19th century narrative placemaking in Djäkneberget, Västerås Richard Wolfströme AoU
kilometre stretch of almost unbroken movement space for pedestrians and cyclists. Funded by planning contribution agreements, the seawall is where Vancouverites go to jog, walk their dogs, ride their bikes, roller blade, visit the beach or just sit and watch the world go by. We were lucky enough to spend five years living and studying in Canada’s ‘Lotus Land’. The seawall was our place of escape within the city; where we walked and talked, met friends, watched sunsets and spotted otters swimming in the water. The seawall is one of Vancouver’s sacred places: it is the ebb and flow of the city; where movement is the constant yet dynamic force.
On a recent trip to Västerås in Sweden I was introduced to the fascinating work of Sam Lidman, who between the years 1862–95 carved words into the rocks and outcrops of Djäkneberget, a park area rising in the north-west of the city of Västerås, Sweden.
in the form of proverbs, verses, names and years, and according to Lidman shall seem “provoking and challenging” for Djäknbergets visitors. Extraordinary work and a wonderful example of narrative placemaking ahead of its time in today’s context.
A beautiful park area overlooking the city that is a landscape of woodland and natural rocky outcrops, there are over 500 inscriptions carved into the stone. Former Captain Sam Lidman, born in 1824, came to Västerås in the 1860’s after a shooting accident in the army retired him. Making his first carving in 1862, his intention was to make Djäknberget a ‘public educator’ and the inscriptions manifest themselves Gallery
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