VERKET

How can Ulricehamn’s wastewater treatment plant and the surrounding area be transformed for future needs? The project VERKET explores how innovative design and management can improve the use of seemingly outdated resources. 

Many of Sweden’s municipalities face challenges regarding technical infrastructure. Increased risk of torrential rain and flooding stresses under dimensioned and outdated systems. New facilities for water and sewerage, for example, require large municipal investments, while the old structures need to be taken care of and given new roles in urban development. 

The geography of the project is the Fiskebacken and more specifically the Ulricehamns wastewater treatment plant, built in 1955. The facility has been upgraded over the years but increasing population and increased requirements for treatment make it unsustainable to continue developing the facility. With the municipality’s plans for a new location, conditions are created for a change of the use of the current wastewater treatment plant and the surrounding area. 

Between June 25 and August 30, 2024, ArkDes and Ulricehamn Municipality sought interdisciplinary teams through a call for applications. Team VERK-SAM has been selected to make an inventory, analyze, and develop a management plan containing strategy, method, and design proposals through practical research. The assignment aims to show how the wastewater treatment plant’s structures and the surrounding area can be taken care of and managed to become a resource when the area opens up to a public space. 

ArkDes’ practice-based research has the aim of developing and disseminating knowledge about the design of our shared habitats. Through the call, VERKET, ArkDes and Ulricehamn municipality want to create time and space to explore new values in abandoned resources. The call aims to provide Ulricehamn, and other municipalities with outdated wastewater treatment plants and other technical facilities, with tools and knowledge for long-term sustainable planning and management of existing industrial architecture.

VERKET is part of ArkDes‘ practice-based research initiative, where development and management of existing structures are described and explored synonymously. Previous projects on this theme include ‘Commoning the Heritage1’ in Robertsfors and ‘Power of Places2’ in Malmö.