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Sustainable urban transformation projects in European cities:

Theoretical landmarks and lessons from emblematic-innovative

experiences

Alexandra Ionita

Abstract:

The paper aims to address the emerging concept of sustainable

urban transformation in the context of European cities. Due to its

complexity, a clear definition will be difficult, at least, to provide.

The paper will address the concept of sustainable urban

transformation by first decomposing it into parts and address each

one. Assessing the concepts of urban transformation and

sustainability will also comprise a brief evolution to highlight the

theoretical landmarks that enriched and widened their meaning

spectrums. Then the concept will be evaluated through the use of

three case studies, Hammarby Sjostad in Stockholm, Vauban in

Freiburg and GWL –terrain in Amsterdam, in order to obtain a

clearer image of the elements that can provide a sustainable urban

transformation.

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Introduction In an attempt to address the concept of sustainable urban transformation, due to its complexity , we

find it necessary to address first the concepts that compose it, meaning urban transformation and

sustainability, as each one brings into this mix its own characteristic features and limits.

Urban transformation

A simplified definition for the term “transformation” is “a change of form or condition”. Therefore it

implies a process, an action. Therefore we could say that “urban transformation” in the process of

changing an urban form, an urban condition.

Even after a short literature review one should come to the conclusion that caution is needed in

addressing the concept of “urban transformation” due to the risk on overlapping meanings (Yang, 2010).

The “transformation” meaning developed, over time, alternate meanings, that are convergent up to a

point. It’s the case of “transition”, “change”, “evolution”, “revolution” (Yang, 2010). From these, the

most confusing one is “transition” as is it extremely similar to “transformation”. But there are small but

important differences in nuances ., as transformation is a continuous process “mainly driven by driven

by endogenous forces (e.g. poverty, economic growth, governance)” while “‘transition’ is a non-linear

change process mainly driven by exogenous factors (e.g. fundamental changes to a political or economic

system, energy crisis, climate change) “(Yang, 2010, p.30).

Referring to a dynamic system, the city, the concept of urban transformation changes along with the

entity is derives from, changing its definitions in planning theory and practice. Thus urban

transformation can be assessed in relation with three main categories: heritage conservation, urban

regeneration and urban redevelopment/renewal (Couch et al, 2003; Gulersoy and Gurler, 2011).

a. The urban transformation based on heritage conservation placed the focus on the historical and

cultural significant areas of the city. Using methods like restoration, renovation, re-use , the

main concern was the protection and retrieval ( both physically and functionally ) of heritage. A

particular issue concerning the industrial heritage conservation is underlined by Francoise Choay

in her book “L'allégorie du patrimoine”. The author remarks that, due to the fragility of the

industrial heritage, a product of the XXth century, had caused a “Noah’s complex” (Choay, 1998)

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by placing under the heritage protection umbrella the exhaustive set of structural type occurred

during this period.

b. The urban transformation based on regeneration addressed urban areas with latent economic

and functional potentialities (mainly reminiscences of deindustrialization and the shrinkage of

production areas - derelict and obsolete industrial areas, docklands). This, using methods like

regeneration, restructuration, redevelopment, delivers areas oriented towards consumption (of

goods, experiences)and flagship projects.

c. The urban transformation based on (re)development addresses deteriorated urban areas placing

the emphasis on the socio-economic component. Therefore, the tools used are revitalization,

renewal, rehabilitation. ( Gulersoy and Gurler, 2011)

In the 21st century, urban transformation moves towards an integrated urban regeneration that brognd

together heritage, competiveness and culture ( Gulersoy and Gurler, 2011)

Sustainable urban transformation

Although interest about Earth capacity to handle human activities have emerged early in the ‘60s ( 1962,

Rachel Carson in “Silent Spring” ), followed by the Club of Rome in 1972 report and the Tbilisi

Declaration in 1977, the notion of ‘sustainable development’ became a component of the urban

development language with the publishing of the Brundtland Report. The Brundtland Report, with its

definition - "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Brundtland, G. H., et al., 1987)

set into motion a productive discourse that from that point on enriched and widened the grasp of its

meaning.

Sustainability is a difficult concept to pin down in the definition catalog, due to the complexity of the

term. The literature review regarding sustainability provides a wide array of interpretation, providing

one common feature. Regardless of the variation on the theme (the pyramid model, the egg model),

they all underline the convergence of the economical, social and environmental component (the three

pillars model base).

Therefore, a definition of sustainable urban transformation derives from the understandings of urban

transformation and urban sustainability combined. Applying sustainability in the urban transformation

context leads to the understanding of sustainable urban transformation as a series of urban

(transformation) processes along with increase economic growth, social welfare and reduce impact on

the environment. (Yang, 2010; IDRC, 1997)

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Case studies selection

The case studies selection was based on the notoriety of the project. The aim of the paper

being to assess lessons from emblematic-innovative experiences, the level of notoriety at an

international level has the main criteria in case studies selection. The second one was diversity.

Talking about urban transformation, the selection aimed at providing examples of

transformation processes in areas that cover a wider palette of examples , both in former use (

industrial site, water facility, military base ) and size.

Hammarby Sjostad - Stockholm, Sweden

Hammarby Sjostad - aerial view (source: http://www.cabe.org.uk/case-studies/hammarby-sjostad)

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Hammarby Sjöstad is the largest urban transformation project of Stockholm in the recent years. The

position of the restructured area - as a natural extension of the center of Stockholm - has helped

transform some old industrial sites into attractive residential areas with parks and attractive green

public spaces. The area situated in the vicinity in southern Stockholm of lake Hammarby Sjo's, Lake, has

dramatically changed many times. Few areas can be described as "quiet and idyllic landscapes of nature"

in the 1920s, and then, a few decades later, shift to being sarcastically called "ghettos of steel", only to

be reborn in the new millennium, as part sustainable modern center of Stockholm.

The area was partially destroyed when Hammarbyleden highway was built and, immediately

after the highway was delivered, the area became available for storage and industrial use. But no

company or industry established in the area: instead, a ghetto started to grow, and the area started to

become a small industrial area. Then ghetto lasted until 1998, when it was demolished to make way for

the project Hammarby Sjöstad.

The idea of creating a new neighborhood in the area emerged in the early 1990s. The concept

aimed at capitalizing on a unique opportunity the site possessed – to expand city center with a focus on

establishing a connection with the natural element, the water, and at the same time, to restructure

the old industrial and naval areas into a modern neighborhood.

With Stockholm's plans preparation for the 2004 Olympics bid to win a major impetus for

development and infrastructure in the area. The core area of Hammarby was imagined as the Olympic

village with a strong emphasis on ecology and sustainable development, and was promoted as one of

Stockholm's unique advantages as Olympic city. Although the tender was not successful, the

development was already underway and the momentum for change was triggered. The municipalities

decision was to keep this momentum to create positive change. When the planning for district

Hammarby Sjöstad began the general objective was to reduce by 50% the environmental impact

generated by the district, compared with a neighborhood built in the early 1990s.

The main objective in the Hammarby Sjostad project emphasized the ecological aspects and the

connection with the natural element. The development of Hammarby Sjöstad aimed to create a

residential environment based on sustainable use of resources. It aimed to minimize energy

consumption and waste production with resource conservation and maximizing recycling and reuse.

The 200 hectare area is a new district for the city of Stockholm and will comprise 9,000

apartments, housing for 20,000 people, and 200,000 sqm of commercial floor space, adding this way

another 10000 jobs in the area. The financing of the project involved, along with the city of Stockholm,

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which acquired the majority of land in the area, and 25 other developers, contributing to 80% of the

cost. Additional funding also were provided by two government agencies ( Swedish Rail Administration

and the Swedish Road Administration).

The design process highlights the efficient connection on both the horizontal and vertical

dimension of leadership and collaboration. The municipality designed the strategic Master plan, and

then divided it into 12 sub-districts. As a control tool, it implemented a “parallel sketch” design, where

the strategic masterplan was submitted to an “on the ground level check” made by architects/planners

from the private sector (chosen by the municipality) at the sub-district scale. This resulted in detailed

proposals, which were assessed by the municipality, assimilating the best features.

This division of the masterplan and the assignments of different team to design the sub-districts,

with the City as final arbiter ensured two important features of Hammarby Sjostad. The first is the

diversity and variation in the design of the area, as well as a strong community involvement in the

process, assuring the viability of the delivered spaces and units. Secondly, the oversee of the City

ensured the “truth” of the Masterplan (what you see is what you get). The similarities between the

drawn Masterplan and the physical result are a striking feature of the project.(CABE )

An element of international notoriety now of the new district is its environmental program, as

the core of the project. Beginning with the decontamination of the industrial site and the re-use of a

brownfiled area, the development addresses the issues of public transport to discourage car use, energy

consumption reduction, recycling of water and waste. The social component is also an element in the

environmental strategy set into play, as the project provided an educational center on sustainability and

environment issues, the Glass house, built in the center on the district.

With the project main focus in mind, a connection with the natural element, the district

maximizes the location near the water (view, pathways, building orientation). Hammarby Lake became

the "blue eye" of the district providing public space representative.

Lessons from Hammarby Sjostad:

●A proactive municipality – that provided a high quality housing district in order to meet emerging

demands from the city of Stockholm.

● A strong masterplan – that ensured coherence and truthfulness to the project.

● Diversity within unity – by developing detailed masterplanes for individual sub-districts, but in the

same frame provided by the Masterplan and under the same arbitrage

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● Flexibility in design – by using parallel sketches to check the ccompatibility and relevance of the

strategic masterplan with the on ground-level reality.

● Strong environmental program that was implemented and respected, including the educational aspect

reflected in the Glass House.

● Land-policy use to ensure mix-use and economic viability to the area (CABE ).

Vauban - Freiburg, Germany

Aerial view of Vauban neighborhood ( source: http://www.stevemelia.co.uk/carfreeareas.htm)

Vauban is a new neighborhood for the city of Freiburg, Germany, located 4 km South from the

city’s center. Built as “ a sustainable district” on a former military area, the Vauban project

started in 1993 and was completed in 2006. The 38 ha development was design for 5000

inhabitants and will provide 600 jobs.

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The planning and development of the site was the responsibility on the municipality of

Freiburg, the owner of the site. A distinctive feature of the project is the community

involvement. From the star, the municipality divided the site in small lots that were sold to

individual or groups (co-housing ) of private builders.

The main component of the development, the feature that brought the international

notoriety is the implementation on “car-free” and “parking-free” concepts, along with the

extensive ecological measures. The cars are parked at the periphery of the neighborhood and

specific regulation prohibit the build of parking place on private property. All these regulation

are “sustained” by an efficient public transport network, seconded by a car-sharing network.

The municipality adopted a “Learning while Planning” concept (Sperling, 2008), allowing

for a flexible planning, incorporating proposals and allowing changes in later stages. This was

the mechanism used to encourage citizens participation in the design processes of their future

neighborhood. Citizen structures, like ‘Forum Vauban’ became powerful partners in the

transformation of the site. The flexibility of the development allowed for alternative projects to

emerge, developed by different initiatives group ( like the group of students – S.U.I.S.- that

developed living spaces for students).

The development plan laid out a series of regulation for the design and layout of the

homes (prohibiting detached housing – in order to provide a dens urban development,

prohibiting buildings higher than 4 stories).

The energy strategy for the project was developed between the municipality, the Forum

Vauban and Freiburg Energy Company. According to this strategy, every house has to apply the

“passive house” or “energy plus” standard.

Lessons from Vauban:

Applying the “car-free” and “parking-free’ concepts the Vauban project reduced by 50%

the car-usage and ownership. The tools used here urban policy and design strategies. Using

space design to influence future uses, there was able to break the stereotypical image of house-

car.

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A good public transport network, together with a car-sharing network are making the

strategy viable. Another crucial elements are the presence within the neighborhood of a local

provision of jobs, reducing the need to drive to work and the proximity of the city center.

Community involvement in the project provides a model to be replicate, due to the

mitigation of lack of sense of community and place attachment .

GWL-terrein – Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Aerial view ( source: http://www.kcap.eu/images/000729_gwl_terrein.jpg)

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Developed on Amsterdam’s former water facility, GWL-terrein is a community housing project, with a

central focus on providing housing for families while addressing environmental issues, located less than

3 km form center Amsterdam. The development was managed by the City of Amsterdam.

The project applies also the “car-free” concept as it’s design as a high-density housing development

linked to a series of public spaces. Within the area, the heritage components strengthen the local

identity as the designers adapted some former waterworks building to current use.

Lessons from GWL-terrein:

The project provides a successful example of a car-free community.

Conclusions Urban dynamics constantly alter urban functions, the hierarchy of local needs and, an integrated

approach is defined as a priority for assessing the urban components, in an context characterized by

consistency between objectives and goals of urban policy. The sustainable urban transformation

concept emphasizes on the interconnection between social, economic and environmental components

of the urban system , that allows an area to function at a level of quality of life demanded by the current

society, without altering the availability of choice for future generations ( Yang, 2010).

Sustainable urban transformation project use an integrate approach to the development of an

urban area: applying technological findings to reduce the impact on the environment while delivering

high quality housing and facilities, involving community in order to sustain the sense of belonging and to

enhance the local urban identity, providing strategies to ensure economic development.

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