Sweden - Stockholm

The second we all got off the plane, it was freezing, and still snowing. Days before there was a snow storm in Stockholm, and when we arrived the whole country was covered in snow. I was prepared with an nice warm coat, an long thick scarf but one pair of gloves was not enough to keep my fingers warm. And this was only ten minutes of the plane.

As we took got on the coach and started making our way to the hostel, the view wasn't very appealing with every space of Stockholm was just white. To the Swedish it's all normal living, I did think if it was snow like that in London, no one would leave their homes, let alone drive.  As we got close to the city, where the snow was cleared at most places, and the land was now visible, the city was full of culture richness, historical buildings and new architectural buildings, with where ever you turn your head you see rivers and lakes. The city was full of culture, and art. The architecture within Stockholm are highly respected as well as the landscape. You wouldn't not see much modern architectural buildings as the history of the city is highly cherished and adored by it's people. Newly developments of buildings have strict regulations to be in certain height and form in order for it to fit in with the surrounding hostorical buildings and landscape. I only wished if it was summer to explore the city and enjoy it even more then I would. Stockholm is a city to visit and explore, it's a city with a old and new twist.

During our duration at Stockholm, I did experience the living there was short but nice, transport, food, culture, friendly people, historical areas and buildings.

Landscape areas we visited during our visit:

Stockholm City Hall - The city council decided and agreed to build a new city hall in 1907. For the new building an architectural design contest was held and within the first stage at the contest a range of design selections were chosen by Carl Westman, Ivar Tengbom, Carl Bergsten and Ragnar Ostberg.

 City Hall

SkogskyrkoGarden - The Woodland Cemetery - This place is breath taking an amazing with  an huge open space of landscape at the entrance with an free-standing scared stone cross. The Woodland Cemetery was built between 1919 and 1940 by the young architects Gunnar Asplund and Sigurd Lewerentz. The architects intentions within their design was to use the natural surrounding landscape and create an peaceful and restful experience for it's visitors. There is several chapels within the woodland cemetery engaging with the natural surrounding, all the architectural buildings are symbolic and aspirational of the Swedish Architecture. The collaboration between the landscape and architecture compliment each other.

Entrance to the Cemetery

SkogskyrkoGarden has been inscribed on the World Heritage List of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Inscription on the List confirms the expectational universal value of cultural or natural site which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity.

Part 2 - Heather Ring - Wayward Plants

''What is Landscape''

''A Project of Social Exchange and Botanical Desire''

Heather Ring is a Landscape Architect who has worked in practices of Gustafson Porter and Martha Schwartz in landscape designs of large scale public open spaces. She is also the finder of Wayward Plant Registry. 

Here is the work of Wayward people do –

• Plant Adoption – The public can adopt unwanted plants
• Community Exchange – Unwanted plants can be exchanged with others
• The Union Street: Urban Orchard – A site that is completed made from recycled materials, with adopted and exchanged plants and tress, it is a mix use site open to the public, it is an friendly site that encourages people to engage with. And take a plant when ever you go to add your own contribution to the place

Heather talk was quite interesting, it shows how people are passionate about what they do, and how they are inspired by different things you might not even think about. To be honest I did not even know about Plant Adoption or Exchange was quite amazed of the job Heather was doing. Heather has shown enthusiasm and dedication within her work, which can inspire people.

The Garden of Cosmic Speculation

The Garden of Cosmic Speculation is designed by landscape architect Charles Jencks located in South West Scotland, an private garden which was designed for his wife, with viewings to the public once a year through Scotland's Gardens Scheme.

The design is primarily based on mathematics and elements of science, mainly based on natural nature methods and scientific courses. The garden is an landscape to be explored and understood by its visitors. As visitors explore and experience the garden they are expected to take in the creation of an limitless mini universe. Every space of the garden will be a different experience for the visitor experiencing the different themes and sculptures around.

 Images are taken from google image search

I must say when I researched about The Garden of Cosmic Speculation I wasn't expecting anything like this. This is definitely a garden I must visit and experience myself in person. It looks like an garden from Alice in Wonderland :) with the structural sculpture, hills and the organic and natural shapes within the garden all looks really well designed. An garden full of inspiration with no boundaries to address.