory of three principal value systems that influence landscape architectural practice- Delight, Community and Ecology. We have a profound understanding and knowledge of how to use resources of a riverfront space, then we put forward our design concept, the 1/2 space theory which combine the methodology and system theory together. The design proposal is based on the concept of 1/2 space theory which analyses the site background and design process. These studies have ended up in analysis for the further evaluation both locally and regionally. The consequences of the project is to alleviate the local flooding problem, bring a comfortable living environment to citizens, as well as promote the Delight, Community and Ecological values to Ringön and the places nearby, and in the end, to achieve an urban sustainable development.