Villaträdgården. En undersökning av två 1920-talsträdgårdar i Alingsås

Abstract

This is a study of the 1920s gardens. By investigating and comparing two villa gardens, from the 1920s, with the conformation of today and the literature written during the same period, have I tried to describe what characterizes a garden from the 1920s. The 1920s villa in classical style, is a very common type of house in almost every Swedish town. During the 1920s, garden cities developed in the outskirts of the city. They were built in times of crisis, for the overcrowded workers and the middle class. The idea of the garden city was that the people would have the opportunity to live better and be able to own or rent their own land. It was also important to be able to grow and enjoy a private garden. In the garden literature written in the 1920s, you were given clear directives of how to build and grow your garden. They should be practical as well as enjoyable, but above all, useful. It should be possible to grow your own vegetables, fruits and flowers. The fence was a must. A wooden fence or a hedge were most common. Facing the street, it was often trimmed ornamental trees in rows. A few beautiful shrubs were allowed to stand in the lawn, while bushes with raspberry or gooseberries were planted at the property line or nearby the kitchen garden. The flowerbeds should be placed along the house or follow the main aisle. The gravel paths was conveniently placed, often in straight lines and led to the kitchen garden, outbuildings or the more or less mandatory arbor.