Ståndsgårdens övergivna trädgård: en studie av Kullen i Hova

Abstract

The higher status homestead called Kullen is located on top of a small hill just outside of Hova in Västra Götaland. The house stands on a plateau surrounded by a stonewall. Aerial photos from the 1960’s shows what looks like a big parklike garden behind the house, with a gravel walk cutting through on the length of the garden up to the house. In front of the house is a big, gravelled courtyard with a grass covered round bed. Kullen is a historical place, maps from as far back as 1703 reveals as much. Throughout history Kullen has changed a lot, and the garden alongside it. From a garden portraying beauty and status, to be left abandoned for 23 years. In 2022 new owners stepped in and have started the work to make this a place to live once again. During the years of abandonment, the garden and the rest of the surroundings has been reclaimed by nature. This work aims to investigate the story of Kullen and its garden. By searching for answers about the people who lived here through archive studies and interviews and combining this with site visits where plant material has been examined, a story of the garden has grown to be. With the historical investigation of Kullen and its garden as a base, suggestions for a reconstruction are put forward