This paper originates in a study of Community Gardens in the United States. An overview of how and why the gardens have emerged, their functions today, and their effects and problems is presented. The reader will also be introduced to a selection of Swedish movements that correspond with the phenomenon of the American Community Garden. These are as follows; The Allotment Garden, the Swedish term Stadsdelsträdgård (a metaphor for a Community Garden in a Swedish urban context), Mykorrhiza Malmö Stadsodlare and The Allotment Plot. None of the above-mentioned Swedish movements can be described as an exact equivalent of the American Community Garden, but they all contain elements witch constitutes parts of the phenomenon.

Competing is a well established work model among Swedisharchitects as well as in the international architect work force.Through this study we set out to get better acquainted with thiswork model in theory and in practice, and to hopefully gainknowledge that will be of use to us and to others working in thefield of architecture.Techniques, materials as well as the artistic expression ofcontemporary architecture is international and today?s architectsoperate on a global labour market. Architects often commit to workon assignments far away from where they are based. Therefore,to physically visit the site of interest may be time consuming,expensive as well as harmful to the environment. Is it possible fora Designer to accomplish relevant proposals on how to develop andimprove a place that he or she has never visited? May there evenbe situations in which the outsiders point of view is preferable?These are questions that we aim to investigate, and we do sothrough participation in an international design competition.