Kaj 16 is located next to the new Hisingsbron bridge and the quayside along the Göta River. Our assignment includes the design of the site’s urban spaces and streets, as well as their connections to the surrounding city. Extensive analyses and studies of traffic, mooring, accessibility, stormwater and torrential rain have played an important role throughout the design process.
The project and landscape design contribute to the City of Gothenburg’s vision of bringing the city closer to the water and strengthening the city centre. The main idea of the proposal was to transform the currently barren, empty and paved quay environment into green spaces with urban life and opportunities to engage with the water. The urban spaces around Kaj 16 are designed to support city life, with greenery, seating areas, smaller spaces and bicycle parking. By creating a pleasant and attractive environment that supports the public activities within the building, we aim to create a space that can become a destination, contributing to movement and activity. Furthermore, we wanted to enhance and activate the surroundings of Lilla Bommen and the quayside.
The building is located directly adjacent to the new Hisingsbron bridge. Walkways and ramps along the facade connect the different levels. Pedestrians can walk directly down from the bridge to reach Vikingsgatan and the quayside.
One of the major goals of the project was to introduce as much greenery as possible into the otherwise hard-surfaced surroundings. The green spaces contribute to spatial definition, seasonal variation and human scale. They can also handle large amounts of roof runoff and stormwater before it is discharged into the river.
The planting beds along Vikingsgatan are designed as green islands,
with edges that adapt to the level differences of the surrounding sites.
They are also designed to accommodate future changes in ground levels when the quay is reconstructed.
MARELD has developed a system for managing runoff from the two towers and their roofs. Rainwater is directed through the planting beds and courtyards to street level and into the generous planting beds along Vikingsgatan. The river is the receiving water body.
A major challenge in the project was to design the new buildings 90 cm higher than the existing buildings, in accordance with the masterplan. The aim of this level difference is to protect the city from future flooding from the Göta River. The quay will need to be rebuilt and raised in the future.