European Landscape Architecture: Best Practice in Detailing

(John Hannent) #1
Sweden

The falls across the Node have been designed in
order to direct the storm-water towards the sur-
rounding walls. A small gap between the paving
and the wall makes it possible for the water to flow
down into the crushed rock filling.

The Great Slope
Connecting the Node with the gravelled walk along
the shore lies the Great Slope which is tilted at
about 7 per cent (1:15). The intention was that the
slope could be used as a platform or stand, directed
towards a stage of granite slabs in the gravelled
surface below. The slope is also suitable for sun-
bathing, picnics and children’s play. You can also find
benches, designed with a nautical touch, situated
on the slope, but you rarely see anyone resting
here. It is primarily attractive for activities like biking
and skateboarding.

The supporting walls have the same concrete con-
struction as those of the Node. The inner covering
façade is made of granite slabs with a rough surface
and the outside of tarred wood. The wall has a cop-
ing of granite.

The paving is made with the same concrete slabs
as used on the Node, but with a pattern laid at a 45q
angle to a central line formed by two rows of slabs.
The whole area is framed with a frieze of the same
slabs. Along the lower edge of the slope runs a gutter

of three rows of stone setts. The stage inserted in
the gravelled surface below the slope is paved with
large slabs of Swedish granite with dimensions 1000
x 1000 x 100mm with a flamed surface. The slabs
are grounded in concrete. The surface is exactly level
with the surrounding gravel, with the unwanted result
that the gravel overflows onto the stone surface.

The park benches in the slope are constructed of
square sawn timber in robust dimensions lying on a
low stand of steel. The wood is processed with iron
vitriol, which gives the surface the look of a grey,
natural patina.

The Scouts
The three Scouts are facing the sea. They have the
shape of slightly terraced, tilted platforms, resem-
bling those used when launching boats. The shape
is extended towards the water. Waves can overflow
the tilted plane, but never reach its back edge. The
sea is invited to the park, the park is invited to the
sea. This is the place were you can penetrate the
wooden wall and get in touch with the water. You
can go swimming, windsurfing, take a rest on a
park bench, sense the wind and water, have a full
view to the horizon and Denmark on the other side
of the narrow sound between the countries.

Originally it was planned that the Scouts were to
be constructed with a body of cast concrete. The

8.12
The Node – façade
8.13
The Great Slope
8.14
Detailed plan of the paving on the Great Slope
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