VÅRT ÅLIDHEM

Many women navigate the city with an underlying awareness of the risk of being subjected to violent crime when moving through public spaces at night. In avoiding potentially unsafe environments, access to the city becomes limited. This bachelor thesis explores how access to urban space can be made more equal, and aims to contribute to a future where such risk assessments are no longer necessary.

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Ålidhem, a neighbourhood in Umeå developed during Sweden’s Million Programme era, is characterised by narrow alleyways and poorly lit parking lots. The type of safety currently offered to women often takes the form of control-based measures—surveillance cameras or patrolling guards—which risk reinforcing the notion of women as inherently vulnerable.

 

This project does not propose additional protective interventions. Rather, it argues that protection should be unnecessary—freedom of movement in the city belongs to everyone. The concept Vårt Ålidhem has been developed through a combination of academic research, case studies in gender-equal urban development, and on-site observations during various times of day and year. The process began with identifying the physical shortcomings of the neighbourhood and continued by exploring how alternative spatial strategies might address them. Throughout the design process, five recurring themes were used as guiding tools: visibility, overview, legibility, maintenance, and circulation.

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The central piece of the project is Vår Kiosk is a staffed space accessible during nighttime hours. As an internationally recognised symbol, the kiosk offers a familiar typology—one that can function as a waiting area without feeling like one.