“A LSD trip, without LSD”. A once forgotten and shady passage, transformed into an explosion of colour, patterns, light and sound. A passage once used as hangout area for drugs and public toilet, has instead become a place and experience for all. This passage is an example of how giving value to a space, will cause people to respect it and use it accordingly. Contributing to everyday joy, this passage provides the passer-by an happy experience: a LSD trip without any negative side effects.
Local
Sweden
{Empty}
Mainly urban
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
No
No
Yes
2021-03-23
As a representative of an organization, in partnership with other organisations
Name of the organisation(s): Sesam Arkitekter Type of organisation: For-profit company First name of representative: Helena Last name of representative: Nyholm Gender: Female Nationality: Sweden Function: Architect, partner Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Cardellsgatan 8 Town: Kristianstad Postal code: 29131 Country: Sweden Direct Tel:+46 73 254 78 81 E-mail:helena@sesam-ark.se Website:https://sesam-ark.se/
Name of the organisation(s): Ab Kristianstadsbyggen Type of organisation: Other public institution First name of representative: Karl-Henrik Last name of representative: Persson Gender: Male Nationality: Sweden Function: Manager of construction department Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Östra Boulevarden 38 Town: Kristianstad Postal code: 291 31 Country: Sweden Direct Tel:+46 73 380 33 40 E-mail:karl-henrik.persson@abk.se Website:https://www.abk.se/
We, as architectural firm, were asked by our client, the municipal housing company (AB Kristianstadsbyggen) to transform an existing unsafe underpass and make it more appealing. The passage is located in the central part of Kristianstad, a city in southern Sweden. The presence of drug users and men who occasionally use the passage as public toilet caused many people to avoid this shortcut.
We did not see security cameras as an option to tackle this problem. Instead, we wanted to create a space where no one wants to stay, however where everyone wants to pass. Letting the space itself influence the way people use it, in a positive way. With a large flow of people, unsettling music and lights, we want to get rid of the shady drug trade and provide a new surreal and playful experience instead.
In this low and narrow passage, we have played with mirrors to create the illusion of undefined boundaries. The printed wall panels are covered with graffiti-like patterns on a background with the city´s colour, orange. LED lights have been integrated into the black asphalt and flash dynamically together with the lighting in the ceiling when passing through. Every day of the week, a new sound loop is being played. A kind of unsettling type of music which stimulates people to keep moving and not stay in one spot for too long.
Today, drug users have been replaced by playing children, teenagers taking selfies and a continuous stream of people. Experiencing joy and positive energy in their everyday lives. It has become Kristianstad´s residents´ installation, and explosion of colour, shape, light and sound.
Playfulness
Experience
Sensuous
Everyday joy
Dynamic
We work with social sustainability, one of our biggest goal in all of our projects. This project is a confirmation that we do not need a surveillance society to feel safe. In addition to working with segregation, exclusion and poverty which are major societal challenges, each of us can contribute to make the world a better place. In this case, we give value to a forgotten place and make it attractive. Providing everyday joy to the people who pass by and provide the opportunity for a shared experience. Community, the feeling of belonging, and joy is a sustainable concept for a brighter future.
From the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 27: “Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.”
We have our foundations in human rights, in particular article 27 when it comes to this project. Creating a space that gives the passer-by a power experience, triggering multiple senses, generating joy and playfulness. A public art installation, free of charge for those walking the streets of this city.
We chose to create a positive experience where no one wants to stay for a longer period of time. A place that welcomes everyone in the community. Today, this passage is used by everyone from children jumping over the flashing lights, young people using the passage as their Instagram backdrop, to elderly people who venture through to get a shortcut. Here we see dog owners training their dogs to move through dynamic spaces and spontaneous conversations popping up between strangers about the shared experience. We no longer see drug dealers, instead the passage has been seized by the majority of society. It is being filled with life and joy, not allowing any space for shady practices. We turned our backs on surveillance cameras and gave Kristianstad a space of experience for everyone.
With The Passage we would like to show that small means can have great impact, affecting many people. Transforming unsafe spaces with the desire to create a public space that no one would have expected.
How people will use this space and identify themselves with it, has been an integral part of the design process. A place for everyone, no matter background, age, or field of interest. Examples of have been described in the previous section.
Local stakeholders have been involved in the development and implementation of this small-scale project. The property owner AB Kristianstadsbyggen (ABK) has been part of the process from sketch till opening day and have provided valuable input throughout the entire process. Their main office is in direct connection with this passage. The investment that they put into the transformation of the passage not only contributed to the promotion of their operations, but also of the entire municipality (Kristianstad kommun).
Skanska, a multinational construction and development company, has been involved in this project as the main contractor and project manager. They contributed with their globally acquired skills and knowledge. Choosing the appropriate construction materials and applying suitable technologies. As project manager, they have successfully coordinated the various disciplines in this unique project.
The communication between the various disciplines needed to be well-coordinated in this project due to its small-scale and tight deadline. All involved disciplines operate locally in this part of Sweden. Electrical engineers were involved for the installation of light and sound. This work needed to be well-coordinated with the construction workers for the integration of the LED lines in the asphalt road and speakers in the mirror ceiling. The colored pattern on the wall panels is also visible in the steel cut gates that have been delivered by another supplier. The architects played a key-role in this process to make all these aspects come together.
The passage that used to be an unsafe and unattractive place which many people used to avoid has now become an attractive and exiting experience. It has transformed the way people perceive and treat this space. This shady passage used to be a hangout area for drug users and occasionally a public toilet. Now we see people using this passage every day, admiring the flashing lights and illusionary effects.
A quick and easy fix would have been to freshen up this passage with some minor upgrades, but instead an investment in a significant contrast with the existing situation was chosen. The unique combination of light, sound, color patterns and mirror illusions makes this passage a piece of art in itself rather than just a functional passage.
“A LSD trip without LSD”, that was the slogan used in the very beginning of the design phase. The question was: How can we take the bad, use it and transform it to something good. This passage was formerly used as a hangout area for drug addicts and perceived by many as unsafe and therefore avoided. The goal of this project was to make this a place for all. Everyone should feel secure and even attracted to use this shortcut.
Then why not provide the experience of a ´LSD trip´ for all? A combination of blinking lights, blending colors, patterns, illusions and funky but slightly unsettling music gives the passerby a trip to never forget without any negative side effects. Providing such an upgrade has given this space a certain status which stimulates people to treat this space with respect. This passage is no longer a public toilet but has been transformed into a selfie hotspot.
This project and its approach can technically be replicated anywhere. Transforming a shady area by increasing its status, results in people respecting the space and treating it that way. The materials and products used in this project are globally available as well is the technology to implement them.
This local solution is a response to a local problem. However, as mentioned before, this local small-scale project and its concept is replicable to any other location globally that struggle with the same kind of challenges. There where areas are perceived unsafe and excluding.
