The actors within the urban planning process in Sweden, whether they are municipalities, real estate developers or individual homeowners, benefit from digital development plans because digital and uniform data is easier to access and use in analyses. New development plans are required to be digital, but the large majority of the existing plan stock consist of physical maps with regulations on paper. To facilitate the transformation and acquire uniform translations of older planning regulations when digitizing older plans, guidance from government authorities on how to understand regulations from 1949-1969 is here compiled. After a systematic translation and formulation has been conducted on a dataset consisting of planning regulations from Värmdö municipality, the data is used in a machine learning program to test to what extent the program can predict the correct modern translation of the old text. When tested on regulations from Värmdö municipality, the performance was satisfactory despite the limited dataset used for training the program. However, when the program was tested on regulations from another nearby municipality, the result sank significantly, implying that the training data needs to be more diversified for the program to be generally useful when translating regulations from the time period. The research alsodiscusses how current guidelines on the topic can be developed to create better prerequisites for uniform and analysable data.

Today's urban planning is increasingly controlled and influenced by private actors with profit incentives and this includes the housing sector. The trend of increasing influence of financial actors which result in structural changes to markets and systems is referred to as ‘financialization’ and this trend is today seen on a global scale. The effects of this development have had unique effects in Sweden with its historically strong social housing policies. The purpose of this report is to investigate these effects and highlight different perspectives on the development.

Previous research is presented to gather an idea of what the phenomenon means within a Swedish context, which is then further explored in two interviews with researchers of the subject. Views on what has happened and what it means for Sweden's future housing supply differ between different actors. This subjectivity around the development of financialisation is examined through five interviews with representatives from interest organizations, political parties and Stockholm municipality.

The report concludes that there is a lack of a common understanding and language for the discussion of financialization, public housings role has been diminished, clearer legislation is needed regarding what applies in matters related to renovation and construction of housing, and that there has been a polarization in the views regarding how the housing supply and housing market should be handled in Sweden.

The transportation sector is affected by multiple issues that are proportional to the number of car trips. Municipalities who wish to mitigate these issues can alter their land use policy, in which it typically has the power to set minimum parking requirements (MPRs) for properties within its boundaries. Previous research shows that lowered MPRs are effective in reducing the number of car trips, but the more effective such policy is, the less acceptable it is typically deemed to be by the public. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to determine which factors affect policy acceptance and how the municipality can influence this. The study is conducted using a self-administered questionnaire (n=245) with participants from fifty different apartment buildings across the Huddinge municipality. Relationships among the questionnaire data, data about the physical environment at the respondent’s house and the land use policy applied during its construction are then examined using multiple regression.

The results show that individuals’ perception of acceptance among other citizens, individuals’ perceptions of traffic problems and individuals’ own preferences related to travel behaviour are the most important factors affecting acceptance. Furthermore, the study shows that lower MPRs at the respondent’s residence is correlated with lower acceptance for the municipality’s present parking policy. Therefore, it is important to find ways to engender acceptance, since support for the policy might otherwise be undermined as low MPRs get implemented in a greater share of apartment buildings. Most factors that the municipality can control are not correlated with the degree of acceptance, but the results suggest some possibilities in residential bicycle parking improvements and shorter walking distances to public transport stops. Additionally, the municipality could shift the focus of its land use policy measures toward placement of parking spaces further away from entrances, since previous research show that this may have a similar effect on car trips, and this study shows that it is not correlated with the degree of acceptance.

In an era of increasing emphasis on sustainability across industries, the housing sector faces unique challenges in providing sustainable accommodations, particularly for international students. Efficient facility management in this context necessitates collaborative stakeholder efforts to achieve ecological, economic, and social sustainability goals amid cultural diversity that impacts occupant satisfaction. Akademiska Hus, a prominent Swedish company, leads sustainable housing initiatives for international students, leveraging digital innovations to enhance stakeholder satisfaction.This master's thesis aims to explore efficient and sustainable facility management approaches in student housing using a smartphone app. It culminates in the development of a prototype roadmap for delivering sustainable student accommodations. The roadmap is informed by a case study of Språkskrapan, a student accommodation facility owned by Akademiska Hus and managed by the University of Gothenburg.The study engages stakeholders, including housing providers and students, to identify needs and goals, assesses the performance of a smartphone app for facility management, and explores strategies for sustainable building management tailored to student requirements. The research follows the structured approach of the double- diamond design process: identifying student needs through interviews, defining challenges based on feedback, proposing solutions, and testing potential solutions.The findings will yield a comprehensive roadmap for offering sustainable student housing, providing insights into sustainable facility management aligned with digital innovation for student accommodation. This study serves as a blueprint for future community development projects, offering guidance on achieving sustainability objectives in resource-constrained environments.

This study investigates the institutional learning from attempts at securing affordable housing inclusion within Transit-Oriented Developments (TOD) through institutional change in Reykjavík, Iceland. As Reykjavík embarks on the ambitious City Line project, a bus-rapid transit network aimed at sustainably shaping urban growth, ensuring affordable housing near transit stations has become critical. Past attempts to achieve housing affordability have fallen short since Reykjavík still, to this day, experiences a great lack of affordable housing. Thus, this research employs an institutional learning framework to explore the barriers to and opportunities for ensuring affordable housing in TODs. Through expert interviews and document analysis, the study’s findings highlight the institutional challenges hindering the realisation of affordable housing goals within TODs. These include the vagueness of upper-level policies and terminology, the influence of land ownership, and implementation gaps in planning. Additionally, the research identifies opportunities for institutional change, such as strengthening standardisation from state-level policies, including principles of transit-accessible development in the extensions and re-evaluation of the City Line network, and addressing issues of timescale alignment between the implementation of TODs and the City Line. The study contributes to the limited Icelandic literature on institutional analysis in urban planning and offers ideas for enhancing social inclusivity and housing accessibility for Reykjavík’s future transit communities.

Rural revitalization is a major concern in many developed countries where rural exodus depopulated thecountryside, including France where some rural areas suffer from demographic and economic decline. In thefirst times of the Covid 19 crisis, the perspective of an urban exodus was largely raised in the developedcountries’ press. The idea was that the pandemic was sparking disenchantment with the urban lifestyleleading to mass migration from the big cities to the countryside, thus fostering rural revitalization, possibly ata wide scale. Therefore, the aim of this study is on the one hand, to understand this Urban Exodusphenomenon and its significance in the French context through press and literature review. On the otherhand, the aim is to investigate if and how this phenomenon impacts rural revitalization, by focusing on thecases of the rural municipalities Saint-Fraimbault and Mamers. We find that the vision of the Urban Exodusfirst conveyed by the media was distorted: there has been no global reorganization of spatial and migratorypatterns in France, even though more people have been moving towards an area with a lesser populationdensity. The host territories include rural areas that were in decline before the pandemic, where the UrbanExodus represents a potential in terms of demographic and economic recovery, as well as a challenge for theirrural identity and their development model. The case studies show that the effects of the Urban Exodus onrural revitalization are not uniform. They suggest that the effects may depend on the initial developmentstrategy of the municipality. In the case of Mamers indeed, the Urban Exodus was experienced as anopportunity while the phenomenon did not have significant effects in Saint-Fraimbault.

Cycling is a sustainable and health-promoting mode of transportation that addresses issues such as pollution, congestion, and social exclusion. This research focuses on understanding the current cycling culture and infrastructure in Stockholm, Sweden, and compares The Netherlands, to identify ways to enhance cycling in Stockholm.

Data for this research were collected through interviews with experts and observational methods in Stockholm. The study analyses how existing infrastructure and historic planning decisions influence cycling behaviour. Additionally, the concept of ‘Path Dependence’ is employed to understand the lasting impact of past decisions on current urban mobility patterns.

The results indicate that Stockholm faces unique challenges, such as geographic constraints, harsh winter conditions, and a strong car culture, which hinder the widespread adoption of cycling. The study also identifies the importance of EU-supported initiatives aimed at increasing the cycling modal share and improving safety.

Based on the findings through a spatial analysis, the research provides recommendations for improving cycling infrastructure in Stockholm, considering its unique urban context. These recommendations aim to support the transition from car-dominated mobility to sustainable transportation modes, contributing valuable insights to the discourse on sustainable urban mobility in Stockholm.

In a time of digitalization it can be hard to find the right way forward. The now ruling government in Sweden is running a digitalization policy with the overall goal that Sweden should be the best in the world to use the possibilities of digitalization. By extension, this means an increased state governance and that the municipalities of Sweden have to navigate amongst the governing signals. In February 2023 the government ruled for a change in the Planning and Building Ordinance which means that all of the new comprehensive and regional plans that are started as of 1st of January 2027 must be digital. Following this, the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning is currently working on specifying the demands in order to support the municipalities in the adaptation to digital plans. 

The purpose of the study is to investigate how this adaptation into digital comprehensive plans affects municipalities and also the potential consequences the proposal for regulations made by the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning might have. The chosen method is two qualitative methods; document studies and interviews. Onward three theoretical approaches were used in order to analyze the result. These are ‘state governance over municipalities’, ‘urban norm’, and ‘the comprehensive plan’s role as a strategic document’. In the result the content from the study is gathered into five discourses that are exemplified with the help of the municipalities that were interviewed. The discourses used are ‘the general view of digitalization’, ‘resourcefully weak municipalities and economic challenges’, ‘rush slowly’, ‘the regulations not adapted to everyone’ and ‘the purpose of the comprehensive plan can hollow out’. 

Furthermore in the analysis potential challenges that can arise with smaller municipalities when the state governance increases. The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning’s proposal for regulations for comprehensive plans are hard to apply in many of the country's municipalities and there are also opinions regarding the time plan for implementing the said regulations, where ‘rush slowly’ is mentioned as an alternative. The regulations are also deemed to proceed from an urban perspective which can create unnecessary large obstacles for already resourcefully weak municipalities in rural environments. It also appears that the regulations in its currently proposed form are at risk of changing comprehensive planning in itself, into a completely other form of planning process. The purpose of this type of planning is at risk of hollowing out following the fact that the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning seems to be putting a lot of focus on mapping, when the municipalities want to use the comprehensive plan as a tool for future planning. 

The study summarizes that future comprehensive plans will have to take on a digital format, but it is still unclear regarding how this adaptation will happen. If the proposal from the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning is determined in its current form, large consequences are probably to be expected. With regards to the critique at hand, the preliminary assessment is that the regulations will take on another shape.

Accessibility to places for physical activity is important to fulfil the human need for movement, where a physical lifestyle generates several positive health aspects.In the Swedish context, sedentary behaviour is a major public health problem, with young people in particular not being physically active enough, and more than one in five inhabitants being sedentary for at least ten hours a day. Thus, the role of transport systems in terms of accessibility to sports venues is of great importance, where physical activity is favoured by good access to public transport as well as safe and secure walking and cycling routes that connect different destinations. The aim of the study is therefore to contribute to a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to planning for accessibility and sustainable travel linked to sports grounds, especially in relation to children and young people. The study is based on a case study as a research strategy, where two sports grounds in Stockholm municipality, and one sports ground in Solna municipality are studied. The results show that accessibility as a concept has many meanings, which can contribute to problems in planning, and that there is a lack of clarity in the responsibilities of actors in terms of measures to promote sustainable travel. The study concludes that there is a need for a framework for what accessibility means in relation to sports grounds, and a need for better targeted measures for sustainable travel, which need to interact with initiatives, and take place at the expense of car traffic.

In today's society, and especially in the City of Stockholm, there are shortcomings in urban development regarding social sustainability, which is prioritized in favor of ecological and economic sustainability. By creating and improving socially sustainable public places, social integration and safety are promoted by enabling meetings between different people. The purpose of this study is therefore to investigate socially sustainable public places and how these can be created. Furthermore, this will be explored in practice through an investigation of two of Stockholm's city projects, Fokus Skärholmen and Hagastaden. In Fokus Skärholmen, the park Vårgården in Vårberg has been selected, which is located in the southern part of Stockholm, and for Hagastaden in northern Norrmalm, the square Hagaplan and the park Norra Stationsparken have been selected.

The report used a qualitative survey using ethnographic methods to collect qualitative data. In addition, a theoretical investigation was made, mainly based on literature studies. A case study of the projects, Fokus Skärholmen and Hagastaden, was carried out using triangulation through various methods, including site observations, interviews and document analyses. Seven interviews of a semi-structured nature were held with a total of eight respondents to collect material for the case studies. 

The results showed that a socially sustainable public place should, among other things, include perspectives on safety, accessibility, inclusion and quality of life. Creating a safe place requires, for example, good lighting, visibility and that the place is well used. An accessible public space is adapted for everyone regardless of factors such as gender, socio-economic background, age or disability. Furthermore, both the inclusion of residents in the planning process and an inclusive design are required to give them a sense of belonging and a relationship with the environment. Finally, public places contribute to improving the quality of life by offering attractive outdoor environments with greenery and meeting places. Both projects have implemented these aspects, however their focus and approach differ due to their different needs and conditions.

It is estimated that for the green industrialization in Sweden to succeed, over 100 000 individuals need to relocate to municipalities in question to contribute with competence to the emerging industries. Consequently, there is a need to balance the growth of industrialization with adequate growth within the welfare sector. The study examines how Luleå municipality can motivate residency by cultivating an environment that encourages a high quality of life for both current residents and welfare professionals residing in other cities. Further the study uses capability theory to investigate which quality of life factors are of importance to retain current residents and attract people with necessary competence within the healthcare and educational sector.

Triangulation of mixed research methods was used to gain multiple perspectives of wanting to live in a place collected from a questionnaire, a focus group, and a data set on which factors promoted a desire to stay in Luleå Municipality. The study reveals that current residents feel a lack of representation of their concerns about the downsides of industrialization, highlighting the importance of functioning welfare institutions, as well as improved connectivity. In looking into specific occupational groups, the thesis contributes with revealing the differences in motivations for migration, while also highlighting similarities. Finally, the study finds that motivating migration to a previously unfamiliar location is difficult, highlighting the importance of instead targeting people with familiarity to Luleå municipality.

This thesis assesses the ability for econeighborhoods to implement the conditions necessary for sustainable mobility in the suburbs of Paris. Econeighborhoods are a concept pioneered in Northern Europe meant to encapsulate all aspects of sustainable urbanism, with features such as high efficiency housing, urban greening, low waste, walkability and cyclability. This concept was picked up by the French government and econeighborhoods are implemented all over the country. In this thesis, we study how this urban ideal is applied in suburban areas, which display low density and high car use, and whether they can contribute to changing mobility habits. Using three cases in the Paris region, and methods of spatial and network analysis, we study the following features: urban character, accessibility to services, accessibility to workplaces, walkability and cyclability. We find that while econeighborhoods generally provide a satisfactory access to services, walkability and cyclability within them, this is often limited to the econeighborhood itself and not to the surrounding area whatsoever, limiting its potential positive impacts. Due to their limited scale, they also do not provide sustainable access to workplaces, which generally require long commutes, perpetuating car-dependency. We also observe that the pre-existence of the neighborhood and its socio-economic conditions impact the quality of the solutions provided. The study suggests further work in analyzing real lived experiences in these neighborhoods.

Sustainable city planning is an ideal aiming at consideration to ecological and social as well as economic aspects so that development of today’s society won’t interfere with future generations’right to a decent life. In practical terms city planners have to reformulate the ideal to concrete targets and actions adapted to local conditions and available means. In Stockholm there are two ongoing city development projects with high sustainability ambitions; Stockholm Royal Seaport (Norra Djurgårdsstaden, NDS) and Stora Sköndal (SSK), both have as part of the sustainability work adopted so called sustainability goals and requirements tied to governing documents and processes to achieve these ambitions. The goal for this examination paper was to quantitatively and qualitatively compare the projects own goals, requirements and some other aspects of the sustainability efforts alongside with available results to ascertain what comparable elements there are, what project seems to have the higher ambitions and perform the best, and find aspects where the projects may improve. Notable conclusions are that the projects’ ecological goals overall are similar and comparable, while the social one’s aren’t as a consequence of both differing concepts of social sustainability and different organizations and processes. The improvement proposals address raising specific goals/targets as well as more general advice to expand the number standardized and measureable goals and requirements. Despite NDS having somewhat higher ambitions the first comparison of available results suggest that SSK manage to accomplish better results than NDS in key areas such as energy use and green spaces.

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is a strategic approach in urban planning that promotessustainable urban growth through efficient land use and enhanced public transportation. This thesisexplores the implementation of TOD within a Swedish context through a case study on the developmentof Flemingsbergsdalen in southern Stockholm. This is done through interviews with different actorsinvolved in the development process. The study aims to understand how TOD is adapted to andimplemented in Flemingsbergsdalen and to identify the primary challenges encountered in the TODimplementation process.

The research revealed two primary findings. Firstly, the implementation of TOD in Flemingsbergsdalenadheres closely to recognised design and planning principles of TOD, reflecting both the historical andcontemporary planning contexts. Flemingsbergsdalen's development, informed by early TOD initiativesin Flemingsberg, illustrates how evolving planning ideas contribute to and shape the built environment.Secondly, the study identifies three main categories of challenges: financing TOD, defining roles andresponsibilities, and managing internal and external organisation. These challenges highlight thecomplex interplay between economic factors and institutional roles, significantly influenced by bothformal and informal institutional factors such as budgeting, economic priorities, and the varying levelsof stakeholder knowledge and experience in navigating financing processes for TOD projects.

The findings suggest that while TOD principles are well-supported in theory, the process ofimplementation is filled with complex challenges that can be difficult to navigate. This thesis contributesto research by identifying and categorising these challenges and providing a framework forunderstanding the dynamics between them.

Stockholm’s population is increasing which creates a need for more housing, workspaces and good public spaces. The municipality wants to use the land efficiently and to accomplish this, old industrial land is often used. One example of this is the former gas plant in Norra Djurgårdsstaden, which is a part of Sweden's largest urban development project as well as being a cultural heritage site. 

This study examines how cultural heritage sites can be preserved and adapted to meet contemporary needs, specifically in the former gas plant. The study also examines how different conflicts of interest affect the possibility to integrate heritage sites in contemporary urban planning. To do this, document studies, interviews and observations were conducted. 

The result shows that the many conflicts of interest entail compromises that often diminish the cultural heritage. The study also shows that the gas plant project has used many different approaches to preserve and adapt the cultural heritage to contemporary needs. For example, place marketing and densification have been used as well as changes in the facades of the buildings. Even though new buildings should blend in with the existing architecture, the overall adaptations have been made at the expense of the cultural heritage.

This report examines the perceived safety at Uppsala Central Station, focusing on visitors’ personal experiences of the station area. The purpose of the study is to understand how visitors perceive safety at the station and to identify the factors influencing these perceptions. The study aims to answer the primary research question: how do visitors perceive safety at Uppsala Central Station?

The research methodology involved a survey distributed to visitors during a specified period. The survey gathered demographic information, visiting patterns, and subjective assessments of safety across different areas of the station at various times of the day. The findings indicate that while the general perception of safety at Uppsala Central Station is neutral, there are significant temporal and spatial variations. The Central Passage, Frodeparken, and the parking garage were identified as areas where visitors feel most unsafe, primarily due to inadequate lighting and the presence of disruptive individuals.

The study highlights that key factors influencing perceived safety include the presence of disruptive individuals, the availability of security personnel, and lighting conditions. Recommendations for enhancing safety include increasing the number of patrolling police officers or security guards, improving lighting, and installing additional surveillance cameras. 

The report concludes that while objective safety measures such as improved lighting and increased security presence are essential, addressing both physical and social factors is crucial for enhancing the overall perception of safety at Uppsala Central Station. Future research should consider incorporating crime statistics and comparing Uppsala Central Station with other similar stations to identify common issues and effective solutions.

This master's thesis examines the increased use of A-tractors and moped cars in Danderydmunicipality. The study has been conducted using qualitative methods to analyze thisphenomenon from an ethnographic perspective, to understand the impact that A-tractors andmoped cars have on the infrastructure, the physical environment and road safety in themunicipality of Danderyd.Through the analysis of surveys among students in the municipality of Danderyd, interviewswith relevant stakeholders and government representatives, data is collected to map usagepatterns, drivers and possible consequences of increased numbers of A-tractors and mopedcars on the roads in the municipality of Danderyd.The results of the study highlight that the increase in both A-tractors and moped cars canhave several consequences for the municipality of Danderyd, including increased congestionon roads and parking lots, changes in traffic flows, increased strain on the road network, aswell as potential safety risks for both drivers and other road users.The conclusions from the study emphasize the importance of measures being implementedaround both A-tractors and moped cars in urban planning and traffic policy to ensuresustainable mobility and a safe traffic environment in Danderyd municipality and similarurban areas, as well as the importance of a change in education for both A-tractors andmoped cars and an increased level of knowledge

The concept of the mixed-use city is at the forefront of today’s urban planning, where a strive for functional diversity is sought to promote a vibrant urban environment. In Stockholm, there are currently several large-scale development projects in the previous industrial areas, due to increased demand for housing, servicebuildings and workplaces. The majority of industries in these areas have already been dismantled or are planned to be dismantled. This report investigates whether it is possible to preserve industrial activity into the urban environment or not. Furthermore, it investigates how this could be possible and what advantages and disadvantages may arise. 

To make the investigation easier and more clearly visualize how it would appear, two examples have been presented and analyzed. The first is the so-called “ Slakthusområdet '', which is an industrial area in the south of Stockholm that is under an ongoing transformation from an industrial area into an urban district with a focus on culture and sustainability. The second example is the company “ Arvid Nordquists “ new coffee roastery in Järfälla. A modern industrial building intended to be integrated into the urban environment with the goal of creating a resource-efficient and environmentally friendly production facility. 

The work has been conducted by gathering relevant information through literature, document and interview studies. The interviews have been conducted to obtain more information about Slakthusområdet and Arvid Nordquists coffee roastery. In addition, a site visit in Slakthusområdet has been conducted. The report also includes a SWOT-analysis where advantages and disadvantages are presented and weighed against each other. The main advantages of integrating industrial activities into the urban environment are that it contributes to the mixed-use city concept and creates a vibrant urban environment. The main disadvantages are that industrial activities can cause disturbing noise, odors and increase traffic volume.

After all, it can be concluded that it is possible to create a mixed-use city by integrating industrial activity into the urban landscape, but only on a small scale and with certain conditions. The most advantageous option is to integrate small-scale industries with associated sales. This way, the area and its residents can benefit from the advantages while minimizing the disadvantages as much as possible. Larger industries with potentially disruptive impacts, should however be placed in locations where their activities do not affect surrounding residences to the same extent.

In a time characterized by climate change, we globally face significant challenges that require new approaches in urban planning. Increased temperatures and more frequent heatwaves will negatively impact our cities, people, and the climate, which increases complexity for professionals while residents suffer. Huddinge Municipality is located in the southern part of the Stockholm region in Sweden and faces future challenges with climate adaptation to increased temperatures and heatwaves. To identify existing obstacles and goal conflicts, focus group interviews and document studies have been conducted in Huddinge Municipality. This work aims to contribute to the broader understanding of climate adaptation to heat issues in a Swedish context. Through interviews with municipal officials and document studies, ongoing strategies and approaches have been identified in four Swedish municipalities. Three planning tools have been utilized: the Public Health Agency of Sweden’s four measures to reduce heat stress in the existing environment, the green space factor, and the 3-30-300 rule. The results show that the case studies have clear strategic guidelines on how to work with climate adaptation to increased temperatures but see difficulties in implementing these strategic guidelines in urban planning. Challenges and improvement suggestions identified by the case studies include a need for clearer guidelines from the national level in terms of changed policies and legislation, as well as suggestions for nature-based solutions that are adapted to a Swedish climate. The study concluded that Huddinge Municipality should implement the green space factor in block areas where heat-regulating ecosystem services are included for multifunctional spaces, guidelines for canopy coverage need to be developed and evaluated, and the perspective of vulnerable groups needs to be more clearly integrated into the planning process. The conclusion shows a need for organizational changes and clearer responsibilities in Huddinge Municipality, which means collaboration both internally and externally between administrations, developers, organizations, universities, and research institutes.

The subject of decommissioning Bromma airport has been discussed throughout several years where politicians from all of Swedens political parties has valued the airport differently. The reduced number of flights following the Covid-19-pandemic and the current housing shortage in Stockholm have acted as arguments against preserving the airport. In February of 2024 came the directive that the contract between the airports owner Swedavia and the landowner Stockholms stad wouldn´t be renewed and would instead come to a close year 2038. The decision has made Bromma airports future an increasingly relevant topic of discussion and has led to the development of several proposals for what the area could evolve into. While the disassembly of the airport is currently being considered could external circumstances justify keeping the airport. 

The purpose of the study has been to examine the circumstances around developing Bromma airport based on three proposals from the political party Miljöpartiet, government owned company Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA), and landscape architects Urbio. The study has taken different parties’ interests and sustainability in consideration. Earlier transformations from airports to alternative exploitation investigates to further support the study in Bromma airports circumstances. The studies methods have consisted of qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews with relevant parties and document-studies.

The study’s results show that the housing shortage has been a recurring argument motivating the disassembly of the airport. Replacing the establishment with residence units is something that both Miljöpartiet and BRA urges. BRA does however claim that parts of the airport should remain to accommodate future electrical airplanes. Urbio asserts that the absence of a greater park in Stockholm’s northwest suburbs motivates a disassembly, who instead wish to construct a landscape park. All of the proposals take sustainability in consideration in which different aspects were prioritized depending on the proposal. They altogether consider economic sustainability through housing and premises for businesses, social sustainability through alternating buildings and meeting places, and ecological sustainability through carbon sinks, energy effective constructions and planting of tree groves. 

The study also shows that there are common factors between the previous transformations of airports. A migration of the airports flight operations and a consistent dialogue with citizens were central themes across all cases. It could potentially be relevant subjects for Bromma airports eventual development.

In today's society, humanity is threatened by climate change, particularly through rising sea levels that risk flooding coastal cities. Solutions such as moving inland face limitations when the land runs out. Infrastructure must be adapted for future climate changes, which includes avoiding low-lying areas. Stockholm is being studied to observe how cities can adapt to these climate changes. Important factors for building on water include the location of the water area, water traffic, the surrounding community, and economic resources. Despite favorable conditions, there is low demand for floating cities, which hinders large-scale development.Floating cities contribute to sustainability, but the balance between climate, social, and economic factors is complex. Climate initiatives do not have as much impact as social and economic attractiveness. Floating cities are not expected to become a significant part of Stockholm's infrastructure until land scarcity makes building on water economically viable.

This study explores the impact of open recreational activities organized by the Unga Örnar (YoungEagles) organization on the holistic development of young people and social sustainability, with aparticular focus on the municipality of Järfälla, Sweden. Through a survey that includes individualinterviews with participants and a comprehensive review of relevant literature, the research examineshow these activities contribute to the participants social well-being.

The findings of the study illuminate the pivotal role played by Unga Örnar's open recreationalactivities in fostering a sense of community, belonging, and empowerment among the participants.These activities not only provide avenues for leisure and recreation but also serve as platforms forsocial interaction, skill development, and personal growth. Moreover, they are instrumental inpromoting social inclusion, bridging cultural divides, and nurturing a supportive environmentconducive to positive youth development.

Furthermore, the research underscores the preventive aspect of such initiatives in mitigating youthdelinquency, reducing social inequalities, and enhancing societal cohesion. By engaging youngindividuals in constructive and meaningful pursuits, these activities serve as protective factors againstrisk behaviors and societal marginalization. Thus, they represent a proactive approach to addressingsocietal challenges and promoting social sustainability by investing in the well-being and potential ofthe younger generation.

In conclusion, the study highlights the significance of open recreational activities provided by UngaÖrnar as catalysts for positive youth development and social cohesion in the municipality of Järfälla.It underscores the imperative for policymakers, community leaders, and stakeholders to recognize andsupport the vital role of such initiatives in building resilient, inclusive, and socially sustainablecommunities.

Sweden is facing a significant challenge in addressing the current and future housing shortage.An important issue in the housing shortage is the availability of affordable housing, leading todifficulties for low income households to access adequate housing. Inflation and recession createfurther challenges in meeting housing demand, as prices to end consumers are affected byincreased production costs and interest rates. According to Swedish law, municipalities have anobligation to ensure housing for all residents, even in a fluctuating market.

Through land allocation, the municipality has great power to influence the use of municipal land,where they can determine aspects such as design, size and price of housing. The land allocationtool can therefore be used to ensure housing for households with limited finances, and thus socialsustainability. However, there are no laws or guidelines for how municipalities should work withland allocation, including a common definition of social sustainability. The lack of a standardizedprocess thus creates a difficult terrain for municipalities striving for social sustainability andaffordable housing.

Malmö and Gothenburg are two municipalities that have announced land allocation competitionswith the aim of building housing with a lower price and economic availability for a larger group .The projects are currently at an early stage, which is why it is not possible to draw firmconclusions about the results. However, a number of challenges and opportunities can beidentified. The main challenges are described as defining social sustainability, evaluating theunmeasurable and ensuring low costs in the long term. In particular, it appears that the lack ofstructure in the process risks creating an arbitrary approach to social sustainability. However, itis possible to identify a number of opportunities that stakeholders believe can enable the desiredresult, which are described as, among other things, clear requirements, public housing, allocationrequirements and ground rent. Finally, there are clear opportunities to ensure affordable housingthrough land allocation, but this requires Sweden’s public actors to work together to achieve astandardized, transparent and feasible land allocation process.

Public spaces are characterized as open areas between buildings dedicated to social interactions. To create a satisfying public space, a balance of inclusive design is required to promote social sustainability. This paper aims to explore how inclusive and exclusive design is manifested at Sergel's Square and what obstacles these design principles can create. The objective is achieved through three research questions and a delimitation that specifies that the field observations of the paper are limited to two days. Theories were gathered through literature review and document review. A case study was also conducted with accompanying field observations where Sergel's Square was observed. The results are based on a protocol that was derived from the collected theories and used as a basis during the field observations. The obtained results were then analyzed according to the criteria of the theories.

The results of the field observations showed a balanced gender distribution, and the observed activities included sitting, standing, eating, and smoking. The analysis, based on theories of social sustainability and public spaces, revealed that Sergel's Square contains both inclusive and exclusive design elements. The conclusions indicate that social sustainability is a complex concept without a single clear definition. Furthermore, it was noted that inclusive design strives to create accessible public spaces through the involvement of user groups, where challenges such as conflicting goals may arise, potentially leading to exclusive elements.

Child Impact Assessments are one of the means used today to include the child perspective in planning processes, but the question is how much impact they actually have on plans. To answer this, evaluations are required in each individual case. This study aimed to investigate how municipalities can more systematically evaluate and follow up the use of Child Impact Assessments in the planning process, with a focus on Detailed Development Planning. An interview study was conducted to find out what different actors consider important to include in an evaluation tool, and a literature study was conducted to clarify what today’s research says. A document study was then carried out on six selected Child Impact Assessments and their respective Detailed Development Plans to find out to what extent they have influenced them. The document study showed that a large part of the CIA-recommendations have not been implemented in the Detailed Development Plans. After that, a thematic analysis was conducted, which found that the results of the literature review, interview study and document study were generally consistent with each other and highlighted similar challenges and ideas. These recurring themes were organised into five different themes: Goal Focus, Data Collection and Indicators, Dialogue and Feedback, Continuous Evaluation, and Evaluating the Use of CIA. Based on these themes, a draft prototype of an evaluation template was developed, containing questions and instructions to guide an evaluation of the use of CIA in detailed planning. It was then discussed that the template should be seen as a first proposal for a prototype based on a limited amount of empirical data, and not as definitive or comprehensive. It should be tested and adapted to each planning project. The study has also identified further research opportunities on the child perspective in the planning process and how formulation of regulations affects the impact CIA:s have on plans.

In a time characterized by climate change, we globally face significant challenges that require new approaches in urban planning. Increased temperatures and more frequent heatwaves will negatively impact our cities, people, and the climate, which increases complexity for professionals while residents suffer. Huddinge Municipality is located in the southern part of the Stockholm region in Sweden and faces future challenges with climate adaptation to increased temperatures and heatwaves. To identify existing obstacles and goal conflicts, focus group interviews and document studies have been conducted in Huddinge Municipality. This work aims to contribute to the broader understanding of climate adaptation to heat issues in a Swedish context. Through interviews with municipal officials and document studies, ongoing strategies and approaches have been identified in four Swedish municipalities. Three planning tools have been utilized: the Public Health Agency of Sweden’s four measures to reduce heat stress in the existing environment, the green space factor, and the 3-30-300 rule. The results show that the case studies have clear strategic guidelines on how to work with climate adaptation to increased temperatures but see difficulties in implementing these strategic guidelines in urban planning. Challenges and improvement suggestions identified by the case studies include a need for clearer guidelines from the national level in terms of changed policies and legislation, as well as suggestions for nature-based solutions that are adapted to a Swedish climate. The study concluded that Huddinge Municipality should implement the green space factor in block areas where heat-regulating ecosystem services are included for multifunctional spaces, guidelines for canopy coverage need to be developed and evaluated, and the perspective of vulnerable groups needs to be more clearly integrated into the planning process. The conclusion shows a need for organizational changes and clearer responsibilities in Huddinge Municipality, which means collaboration both internally and externally between administrations, developers, organizations, universities, and research institutes.

In this master's thesis, three Swedish transit-oriented locations highlight the potentials and challenges municipalities face in the realization of a transit-oriented densification. The study is conducted with a focus on the three station areas: Stenungsund, Floda and Älvängen, which have been the basis of the ongoing research project Urban Station Communities - Realization of Potentials for Transit-Oriented Urban Development (US2).

In this study, a case study approach is used as the research strategy, utilizing data from the research project US2 to address the study's two research questions - How do the spatial conditions for sustainable development and the potential for densification in transit-oriented locations differ in Stenungsund, Floda, and Älvängen? – What are the prerequisites for governance, collaboration and implementation in the municipalities studied? - The study further employed an abductive approach with triangulation of materials from GIS-analyses, workshop material, and interview data to examine the conditions for realizing the potential for transit-oriented development.

The results for the three cases represented different spatial conditions and potentials for TOD according to the analysis from a Planning Support System (PSS). Local geographical factors had a strong influence on the potentials for densification near the station area, with each case indicating unique needs. In comparison the study revealed that the three cases exhibited similar prerequisites for governance, organization, and implementation of transit-oriented development. Despite similar conditions, these varied in relation to spatial dimensions and the type of development necessary to create a transit-oriented area that meets local needs for place and node quality. The results highlight the need for clear goals, better coordination among stakeholders, a holistic and coherent approach that considers both local and regional planning levels, and balanced development to ensure legitimate and effective planning for TOD.

The alarming rise in overweight emphasizes the urgent need to prioritize public health in societies. Overweight carries significant health risks, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and premature death. As urbanization continues and sedentary lifestyles prevail, urban planning emerges as a critical tool for promoting healthier lifestyles and addressing the pressing health concerns associated with physical inactivity and overweight. Understanding how urban structures affect physical activity is essential for creating environments that encourage movement and well-being. Research indicates how integration of public health in planning can increase people's physical activity levels.This study aims to investigate how residents perceive the impact of their urban environment on physical activity and to understand expert perspectives on these factors within urban planning. Through qualitative interviews with residents and experts, the study intends to uncover the diverse array of factors that shape behaviors related to physical activity in different urban morphologies.The results reveal that the influence of physical factors on activity habits varies across different urban contexts and life phases, making it difficult to define a singular ideal for a healthy, active city. Contrary to expectations, physical factors seem to have less impact on residents' physical activity than previously thought. Instead, psychological factors such as motivation, priorities and aging appear to play a larger role, challenging the conventional urban planning assumptions. While certain environmental aspects like accessibility and greenery are important, softer measures such as nudging may be effective. Balancing conflicting needs and preferences in urban planning, especially regarding transportation options and land use, requires improved regulation and interdisciplinary collaboration. To ensure that physical activity is adequately prioritized in urban planning, it is crucial to raise awareness and demand the integration of public health perspectives. To promote physical outdoor activities, urban design should focus on creating spaces that make physical activity easy and enjoyable. The goal is to make physical activity a daily routine for everyone, similar to our instinctive nature of brushing our teeth.

Dagens stadsplanering styrs och påverkas alltmer av privata aktörer med vinstincitament och detta inkluderar bostadsförsörjningen. Trenden av ökande inflytande av finansiella aktörer som resulterar i strukturella förändringar av marknader och system benämns ‘finansialisering’ och finansialiseringstendensen ses idag på en global skala. Effekterna av denna utveckling har haft unika utslag i Sverige med dess historiskt starka bostadssociala politik. Syftet med rapporten är att undersöka dessa effekter samt lyfta olika perspektiv på utvecklingen. 

Tidigare forskning lyfts för att skapa en uppfattning om vad fenomenet innebär inom en svensk kontext vilket sedan utvecklas vidare i två intervjuer med forskare inom ämnet. Vyer på vad som skett och vad det innebär för Sveriges framtida bostadsförsörjning skiljer sig mellan olika aktörer. Denna subjektivitet kring finansialiseringens utveckling undersöks genom fem intervjuer med representanter från intresseorganisationer, politiska partier, och Stockholm kommun. 

Rapporten visar på att det saknas en gemensam förståelse och språk för att diskutera finansialisering, allmännyttans roll har begränsats, det behövs tydligare lagstiftning kring vad som gäller i frågor relaterat till renovering och nyproduktion, och att det har skett en polarisering i vyerna kring hur bostadsförsörjningen och bostadsmarknaden bör hanteras i Sverige.

The planning and management of urban areas have traditionally been perceived mainly from a daytime perspective, often overlooking the night-time in cities. However, recent years have witnessed a growing recognition of the urban night as an important consideration in promoting urban sustainability. Despite the emerging field of night-time planning and governance, our understanding of how the night-time is planned and managed across cities remains limited. This study sheds light on the context of Stockholm, through a case study of its central 'City' area. Based on qualitative interviews with key stakeholders and the analysis of strategic documents, it explores prevailing approaches and strategies, as well as challenges and opportunities associated with planning and managing the area’s nocturnal environments - from a social sustainability perspective. Findings indicate that night-time receives relatively limited attention in the local planning and governance. However, an emerging focus on certain night-time aspects is observed, mainly concerning safety, and promoting the entertainment sector of the night-time economy. Key challenges identified are a daytime bias in planning, inadequate tools and data for understanding nocturnal experiences, and the significant role of private property owners in shaping the area’s nocturnal environments. Additionally, the study echoes previous scholars’ calls for adopting a broader perspective on the urban night to ensure inclusivity and quality of life for all urban dwellers. Achieving a balance between economic and social interests at night would require concerted efforts from both public and private stakeholders, alongside the inclusion of multiple voices. Consequently, the study emphasises the need for explicit and permanent nocturnal planning and governance structures to navigate the complexities of urban nocturnal dynamics, particularly considering Stockholm's population growth and changes to broader societal dynamics such as globalisation.

Climate change poses many challenges and threats for society, and cities must adapt to the changing environment. Already today extreme weather events have caused major casualties in urban areas, and in the future, such events are expected to become more frequent. Municipalities hold a lot of responsibility in developing and transforming cities to become more resilient, why this report investigates how that can be done. Using green infrastructure and nature based solutions is proven efficient for mitigation and adaptation to climate consequences, while simultaneously providing social and economic synergies for society.

The aim of this thesis is therefore to investigate how green infrastructure can be implemented in planning, in order to tackle climate change. This has been done by looking into a case study of Solna Municipality, just north of Stockholm. To tackle the topic, several qualitative methods have been used, which include a literature review, document study, interviews with municipal officials and participant observation. The findings show that there are many ways municipalities can use urban greenery to mitigate and adapt to climate change consequences. Currently some aspects of climate adaptation, such as the management of storm water and flooding, are integrated into the urban development process, but others, like heat problems, are lacking. It can therefore be concluded that there are many opportunities for improvement. The study identifies four main areas of planning practice that would improve the integration of a green climate adaptation perspective. These are working actively with policy, incorporating climate perspectives into everyday practice, working strategically with broader contexts and utilising available tools for a systematic work process. Although the study is based on a single case study, it is believed that this thesis can provide valuable insights and recommendations for municipalities and other actors and guide them towards a more resilient urban development process.

After the Convention on the Rights of the Child was made part of Swedish law in the year 2020, childrens’ perspectives and participation in urban planning has become an increasingly important question. Studies show that the municipalities in charge of enacting the work of including children in planning view this as a challenge, and demand good examples of how it can be done. In several Swedish municipalities there is some form of youth council that to various extents functions as advisory. These youth councils can be a resource to planners looking to include childrens’ and youths’ perspectives in city planning and traffic planning. There is such a youth council in Strängnäs municipality who collaborate with planners and therefore can act as such a sought after example. Through a case study of their collaboration, this thesis examines some factors related to the quality of the participation from a basis of planning theoretical concepts such as agency and participation. The material consists of a document study of meeting notes from the youth council, and qualitative interviews conducted with planners working with different scales of abstraction, a former member of the youth council, and the local barnombudsman of Strängnäs municipality. This material shows that youth councils can be a very good resource for planners. The youths are prepared to engage with planning questions of various levels of abstractions and they take initiative in the meetings. The local barnombudsman acts a connection between the youth council and different municipal agencies, which aids the collaboration between youths and planners.

Urban planning faces the challenge of preserving city identities due to rapid urbanization and globalization, which often leads to the homogenization of urban landscapes but also the loss of place identity and attachment. This study explores the concept of urban terroir as a potential solution to this issue. Urban terroir encompasses the unique blend of physical, cultural, social, and historical elements along with the interaction of people with the public space that defines a neighbourhood or city. This concept is inspired by terroir, which in the context of winemaking, stands for the combination of elements including soil, topography, climate and craftmanship that make a wine’s unique taste. By leveraging urban terroir in placemaking, cities can restore local character, strengthen community ties, and enhance social dynamics. The current research on urban terroir is very scarce and needs to be explored further, this study aims to provide new insights and perspectives to the topic. Through qualitative and quantitative methods, this research investigates urban terroir's key components and its application in placemaking. An Interview with policymakers provides insights into historical context, cultural significance, and urbanism policies, revealing the challenges and opportunities in preserving city identity. A survey of 125 respondents was conducted in the suburban city of Paris and reflects community perspectives, highlighting the importance of green spaces, social bonds, and local values in defining urban identity.

The findings underscore the significance of nature, architecture, history, culture, and community values including social ties and networks in shaping urban terroir. Then, the study frames recommendations for implementing urban terroir into placemaking. By identifying the urban terroir of a place and capturing the essence of the area, it is possible to use those values in placemaking in order to enhance the local character and dynamics of a place. This study contributes to urban planning practices by facilitating the understanding of urban terroir and its potential role in fostering sustainable, culturally vibrant communities.

Spontaneous sports areas significantly contribute to an increased degree of physical activity. However, there are issues related to gender equality in spontaneously used sports areas, as their usage is defined predominantly by men and boys. Though the reported problem areas differ, a pattern of gender inequality in using spontaneously used sports areas emerges, and spontaneously used sports arenas are used predominantly by boys and men, with a gender distribution up to 80/20 percent in several age groups. Women and girls feel unsafe there, particularly in the evening. Due to inadequate illumination of spontaneously used sports areas and a lack of time when girls could use them, their use becomes complicated. The system of resource assignment also tends to support male-oriented types of sports. 

For instance, the entry of women and girls in spontaneous sports areas is facilitated by improved perceived safety through better lighting and maintenance. Spontaneous sports area design should also be inclusive and inviting to all genders. Inclusive being that the spaces are multi-functional and can support a great variety of activities, which attract very many different user groups such as dance floors which will attract more women are an effective way of facilitating this. Accessibility will be facilitated by clear and detailed signage and online information about the facilities and what they offer concerning activities. Local community is also viewed to be of importance in the involvement in planning and development of spontaneous sports places and this through women and girls. The adjustment to their needs and desires creates a rather equal and accessible sport environment.

This study seeks to evaluate the relationship between social cohesion and mobility strategies and whether this can connect the different areas of Hagalund, both socially and physically, as the municipality plans to expand the area. To assess these issues, a combination of literature review, site study and surveys is used. While the literature review aims to provide a theoretical understanding of social cohesion and mobility strategies, the site study and survey aim to shed light on the situation in the area. An important factor highlighted in the literature for maintaining social cohesion is familiarity among inhabitants, which can be fostered by repeated interactions between residents with as little as a nod or a simple hello. Such sought-after interactions are argued to emerge through walking. Although travel to and from other modes of transport, such as public transport, can promote such interactions, the trip itself is mainly by foot, suggesting that walking is the only mobility strategy that directly affects the cohesion of a neighborhood. The main focus of the discussion is therefore on how to develop the walkability of the area and connect the different parts. The findings suggest that four main factors need to be considered when planning for walkability; attractiveness, safety, comfort and accessibility. Based on these factors, the site study and the survey, a proposal was developed for Solna Stad with suggestions and important factors to consider in Hagalund to establish a walkable area. The proposal contains four parts: general recommendations, recommendations for Northern Hagalund, recommendations for the connection of the different parts, and recommendations for Gelbgjutaren. The general recommendations propose a coherent pedestrian route within Hagalund that provides a constant flow within the area. For North Hagalund, the main issue discussed and proposed is the importance of public participation in the planning process to ensure a development in accordance with the needs of the residents thus guaranteeing a greater number of satisfied dwellers. For the connection of the different parts, clear connectors between the different parts are recommended with walkways that are easy to navigate through and offer sensory sensations along the way that lead pedestrians to new experiences. Lastly, a one-way road structure is proposed to allow for a more elaborate and advanced pedestrian structure in Gelbgjutaren that promotes walking.

In the development cooperation landscape of Sub-Saharan Africa, Sweden has served as a distinctive donor over the last three decades, extending substantial bilateral assistance to the region. Contributions towards spatial planning sectors have been part of development initiatives facilitated by bilateral agencies, including the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), throughout this period. However, the focus on spatial planning sectors has moved between explicit focus and being implicitly incorporated within broader conceptual frameworks. Although global development cooperation has been shown to impact spatial planning trajectories in Africa, the implications thereof have not received much attention, underscoring the necessity for the examination of the development discourses of these agencies, including development priorities and the narrative on African futures. The study seeks to contribute to this by unpacking how Swedish development cooperation strategies frame spatial planning in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the study investigates the textual, discursive, and sociocultural dimensions of these strategies, focusing on the spatial planning priorities, the concerns and solutions therein, the Swedish narratives on Africa, and the portrayal of the role of Sweden in development cooperation. The study identifies five key spatial planning priorities in the Swedish development cooperation strategies with the region: spatial justice, economic growth, environmental sustainability, infrastructure development, and democratic governance. These themes reflect a depiction of Sub-Saharan Africa through the narratives of “African deficiency” and of “African opportunity”, which in turn serves to legitimise solutions such as infrastructural development and capacity-building.The study identifies the portrayal of Sweden's position in enacting spatial planning solutions as "the good state," in which Sweden positions itself as a promoter of a normative framework for development, "the expert," where Sweden leverages its knowledge and experience to provide guidance and best-practice principles, and "the innovator" in which Sweden emphasises its role in introducing innovative solutions and technologies to address spatial planning challenges. Through an analysis of Sweden’s development cooperation strategies for the region, the study unpacks the relationship between North-South development discourses and Sub-Saharan spatial realities and puts forth that there is a need for alternative approaches to development in global cooperation. The study underscores the prioritisation of contextual knowledge, active engagement with local realities, and the promotion of knowledge exchange as principles for the formulation of spatial planning priorities within Swedish development cooperation strategies with Sub-Saharan Africa.

Young people's perspective on rural areas and their living conditions are of crucial importance for understanding and shaping rural areas of the future. In this context, it is important to recognize that local planning is not only about the planning and design of urban areas, but also about creating vibrant and sustainable rural communities where young people can thrive and develop.

This study examines how young people perceive life in rural areas, what challenges and future prospects they see. Also, how local planning works with rural development to promote a long-term and vibrant countryside where especially young people’s living conditions are taken into account. Partly, what is currently being done, what strategies exist and what would need to be implemented in order for young people’s needs and wishes to be fulfilled, but also how their involvement in societal development could be improved. Through a third aspect from a project group in one of the villages, a village perspective is also taken into account.

The essay uses a qualitative research method that includes a case study of Arvidsjaur municipality, where a document analysis was done and the empirical data was collected through semi-structured interviews, workshops and a digital survey. The collected material has then undergone a thematic analysis. Key findings from the study are i) No consensus on the situation of young people in rural areas. There is no simple solution to retaining young people in rural municipalities due to varying views and experiences, such as safety, community and career opportunities. ii) Communication problems between the municipality and young people require an increased focus on upper secondary school- and high school age in order to achieve participation and spatial justice. Despite the municipality’s efforts, improved direct communication and participation strategies are needed to include young people in community development. An understanding of young people’s needs and expectations is crucial to strengthening their influence and promoting a vibrant countryside for young people. iii) Civil society’s bottom-up initiatives are vital for a vibrant countryside outside the central city. The municipality should support and cooperate with these local development groups. National decision-makers and organizations such as Hela Sverige ska leva also plays an important role in improving rural conditions and the life situation of young people.

The study contributes to an understanding of young people’s perspectives and their living conditions in rural areas, as well as how sparsely populated municipalities can promote these in the development of society. As there is a mismatch in communication between young people and the municipality, this study indicates that it is necessary to increase the focus on this age group in order to take into account a justice and social sustainability perspective in local planning.

Research indicates that the current way of handling the social and climate related challenges we are facing is proving insufficient. Therefore, degrowth research calls upon the need to question the notion of eternal growth and focus on other ways of viewing development and prosperity. One arena to achieve this change of mindset and lifestyle is housing. Instead of focusing on alternative forms of housing, which is frequently considered within degrowth literature, we investigate one of the most established housing tenures in Sweden, namely the tenant-ownership (bostadsrätt). In this thesis, tenant-ownership housing is critically exploredfrom a degrowth perspective in order to gain an understanding of to what extent it may contribute to a transition towards a degrowth future. From degrowth literature, we use six concepts to represent our degrowth imaginary: autonomy, conviviality, solidarity, community, decommodification and democracy. These are used to analyse the features of tenant-ownership housing and how it works in practice. In the study we find several aspects to tenantownership housing that do align with our degrowth imaginary but there are also issues. The final outcome is manifested in three key findings: the effect of commodification on tenant-ownership housing, the association is only as strong as its members and the strength of looking at established practices within degrowth. We conclude with policy recommendations to contribute to future development of tenant-ownership housing.

Recontextualizing Virginia Woolf’s 1929 published essay “A Room of One’s Own”, this thesis explores the use of creative-artistic methods in the planning of urban public spaces, aiming to give girls agency to actively shape spaces of their own. The work draws upon Lefebvre's concept of living spaces (1991) and emphasises the crucial role of urban public spaces as arenas of social transformation and identity formation. Given the perpetuating gendered inequalities that are embedded in the urban sphere, the thesis suggests to challenge existing paradigms by promoting girls’ perspectives and active participation through the transformative power of art.

Grounded in a feminist research approach, the applied methodology embraces the situated knowledge of experts in relevant fields and a multi-case study to facilitate knowledge sharing as well as an action research project, involving girls as experts exploring and expressing their unique perspectives and visions on urban public spaces.

The research underscores how stepping into a state of not-knowing, continuously reflecting on employing creative-artistic methods in urban planning, engaging in interdisciplinary approaches and considering social dimensions are essential to foster a collective learning process. This ultimately contributes to the empowerment of girls and helps to unlock the potential of urban public spaces for social equity and resilience.

In contemporary urban planning, despite the persistent pursuit of sustainability, the goal often remains unattained, neither environmentally nor socially. It is becoming increasingly evident that reducing production and consumption in affluent countries is necessary to achieve sustainability goals. Degrowth, an agenda for planned socioeconomic redistribution targeting excess economic activity, offers a framework for a necessary paradigm shift in urban planning to provide such a sustainable transition. However, degrowth has not been sufficiently spatialised for urban planning, thus exploration of ways to operationalise it becomes necessary and urgent. This study explores a model of sustainable consumption developed by Di Giulio and Fuchs called “consumption corridors” as a framework for operationalising degrowth in urban planning. In pursuit of this aim, the thesis adopts a workshop methodology to explore the concept within architectural practice, both in theory and practice. The development of the workshop and the process of sense-making of consumption corridors for architecture were parallel tasks in this research. On the basis of workshops conducted with professional architects in Warsaw and Oslo, the study finds that consumption corridors can be a framework providing concrete measures for urban planning aiming at degrowth transition. Moreover, the workshop method proved to be beneficial in facilitating architects’ understanding of the concept of consumption corridors. Potentially, the methodology developed in this study could be applied to other planning stakeholders, broadening the understanding of spatialised measures required for a degrowth transition, and in consequence providing a good life for all within the consumption limits.

Based on the notion of implosions and explosion by Henri Lefebvre, we need to challenge the the way we plan our cities when it comes to pushing out infrastructural support systems and industries to the edges of the city as this creates industrialized landscapes and the ongoing tendencies of core-periphery polarization.

Älvsjömässan in Stockholm is the city’s official exhibition hall and has accommodated hundreds of exhibitions and fairs over the years since its opening in 1971. As the city grows bigger and beyond its former edges buildings like Stockholmsmässan and other infrastructural dwellings are the ones being removed and replaced. As the municipality has plans to tear down mässan and make new residential blocks we risk losing a very unique building in the urban fabric of Stockholm. By pushing out what is there and replacing it with more of the same cities are facing the creation of typological mono-cultures where only a few functions can exist at once. Stockholmsmässan’s qualities of size and mass give great opportunity to implement new, unexpected mixes of functions where different programs and activities can come together to provide for each other. 

In an attempt to re-programme the extra large (XL) typology, mässan is used as an example of how this could be done. By looking at the needs of the growing city, the surrounding urban context and issues of climate changes faced in Stockholm this project seeks to use a redesign of the building as a way to activate the area and make space for the infrastructural systems and productions that are otherwise hidden in the city's edges. Taking a stance against over-demolition and REPURPOSING rather than REPLACING. In this way, dwellings that are doomed to vanish can be used as the framework for making essential functions being brought back into the urban.

Four scenarios were chosen to represent essential functions of urban life and the area of Älvsjö. These scenarios explore how such a function can be designed in the context of mässan. Looking at what parts of its process can be used together with others to create a system that fosters circularity.

Uppsala, the fourth largest city in Sweden is undertaking a significant transformative urban development initiative focused on corridor transit-oriented development (TOD). The program involves introducing a double-track tramway spanning 17 kilometers, stimulating significant growth within the nodes and along the tracks, aimed at enhancing the city’s image and reinforcing its identity. Additionally, the plan includes expanding the Uppsala-Stockhlom railway with addition of two new tracks and constructing a new train station in Bergsbrunna, a south-eastern district where a significant development is planned to accommodate most of the committed housing units by the Municipality. The development program which is considered to be primarily driven by economic and political motives sparked concerns about its detrimental environmental impacts, particularly regarding the planned construction of an extensive bridge (850m) over the Fyrisån River. The potential misalignment between economic-political goals and environmental sustainability underscores the need to carefully examine these issues.Uppsala package, a negotiated deal between Uppsala Municipality, Region Uppsala, and the Swedish State, finances the development program including the tram transport initiative and the expansion of the existing double-track railway in exchange for the 33,000 housing units in Uppsala. The agreement reveals that political motives primarily drive the development program. The massive development in the Southeastern region and along the tram lines also underscores Uppsala Municipality’s economic intentions behind the initiative. A thorough study of the program development documents within this research paper reveals that the socio-environmental considerations have been largely subordinated to economic considerations.This research aimed to investigate how Uppsala's transit-oriented development initiatives have subordinated socio-environmental considerations to political and economic priorities. The analysis of the Uppsala Comprehensive Plan (2016) and Uppsala Climate Contract (2020) along with the Program development documents (2021) reveals a complex interplay between economic development and environmental sustainability. The findings indicate that while the development plans incorporate some aspects of environmental protection, these are often secondary to economic and political objectives. By scrutinizing the planning and implementation process, the study highlights the need for a more balanced approach that equally prioritizes economic growth, environmental protection, and community well-being in Uppsala urban planning efforts.

Future cities face significant challenges related to the loss of nature, climate change, urbanization, and environmental degradation. By integrating green infrastructure into urban planning, these challenges can be addressed in a sustainable manner that promotes human well-being and protects animals and nature. A holistic, interdisciplinary, and multifunctional approach is required to create resilient and integrated cities capable of meeting the complex challenges posed by climate change and increasing urbanization. The aim of this study is to analyze and evaluate how different municipalities integrate green infrastructure into modern urban planning. This is done by examining three ongoing urban development projects in the Stockholm area: Täby Park, Norra Djurgårdsstaden, and Kristineberg. The focus is on identifying success factors and challenges in their implementation of green infrastructure and providing improvement suggestions to promote a more sustainable and resilient future urban environment.To conduct this study, a qualitative approach was used, involving document and literature reviews as well as data collected through detailed field studies at the three selected research sites. These sites were chosen based on their geographic location, sustainability focus, and similar stages of development. The literature review established a theoretical framework focusing on biodiversity, quality of life, and climate adaptation, while the field studies verified the information to ensure greater reliability and provided deeper insights. A comparative analysis was then conducted to identify and compare success factors and obstacles.The results of the study showed that the different implementations of green infrastructure in all three districts contributed to sustainability within the three assessment criteria: climate adaptation and resilience, biodiversity, and quality of life. Significant improvements were noted in ecosystem services such as stormwater management and temperature regulation. Kristineberg stood out due to its proximity to nature and innovative water storage solutions but faced issues with noise from Arningevägen. Norra Djurgårdsstaden impressed with its ecological corridors and tree plantings that promote biodiversity and temperature regulation but had room for greater integration of green roofs. Täby Park focused on recreation through its urban park and green trails but faced challenges in better balancing recreation and biodiversity. The integration of vegetated facades in Täby Park and Norra Djurgårdsstaden was questionable as they were placed in areas with limited sunlight and therefore primarily served an aesthetic purpose rather than also functioning for temperature regulation.In the future, it is recommended that green solutions be integrated early in urban planning and that new innovations in green infrastructure further improve social and environmental aspects to achieve a sustainable and resilient society.

A city’s structural layout plays an important role when it comes to accessibility and visibility within spatial context. The urban structure also affects different urban processes, specifically in social contexts. Street pattern, walkability, facades and the overall living structure have an impact on how we are perceiving and using space and what kind of social encounters that can take place. The space we live in can have negative as well as positive consequences on everything we do. Space is not a container of human activity but an active force shaping human life. Space is socially produced and therefore can be socially changed. The functions and programmes of the inside of buildings affects movements and how people uses the space outside of the building, which is why it is important to think of how the inside functions will affect movement patterns and outside activity. This project aims to increase the spatial qualities in Tensta centrum through shifting the inside functions of the buildings with the hope to affect people’s movement patterns and how they use the space between the buildings, to gain increased spatial qualities, enable positive social processes and, hopefully, create a thriving and attractive suburban center.

This study explores the inclusion of edible perennials in Stockholm’s public green spaces by examining the challenges and opportunities from both the perspective from the local government and the citizens. Food production in cities has proven to enhance quantity and quality of food accessibility to low-income households and can be a useful tool to address urban injustice on food availability in Sweden, where the inflation crises has significantly increased food prices and doubled the amount of people needing food support. Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, has great potential for food production and can benefit from the accompanied social benefits. 

In this study, a survey was conducted among citizens of Stockholm municipality and semi-structured interviews have been carried out with different governmental bodies. Inductive thematic analysis was employed to analyse the qualitative data from the interviews. To compliment the discussion, an interview with an expert was conducted in the final stage of this study.

The results of the survey showed extensive support for the inclusion of edible perennials in public green spaces as well as high willingness to participate in the initiatives and an increase in visits of the places when food production was included. In the interviews with park engineers and landscape architects, concerns were raised including privatisation of public land, responsibility and maintenance issues, and the need for engaged district administrations. The opportunities were seen in the multifunctional benefits of food production in public green spaces, enhanced food security and the importance of citizen dialogue and citizen involvement in public green space planning. The interview with the expert showed high feasibility for the inclusion of edible perennials in public spaces, emphasising the potential for future practices.

Kista business district is an established tech-cluster in northern Stockholm which experienced its peak during the 90’s. Today, the real estate owners see a need to explore how the area can be developed to meet a change in needs. There are many actors who want to be part of a socially sustainable urban development of the area.

The aim of the essay is to examine which visions exists for Kista business district, what challenges there are to achieve these, how the prominent real estate actors and Stockholm municipality act in order to pursue the vision, and what socially sustainable urban development in Kista business district is.

The methods that have been used to research this are interviews and a document analysis. The processes behind the production of the vision and the urban development are analysed with the theoretical frameworks of urban development by Jane Jacobs and Jan Gehl, and theories within social sustainability and futures studies. The socially sustainable development of Kista business district is analysed through five key themes within social sustainability: identity, context, accessibility, inclusion, and variation.

The result shows that there is a collaboration between the private real estate actors with the aim to create and communicate a united vision for the area, as well as to concentrate and make the use of resources more efficient within the urban development. In this collaboration, the municipality has been distinguished as an important actor by the real estate actors. A liveable and attractive district with mixed-use characteristics, is the shared vision of Kista business district by the actors. However, how this vision is to be accomplished has not been concretised.

Many newspaper articles discuss how Norway has a more vibrant rural area than Sweden, but what are the actual differences between the two countries? This essay examines the rural policies of Sweden and Norway, followed by a case study of one municipality in each country. The municipalities under investigation are Ragunda Municipality in Sweden and Røros Municipality in Norway. These municipalities were chosen based on certain similarities such as location, population size, and both having hydropower resources. The study focuses on the factors of funding, services, and business environment within the municipalities.There are some differences in rural policies between the countries, including how natural resources are taxed, variations in employer contributions, and disparities in the general perception of rural areas. However, there is not a significant difference in terms of funding, services, and business environment for the municipalities.

In the early 2000s, Swedish politicians had the goal of making Stockholm the world's most accessible capital by the year 2010. The project was called The accessibility-project. The City of Stockholm then had the task of rebuilding and designing the municipality to make it as accessible as possible for all individuals. This is through, for example, individually remedied obstacles and new guidelines. However, it is not known whether the goal was met or not, as no discussion has been held or a conclusion reached about it. In addition to this, there is a general agreement that renovations have been made and thereby created a city structure that is as accessible as possible. Despite the existing legal requirements and guidelines, as well as the sustainability goals that Sweden has promised to fulfill, it is still being built incorrectly. It's been over 13 years since the accessibility project ended, but they're still building wrong. Why are they still building wrongly? Why are there still a lot of shortcomings, where disabled individuals have not been taken into account in the urban structure? Why don't we continue to build Stockholm as the world's most accessible capital? According to the Discrimination rule, people with impaired mobility and orientation must have as much value and participation in society on equal terms as non-disabled individuals have. They must have the same right to be able to move and orient themselves around society unhindered, as non-disabled individuals can.

The aim of this study is to get an insight into how Stockholm municipality works with the accessibility issue for disabled individuals in urban and traffic planning; to be able to contribute knowledge about what shortcomings there are and how to improve on them. In order to be able to fulfill the aim, it has been used with qualitative studies through literature and case studies. The case study consists of 6 interviews that took place in the municipality building as well as guidance documents that the municipality has produced as a basis for accessibility adaptation and design of street planning. This study focuses only on the start-up phase of projects. Through the interviews, one gained an insight into how the municipality works with the issue of accessibility for disabled individuals in urban and traffic planning. What obstacles they face during the project phase, as well as how they work to be able to improve their shortcomings.

The first part of the case study consists of a review and analysis of two different governing documents that Stockholm municipality has produced and using during planning, construction and maintenance at public places. This report focuses on two handbooks that Stockholm municipality has created and uses. Technical handbook for construction, operation and maintenance on public land and Stockholm - a city for all. The Technical manual is not specifically focused on requirements for adaptations for accessibility and free-movement, but contains type drawings and design requirements to be followed. It is a basic manual that sets requirements and guidelines. The second handbook, Stockholm - a city for all, is a handbook that is specifically oriented and designed for accessibility and free-movement on public spaces and ways. The handbook contains solutions and measures of design in outdoor and indoor environments for disabled individuals, but no requirement.

The results show that there is some lack of knowledge and poor communication between the municipality and the consultants, which leads to the fact that the accessibility-aspect for the disabled is not taken into account at the beginning of the project phase. Another problem is that disabled individuals are a minority group, which means that the interest is not active as compared to the other challenges, such as environmental, sustainable and mobility issues and challenges. It leads to the fact that the projects adapt to the classical norm in the end, due to low interest and need. The governing documents are good as a basis and take into account the force of law, however adjustments are required; both to be able to confirm the importance that it is everyone's responsibility to take the accessibility issue into account and involve disabled individuals in urban and traffic planning.

A dense, cohesive, and mixed-use urban development is today often seen as an ideal to achieve sustainability in urban districts, where densification is described as a strategy for the development of Sweden's cities. However, densification is not problem-free, and brings with it several challenges, not least for social sustainability. Gentrification, social inequality, as well as reduced green areas and public spaces, are examples of possible consequences of densification. Furthermore, social sustainability is a difficult-to-define concept that lacks a general scientific foundation for analysis, creating challenges for how the sustainability dimension should be achieved in practice.

The purpose of the study was to understand if it is possible to create densely built, mixed-use, and attractive urban districts without compromising social sustainability, and if so, how this can be done in the best possible way. The relationship between density and social sustainability was studied through a case study of the future Slakthusområdet, with the hope of generating guidelines for how cities can be densified attractively while promoting social sustainability. To answer the research question – "How is a densely built urban district created while simultaneously promoting the social sustainability of the district?" – calculations were made regarding the future outdoor environments of the Slakthusområdet, as well as semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders in the project.

Clear connections were shown in the results between the calculations and the interviews. The measurement results revealed significant discrepancies regarding spaciousness, density, and the space of residential courtyards, which were also reflected in the respondents' answers during the interviews. Furthermore, the calculations showed positive results in terms of street width, intersection density, walking distance to public spaces, and mixed-use, which corresponded to the ambitions expressed in the interviews regarding proximity, good accessibility, sustainable mobility, and a functioning everyday life for all residents and visitors.

According to the study's conclusion, urban districts should be densified based on the unique conditions and needs of the site in a way that promotes good habits, well-being, and a high quality of life for everyone in the area. All forms of density should be studied in development projects to create a supply of what is demanded in cities while protecting social values. A balance should be achieved between physical and non-physical factors based on the context of the urban district while strengthening important social values in the place being developed. Finally, densification should be carried out with an understanding of the urban structure’s impact on human behavior by creating an even distribution of functions that promote proximity in the district and align with the site's conditions and needs. In connection with the study, guidelines were developed regarding collaboration, the planning process, flexibility, measurement methods, and the development of infrastructure as support in the development of densely built and socially sustainable urban districts.

This thesis investigates the implementation of new urban water management and planningapproaches in Denmark, with a specific focus on integrating solutions for extreme rainfallevents and enhancing livability. The study explores the Principles of Water Wise Cities as aframework for incorporating these aspects through Water Sensitive Urban Designs (WSUD).The aim is to provide a clearer understanding of the implementation of Water Wise Cities andthe role of livability in the context of urban water.

In order to investigate the aim, the research employs a document analysis of two planningdocuments for Marienlyst, an urban development project in Aarhus Municipality, Denmark.The findings highlight the prevalence of Water Wise Cities through WSUD in Danish urbanwater management. However, the analysis of Marienlyst reveals fragmented integration ofWSUD solutions, lacking the multifunctionality observed in other examples, calling for aholistic and systematic approach to planning that better integrates urban water managementsolutions. 

The thesis emphasizes the need to expand the understanding of livability beyond recreation inMarienlyst, to encompass broader implications of enhancing livability through water. It arguesfor comprehensive integration of livability in planning processes to foster resilient and inclusiveurban and community development. The limitations of a top-down approach in conceptualizinglivability are underscored, emphasizing the importance of participatory processes thatincorporate local knowledge. The thesis also addresses the vague nature of the livabilityconcept, advocating for critical engagement and robust integration into planning processes tocreate sustainable and equitable urban environments.

In conclusion, this thesis highlights the necessity of a holistic and participatory approach inurban water management, integrating innovative solutions for extreme rainfall events andenhancing livability. The findings contribute to the existing knowledge on urban watermanagement and underscore the ongoing importance of research and development for thecreation of resilient and livable cities.