Hej!

Is it by creating opportunities to say hello that the in-between spaces of the city become shared places? The team behind the project Hej! built a temporary installation and piece of furniture to measure and evaluate how the transformation of Riksdalertorget in Stockholm affected people’s behaviours.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for welcoming public spaces. The theme for ArkDes’ 2021 Open Call was “Shared Spaces and Interspaces”. The project Hej! (Hello!) started from the idea that social contact—even between strangers—can have a significant impact on wellbeing and explored ways to encourage people to pause and greet each other.

By combining different perspectives, the team—landscape architects from AJ Landskap ↗, behavioural strategists from Beteendelabbet ↗, and artist Gunilla Bandolin ↗—developed shared tools for designing a temporary installation aimed at fostering social interaction. Riksdalertorget ↗ is a classic 1950s urban environment with an open, flat character, where the fountain has long been a central spot for play and social gatherings. The project group mapped how the square was used and how visitors experienced encounters there. One early observation was the need for more seating.

Three internal workshops coordinated the work and formed the basis for defining goals and behavioural challenges, using a methodology called the Behaviour Journey. Surveys collected through a question box generated around 130 responses, which, together with spontaneous conversations, showed that the square was appreciated but could be strengthened as a social meeting place. Four key factors were identified as important for encouraging people to greet one another: unexpected events, moments of surprise, curiosity, and shared elements like children or dogs.

The square, managed by the City of Stockholm’s Traffic Administration, was part of the Levande Stockholm initiative, which temporarily transforms streets and squares into summer and winter spaces. The team decided to create a temporary piece of furniture designed to spark curiosity and reflect the local context. The piece ‘Fontänpusselä (Fountain Puzzle) consisted of 14 wooden pieces that, in winter, formed a cover for the fountain. In summer, the pieces could be spread out and used as seating, play areas, or simply to draw attention. The Traffic Administration contributed practical advice and resources throughout the project.

Observations showed that children quickly engaged with the furniture, and that adults often approached together with their children. This led to longer stays and more spontaneous encounters in the square. The work was also summarised in a final report, which you can find further down the page.