Linghem

Himna, a strong community connected with its landscape

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Linköping and its surrounding area is growing rapidly. Himna, a small community only fifteen minutes by train from Linköping’s central station, in the western part of Linghem, adds to the rapid expansion with more than 700 new apartments being planned there. A new bypass is being developed to replace the existing street 757, creating opportunities for further expansion for the area of Linghem and for the development of a sustainable neighbourhood with an ecological and social focus.

The existing road, which has a strong historical value, is the backbone of the new area. The old street meets the new stormwater park that follows existing low points that are the remains of an old ditch. Field islets and other natural elements, containing ancient remains, are left untouched forming a patchwork of nature areas. Meanwhile three new East-West links are developed, creating a variety of parallel landscapes. Thoroughfare for cars is not allowed, while bike and pedestrian routes have optimal connections.

The central loop contains a number of meeting places and smaller squares that are connected to core public spaces in the center of Himna. A new sports hall, school and new daycare centers are connected to this public network. The city structure is divided into smaller units with a mixture of different residential typologies with a higher density in the central parts. The different units change direction following the grid of the existing agricultural landscape.