Encounters in public space – the design of public space and its meaning regarding social interaction

Målet med denna uppsats är att utifrån Jan Gehls begreppsvärld diskutera relationen mellan rummets utformning och social interaktion. Platser där olika människor kan mötas och dela upplevelser i den offentliga miljön är viktiga för att underbygga ett tolerant, väl integrerat samhälle. Men hur skapar man dessa väl fungerande mötesplatser? Kan man planera för sociala möten i staden och vilken roll spelar den fysiska utformningen för att människor ska mötas? Jan Gehl har i över 50 år forskat kring hur man skapar attraktiva utomhusmiljöer som bidrar till en levande stad. Hans konsultfirma i Köpenhamn, Gehl Architects, är anlitade av städer i de flesta världsdelar och vad gäller utvecklandet av socialt hållbara städer kan Gehl närmast betraktas som ett fenomen. Målet med uppsatsen är att diskutera relationen mellan gestaltningen av uterum i staden och den sociala interaktionen i uterummet utifrån Jan Gehls teorier. För att få en vidare förståelse för Gehls begreppsvärld tar uppsatsen också upp andra teorier som kan härledas från denna. Metoden för uppsatsen är en kvalitativ studie främst baserad på litteraturstudier. Uppsatsen består också av en intervju med Birgitte Bundesen Svarre, medarbetar på Gehl Architects. Intervjun är ett komplement och en kommentar till den teori som går att finna i litteraturen. Jan Gehl menar att den viktigaste skalan att utgå ifrån när man planerar städer är den mänskliga. En planerare bör först och främst fokusera på livet mellan husen, sedan rummet och sist byggnaderna. Gehl menar att det är på detta sätt man skapar socialt hållbara städer. Hans principer om den socialt hållbara staden utgår bland annat från teorier om hur människor interagerar samt vilka typer av sociala kontakter människor inleder med varandra i den offentliga miljön. Gehl har en evolutionistisk approach och betonar vikten av att förstå människokroppen och sinnenas möjligheter och begränsningar för att kunna utveckla och dimensionera människovänliga stadsrum. Gehl menar att kvaliteten på utomhusmiljön påverkar den sociala interaktionen. Förbättrar man kvaliteten ger man också goda förutsättningar för att människor ska vilja vistas i den offentliga miljön, vilket i sin tur också ökar möjligheten till social interaktion. Gehls resonemang bygger på att utifrån teorier om hur människan fungerar, både fysiskt och socialt, utforma stadens offentliga miljöer på ett sätt som stödjer social interaktion.The goal of this paper is to discuss the relationship between the design of the room and social interaction according to Jan Gehls conceptual world. In order to build a tolerant, well-integrated society, the existence of places where different people meet and share experiences in the public environment is of great importance. But how does one create these well-functioning places for people to meet? Can one plan for socializing in the city environment and to what extent does physical design affect the opportunities of social encounters? Jan Gehl has in over 50 years made research on how to create attractive outdoor environments that contributes to a vibrant city. His consulting firm in Copenhagen, Gehl Architects, is hired by cities in most continents and when it comes to developing socially sustainable cities, Gehl can almost be regarded as a phenomenon. The goal of this paper is to discuss the relationship between the design of outdoor spaces in the city and the social interaction according to Jan Gehls theories. The paper also addresses other theories in order to get a deeper understanding of Gehls conceptions. The method of this paper is a qualitative study primarily based on literature reviews, but the paper also contains an interview with Birgitte Bundesen Svarre, an employee of Gehl Architects. The interview is a supplement and a commentary on the theory that can be found in the literature. According to Jan Gehl the human scale is the most important scale to consider in city planning. Gehl argues that the right way to create socially sustainable cities is to focus mainly on the life between the buildings, then the room and finally the buildings in itself. His principles on the socially sustainable city are based on theories of how people interact and what types of social contacts people initiating with each other in public spaces. Gehl has an evolutionary approach and emphasizes the importance of understanding the human body and senses in order to develop and design people-friendly urban spaces. Gehl argues that the quality of the outdoor environment affects whether people want stay in it and for how long. If the quality of the outdoor space is improved, better conditions are given for people to stay outside which also leads to increased opportunities for social interaction. Gehls reasoning is based on theories about how humans function both physically and socially, in order to design the city's public spaces in a way that supports social interaction

Fler nyanser av grönt och blått

Den 31 augusti 2014 drabbades Malmö av ett kraftigt skyfall som orsaka de översvämningar på flera håll runt om i staden. Översvämningarna resulterade i skador på infrastruktur och bebyggelse men också i minskad framkomlighet i trafiken. I arbetet undersöks möjligheter till hur större mängder regnvatten kan hanteras i urban miljö med utgångspunkt i att minska risken för översvämningar. Målet är att göra ett förslag där praktiska exempel ges på hur hållbar dagvattenhantering kan utformas utifrån olika regnmängder i ett översvämningsdrabbat område i Malmö. Syftet med arbetet är primärt att få en större förståelse för landskapsarkitektens roll i arbetet med att klimatanpassa städerna. Syftet är också att få en större förståelse för problematiken orsakad av kraftiga regn, samt varför städer ofta har en begränsad kapacitet att omhänderta större regnmängder i befintlig miljö. I arbetet redovisas hur urbaniseringen har bidragit till att de flesta samhällen idag är beroende av ett ledningssystem för att föra bort vatten ifrån städerna. Detta ledningssystem kan vid kraftiga regntillfällen blir överbelastat med konsekvenser som marköversvämningar, källaröversvämningar och utsläpp av förorenat vatten till städernas recipienter som följd. Detta, i kombination med en ökad mängd hårdgjord yta och en minskad möjlighet för städerna att på ett naturligt sätt dränera och infiltrera regnvatten i marken, innebär stora utmaningar för den urbana miljön vid händelser av kraftiga regn. Med ett förändrat klimat kommer problemen troligtvis att bli än mer omfattande i framtiden. Med hjälp av fallstudie, litteraturstudier, dokumentstudier, testande och praktiskt skissande undersöks innebörden av hållbar dagvattenhantering samt hur en sådan kan bidra till en större kapacitet för staden att hantera kraftiga regn och samtidigt också bli en resurs för människor och grönstruktur. Arbetet har resulterat i gestaltningsförslag på tre platser i området Södra Sofielund i Malmö och ger exempel på hur stora och små hållbara dagvattenlösningar kan integreras i den täta staden.On the 31 of August 2014, the city of Malmö was hit by heavy rains that caused flooding in several places around the city. The flooding resulted in damages to infrastructure and buildings but also in reduced traffic maneuverability. This thesis investigate the possibilities to handle large amounts of rainwater in urban environments on the basis of reducing the risk of floods. The objective is to make a proposal where examples are given of how sustainable stormwater management can be designed in a urban flood-hit area based on different amounts of rain. The aim of the thesis is to gain a greater understanding of the problems caused by heavy rain and an understanding of why cities generally have a limited capacity to manage large amounts of rain in the existing environment. In the thesis it is shown that during the urbanization the society has become dependent of drainage systems to keep water away from the cities. The drainage system is restricted and when heavy rainfalls occur this may lead to system overload with consequences such as landfloods, basement flooding and the discharge of polluted water to urban recipients. In combination with an increased amount of paved surfaces and a reduced possibility for cities to naturally drain and infiltrate rainwater in the ground, the restricted drainage system means major challenges for the urban environment in the event of heavy rainfall. With climate change, the problems are likely to become even more widespread in the future. Through literature studies, document studies and sketching, the implications of sustainable stormwater management is examined. It is also looked upon how an alternative storm water management can contribute to a greater flexibility and adaptability in the society when heavy rainfalls occur, as well as become a resource for people and greenery. The thesis has resulted in design proposals in three locations in the area of Södra Sofielund in Malmö. The proposals exemplifies how large and small scale sustainable stormwater solutions can be integrated in the dense fabric of Malmö

Reframing water: Contesting H2O within the European Union

AbstractWater fulfills multiple functions and is instilled with numerous meanings: it is concurrently an economic input, an aesthetic reference, a religious symbol, a public good, a fundamental resource for public health, and a biophysical need for humans and ecosystems. Hence, water has multiple ontologies embedded within diverse social, cultural, spiritual, and political domains. For this paper, we reviewed 78 pieces of water legislation across the European Union, critically analysing the different ways in which water has been defined; subsequently we contrasted these definitions against the European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD). We argue that the act of defining water is not only a deeply social and political process, but that it often privileges specific worldviews; and that the impetus of the WFD reveals a neoliberal approach to water governance: an emphasis on water as a commercial product that should be subjected to market influences. Subsequently, we conclude that the emerging concept of the ’hydrosocial cycle,’ which emphasises the inherent links between water and society, could be a useful heuristic tool to promote a broader conception of water based on diverse understandings, that challenge hegemonic definitions of water

A stakeholder-guided marine heatwave hazard index for fisheries and aquaculture

Marine heatwaves pose an increasing threat to fisheries and aquaculture around the world under climate change. However, the threat has not been estimated for the coming decades in a form that meets the needs of these industries. Tasmanian fisheries and aquaculture in southeast Australia have been severely impacted by marine heatwaves in recent years, especially the oyster, abalone, and salmon industries. In a series of semi-structured interviews with key Tasmanian fishery and aquaculture stakeholders, information was gathered about the following: (i) the impacts they have experienced to date from marine heatwaves, (ii) their planning for future marine heatwaves, and (iii) the information that would be most useful to aid planning. Using CMIP6 historical and future simulations of sea surface temperatures around Tasmania, we developed a marine heatwave hazard index guided by these stakeholder conversations. The region experienced a severe marine heatwave during the austral summer of 2015/16, which has been used here as a reference point to define the index. Our marine heatwave hazard index shows that conditions like those experienced in 2015/16 are projected to occur approximately 1-in-5 years by the 2050s under a low emissions scenario (SSP1-2.6) or 1-in-2 years under a high emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5). Increased frequency of marine heatwaves will likely reduce productivity by both direct (mortality) and in-direct (ecosystem change, greater incidence of disease) impacts on target species. The illustrative hazard index is one step towards a marine heatwave risk index, which would also need to consider aspects of exposure and vulnerability to be of greater utility to stakeholders

Global Water Governance and Climate Change: Identifying Innovative Arrangements for Adaptive Transformation

A convoluted network of different water governance systems exists around the world. Collectively, these systems provide insight into how to build sustainable regimes of water use and management. We argue that the challenge is not tomake the systemless convoluted, but rather to support positive and promising trends in governance, creating a vision for future environmental outcomes. In this paper, we analyse nine water case studies from around the world to help identify potential ‘innovative arrangements’ for addressing existing dilemmas. We argue that such arrangements can be used as a catalyst for crafting new global water governance futures. The nine case studies were selected for their diversity in terms of location, scale and water dilemma, and through an examination of their contexts, structures and processes we identify key themes to consider in the milieu of adaptive transformation. These themes include the importance of acknowledging socio-ecological entanglements, understanding the political dimensions of environmental dilemmas, the recognition of different constructions of the dillema, and the importance of democratized processes.The research for this paper is a part of the “CADWAGO: Climate change adaptation and water governance—reconciling food security, renewable energy and the provision of multiple ecosystem services” project funded as part of the “Europe and Global Challenges programme” by Compagnia di San Paolo, VolkswagenStiftung and Riksbankens Jubileumsfond.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/10/1/2

Interrogating resilience: toward a typology to improve its operationalization

In the context of accelerated global change, the concept of resilience, with its roots in ecological theory and complex adaptive systems, has emerged as the favored framework for understanding and responding to the dynamics of change. Its transfer from ecological to social contexts, however, has led to the concept being interpreted in multiple ways across numerous disciplines causing significant challenges for its practical application. The aim of this paper is to improve conceptual clarity within resilience thinking so that resilience can be interpreted and articulated in ways that enhance its utility and explanatory power, not only theoretically but also operationally. We argue that the current confusion and ambiguity within resilience thinking is problematic for operationalizing the concept within policy making. To achieve our aim, we interrogate resilience interpretations used within a number of academic and practice domains in the forefront of contending with the disruptive and sometimes catastrophic effects of global change (primarily due to climate change) on ecological and human-nature systems. We demonstrate evolution and convergence among disciplines in the interpretations and theoretical underpinnings of resilience and in engagement with cross-scale considerations. From our analysis, we identify core conceptual elements to be considered in policy responses if resilience is to fulfill its potential in improving decision making for change. We offer an original classification of resilience definitions in current use and a typology of resilience interpretations. We conclude that resilience thinking must be open to alternative traditions and interpretations if it is to become a theoretically and operationally powerful paradigm

Climate proofing Australian urban planning : working towards successful adaptation

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Exploring the future of car use for an ageing society : preliminary results from a Sydney study

An ageing population is the common demographic trend in developing countries. What has popularly been referred to as the ‘Baby Boomer’ generation will soon be entering their retirement years. A generation of ageing baby boomers will usher in new patterns of transport needs and choices among retiring Australians. This paper explores the potential urban car use characteristics of the baby boomer generation as they enter their retirement years, with a focus on the attitudes, values and aspirations that underpin these transport choices. First, a review of literature regarding the issue of ageing and transport choice is discussed; and second, preliminary results from a qualitative Sydney case study of recent retirees are presented. The shortcomings of the literature confirm that it is unlikely that the ageing baby boomers, with markedly different capacities, expectation of retirement and experience of motorisation will display similar transport choices as the current generation of retirees and the elderly. The qualitative interviews explore the attitudes, values and aspirations of recent retirees and how these may underpin transport choice and a continued reliance on the car. The interviews illustrate a range of the social and cultural underpinnings that contribute to transport choice and a retiring ‘car culture’.11 page(s

Urban wildscapes and green spaces in Mombasa and their potential contribution to climate change adaptation and mitigation

Well-planned urban green landscapes, including wildscapes and green spaces, have the potential to contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation. Yet for cities in low-income countries, the value of these urban landscapes in climate change response strategies is often disregarded and remains largely unexploited and unaccounted for. This paper discusses the potential role of urban green landscapes as a "soft engineering" climate change response strategy, and calls for the pursuance of management practices that preserve and promote the use of these urban spaces. It does so by combining theoretical arguments with an empirical example based on an innovative and novel approach to landscape rehabilitation, the Lafarge Ecosystems Programme, in the coastal city of Mombasa, Kenya. The paper finds that a well-managed system of green landscapes in resource-poor urban areas can generate net social benefits under a range of future scenarios. It further finds that climate change adaptation and mitigation responses can be initiated by a range of stakeholders operating at all scales.15 page(s