Manual: Bygga’re Tryggare

The project Bygga’re Tryggare, part of ArkDes Open Call 2019, explored how school architects can address the needs of children who have experienced stressful life events. The project highlighted the lack of methods for giving children real influence in urban planning and design, resulting in a guide with concrete methods to address this.

The purpose of Bygga’re Tryggare (Building for Safety) was to give space for children’s own insights into how school environments can function both as risk and wellness factors, and to show how a safe school environment can become a healing place for recovery. Through dialogue with a reference group of children who have experienced stressful life events, key areas in the school environment were identified, such as places where children felt unsafe or lacked adult presence. Solutions for making common areas safer and increasing adult presence were discussed.

The project resulted in a manual for architects and urban planners that offers practical methods for including children’s perspectives, such as through interviews, walks, and the creation of gender-neutral personas. It has been requested for use by several municipalities and organizations as support in workshops and school planning. Access the guide below.