A majority of Sweden’s population, about 80 %, lives in urban environments, and

a majority of them live in residential complexes with shared residential yards.

People spend a large part of their time in or around their home, which is why the

outside environment and the green space in the area play an important part in a

person’s well being. The green yard offers space for children’s activities,

recreation, solitude, relaxation and gardening and gives the opportunity to learn

and understand nature and its processes.

The green yard also constitutes a part of the city’s factual green structure, informal

green spaces that are not owned by the city and are therefore not included in the

formal planning processes. The green residential yards also provide a number of

ecosystem services such as climate regulation, purification of water and air and

rainwater infiltration, all of which are of importance in the fight against climate

change.

The goal of this thesis has been to present the advantages an improved planning

and maintenance of the urban green space and the residential yard in particular

can offer. A number of important properties and functions that affect a yard’s

functionality and how it is perceived are also presented and explained.

The paper also aims to offer a better understanding of the garden’s role in

improving the social conditions in the neighbourhood, and of the importance of

involving the residents in planning and maintaining the green spaces. A number of

case studies and analyses offer a more concrete perspective on the real world

situations, and of successful refurbishment projects. Involving the residents in the

formal planning and building processes has been proved to have positive effects

on revitalising areas such as Gårdsten in Göteborg. Tenant involvement in open

space management can lead to a positive spiral where people start caring for and

identifying themselves with their neighbourhood, which can reduce the degree of

stigmatisation and marginalisation.