The process of urbanization is a global trend seen in most larger cities - Gothenburg included. Cities function as magnets for working and living in the sense that people to a higher extent move from rural areas to urban areas causing a rapidly growing urban population. This poses significant challenges when it comes to urban development and the need for cities to respond has brought about a hot debate on the topic of densification.

 

Gothenburg is now in the middle of a densification process with the ambition of creating a strong urban core for the region. The plan from the municipality is to expand the central areas by doubling the size of the city centre and a key strategy is to focus on new developments in underused central locations (Göteborgs Stad, 2012). It is in this context that Gullbergsvass plays an important part in what the future of Gothenburg will look like.

 

So, as a way of responding to the growing population, Gothenburg is becoming more dense and the decisions made in terms of urban planning influence how we will live and function in the city. When tackling these aspects, an integrated approach is required and there is a need to ask questions such as - what is the future city? Through this exhibition, this is being explored in the context of Gullbergsvass with the use of hybrid architecture. By stitching together architecture, landscape and infrastructure with already existing qualities, it could provide an alternative way of densification where synergies are created through mixtures and overlaps of various programs, spaces and scales.