Koloniträdgårdar: exklusiva platser för hobbyutövning eller tillgängliga grönområden för allmänheten? En kvantitativ studie av uppfattningar och upplevelser av Sjöbergens koloniområde och Slottsskogskolonien

Abstract

This study examines how allotment gardens are perceived and used by non-plot holders in Majorna, Gothenburg, with a focus on Sjöbergens koloniområde and Slottsskogskolonin. The study is based on a survey of residents and people moving through the area and has an outsider perspective. The results show that both areas are primarily perceived as green spaces and as zones away from urban stress, highlighting their social and recreational value. However, clear differences also emerge. Slottsskogskolonin is more strongly associated with exclusivity and aesthetically appealing environments, whereas Sjöbergen is more often linked to nature, ideological values, and food production. Perceptions of Sjöbergen are generally more polarised than those of Slottsskogskolonin. Regarding experiences of accessibility and inclusion, the findings are more complex. A higher share of respondents has participated in events at Slottsskogskolonin, yet Sjöbergen is more often perceived as open and public. In contrast, Slottsskogskolonin is more frequently described as private and enclosed, linked to both physical and social barriers. Furthermore, a majority of respondents consider Slottsskogskolonin to be gentrified, while Sjöbergen is less frequently perceived as such. Interest in buying a house-plot is higher in Slottsskogskolonin but is mainly prevented by high prices. Sjöbergen is seen as more socioeconomically mixed and close to nature. Overall, the study highlights clear differences in perceived character, accessibility, and social composition between the two areas that determine their different roles in the city.