Knowledge about the role of the garden in the own-your-own-home movement in Sweden 1905-1936
Research project in Human Geography
Project's title: Knowledge about the role of the garden in the own-your-own-home movement in Sweden 1905-1936 and its applications in the discussion on sustainable development and well-being in cities of today
Project's duration: 2013-2015
Contact person: Tomas Germundsson
Researchers in the project:
Overview
A large number of stately loans were paid out in order for working people to be able to build houses of their own in the outskirts of Swedish towns and cities in the early 1900s. A home of one’s own had a positive effect on health and social well-being according to the Swedish Own Home Committee.
The movement was called own-your-own-home movement (egnahemsrörelsen) and propagated for creating both house and garden according to certain models. The overall aim of this research project is to increase the knowledge about the garden and its role in the own-your-own-home movement in Sweden.
The objectives are mainly to contribute to the discussion about sustainable urban development and human wellbeing but also to discuss the application of knowledge on the history of urban agriculture in the context of cities today.
The project focuses on the period 1905-1936 and a few study areas in Sweden. It is carried out as a post-doctoral study at the Department of Human Geography at Lund University as well as the Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management, SLU Alnarp, combining the research methods and theoretical aspects represented by the both departments.
The project implies a continuous building of knowledge already made about the own homes in Sweden at the same time as it conveys an understanding and an awareness of the role of the own-home garden and its values. These values will be used as a base in this project for discussing well-being and sustainable development in Swedish cities.