Stadsträdgårdar Ett försummat kulturarv

Abstract

This essay concerns the preservation of urban private gardens, city-gardens. These gardens have played an important part in our cities history for centuries. They represent a cultural heritage created and sustained by common men and women. Today these gardens are at risk to disappear or be distorted by the effect of high exploitation as cities are being densified. City-gardens are transformed into car parks, out-door seating and street broadening. Due to a building-oriented perspective to gardens, their unique values are being overlooked. To find the cause for this negative development the Swedish heritage legislation, Swedish National Heritage Board (Riksantikvarieämbetet), the county administrations, museums, real estate managers and garden organisations have been studied. The study was also supplemented by a number of case reports of preserved gardens to view different conservation methods. In search for more effective methods, a selection of European countries and their approach to the preservation of heritage gardens was studied, in order to test a new perspective. The English conservation method was then selected and applied to Swedish conditions. The test has been a way to try a new perspective, but a better approach I still required. The result of this study shows the need for a new, more appropriated method when dealing with the preservation of living heritage, like gardens. In order to prevent city-gardens disappearing from our cities and urban life, a new way to preserve, value and appreciate our gardens is needed.