A New Urban District Rooted in Green Values
Backaplan is on the brink of a major transformation into a vibrant new district that will extend and strengthen Gothenburg’s city center, bridging the river and connecting communities. The City of Gothenburg has set high ambitions for Backaplan to become a green, inclusive, and sustainable neighborhood—with high-quality living environments, inviting public spaces, and parks designed to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.
On behalf of the City of Gothenburg’s Exploitation Office, through the Public Space Planning Unit, MARELD developed a Public Space Design Program for Backaplan. The goal was to shape a cohesive design vision that translates the city’s Quality Program for streets and squares into inspiring, tangible solutions.
Building a lively, people-centered city from the ground up is a challenge—and an opportunity. Early in the process, MARELD developed a guiding concept for public life in Backaplan, setting the stage for a layered, nuanced urban environment that encourages spontaneous encounters, movement, and activity.
A key principle in the design is the transition from large-scale public spaces along the district's edges to more intimate, green inner neighborhoods—featuring calm residential streets, shared spaces, and community gardens rich in vegetation.
The design program outlines strategies for various urban typologies: tranquil residential streets, green corridors, pedestrian zones, and mixed-traffic streets with active ground floors. Each space balances accessibility with comfort, promoting coexistence between people and movement. The program also includes proposals for materials and furniture, planting strategies, stormwater management, elevation principles, and lighting design.
One of Backaplan’s signature features is a green promenade that runs through the entire district, linking a series of parks and creating a continuous experience of greenery. The promenade offers lush planting, informal play areas, spaces for movement and rest, and open-ended zones that residents can activate on their own terms. Designed with a strong child-friendly perspective, it is a safe, car-free pathway with integrated playful elements—an everyday landscape that supports both leisure and liveliness.
Ecology and Climate-Conscious Design. From the outset, the project was guided by a strong ecological vision. While much of the public realm will consist of paved surfaces, MARELD led a study of climate-smart materials with low carbon footprints, using life cycle analyses to evaluate alternatives.
Together with the city, we chose to invest in a locally developed, climate-friendly concrete slab—the Gothenburg Slab—and prioritized reusing existing granite materials where possible, including in walls and curbs. Maximizing green areas and using open planting beds for stormwater management and biodiversity are central strategies. In the flat topography of Backaplan, we also advocated for open structural soil layers that help store and delay stormwater runoff.
Social Sustainability in Focus. In a well-functioning urban fabric, infrastructure and public space must support everyday life—commerce, movement, meeting, and dwelling. But to become truly vibrant, a city needs homes. Around 25,000 people will live in the new Backaplan, transforming it into a key part of the inner city and a vital connection across the river.
A socially sustainable environment must offer more than housing—it needs qualities that invite people to stay, meet, and thrive. The design reflects this by creating spaces for all ages, backgrounds, and life situations. Special attention is given to inclusive environments for children, with safe, accessible spaces where they can move freely and confidently. Flexibility over time is also essential, allowing the neighborhood to grow and evolve with its community
