Our Neighborhood - The Swedish Houses in Nexø

An analysis of the residents' experience in the cultural environment. The Swedish House district is a unique cultural environment in Nexø. The report 'Our Neighborhood' was prepared by CRT for the Bornholm Regional Municipality and Realdania. The project is part of a larger initiative in Assens, Vejle, and Nexø, respectively. The purpose is to strengthen communities and local identity by engaging new stakeholders in historical and contemporary architectural heritage. The report is based on contributions from the Nexø Museum, a household survey, interviews, workshops, dialogue walks, and conversations with current residents. Life in the Swedish Houses is surrounded by stories—about the living and lived life in the houses, about neighborliness, community, meeting places, local plans, the significance of the architecture, and, not least, the creation of the houses and the conditions that made it a place that can today be called 'Our neighborhood.' Conversations with former and current residents tell of life as a child and young person when the neighborhood was established, of an upbringing shaped by the shadow of the Second World War, and of an everyday life that represents the future. In total, life in the Swedish Houses over the past 76 years is presented. The best way to capture the essence of the report is through the following statement from a resident of the neighborhood: "Our neighborhood is a living time capsule."