ECO-DISTRICTS AND SUSTAINABLE CITIES - INSTITUTIONALIZATION THROUGH EXPERIMENTATION

International audienceJudging from the number of communities and cities striving or claiming to be sustainable and how often eco-development is invoked as the means for urban regeneration, it appears that sustainable and eco-development have become "the leading paradigm within urban development" (Whitehead 2003). But what is it that is driving these urban transformations? Clearly, there are many probable answers to this complex question and in what follows we will focus on one particular catalyst of change - urban design competitions. Considered as field changing events (Lampel & Meyer 2008, Anand and Jones 2008), urban design competitions are understudied mechanisms for bringing about field level changes. This paper examines how urban design competitions can bring about changes within two types of fields - professional fields and local geographical fields. The context for our study is urban regeneration in two cities in France and Denmark, both of which have been suffering from industrial decline and have invested in establishing "eco-districts". Based on these two case studies we explore how the different parties involved in these urban development projects have developed innovative design templates and practices that can instantiate field level changes

Industry Involvment in the Development of Energy Regulations

The 2002 European Union (EU) directive on the energy performance of buildings (Directive 2002/91/EC) set minimum standards on the energy performance of new buildings and existing buildings. It also indicated that these would be subject to periodic renovation. In some countries the directive supported policymakers in their bid for national commitments to carbon reduction. In others, it affirmed existing commitments. In most countries, it informed the ongoing reformulation of building regulations. This paper explores energy related developments in building regulations for new housing in Denmark (DK) and the United Kingdom (UK). The interest of the comparison lies in similarities in the type of changes introduced into the regulations and differences in industry responses

Institutionalization Through Experimentation

Judging from the number of communities and cities striving or claiming to be sustainable and how often eco-development is invoked as the means for urban regeneration, it appears that sustainable and eco-development have become “the leading paradigm within urban development” (Whitehead 2003). But what is it that is driving these urban transformations? Clearly, there are many probable answers to this complex question and in what follows we will focus on one particular catalyst of change – urban design competitions. Considered as field changing events (Lampel & Meyer 2008, Anand and Jones 2008), urban design competitions are understudied mechanisms for bringing about field level changes. This paper examines how urban design competitions can bring about changes within two types of fields – professional fields and local geographical fields. The context for our study is urban regeneration in two cities in France and Denmark, both of which have been suffering from industrial decline and have invested in establishing “eco-districts”. Based on these two case studies we explore how the different parties involved in these urban development projects have developed innovative design templates and practices that can instantiate field level changes

INNOVATION IN SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION: ECO-CITIES AND SOCIAL HOUSING IN FRANCE AND DENMARK

International audienceThe construction sector is often characterized as a reactive sector, as lagging behind other sectors of the economy, notably industry, when it comes to innovation; as mechanically responding to external (client) needs and implementing innovations that originate elsewhere (Winch 1998, Harty 2008). The sector is often presented as un-dynamic and un-innovative and as precluding novel design practices and tools, an orientation that seems to flow from its rigid routines, professional boundaries, division of labor, national legislation, established performance measures, and fixed ideas about best practices. Accordingly, building projects in the construction sector tend to reflect objectives and institutionalized practices other than those related to innovation and sustainability

How standards enable the emergence of sustainable construction as a new organizational field

International audienceThis paper examines the role of standards in the emergence of new fields. We analyzed the current formation of sustainable construction as a new field within the Danish construction sector. Data were derived from four qualitative studies on mandatory and voluntary standards pertaining to sustainability. On the basis of these studies, we propose that standards shape the emergence of new fields within an existing 'parental' field by 1) stimulating innovation and encouraging other actors to adopt this innovation, 2) generating boundaries around a distinct actor group that become associated with a new field, and 3) drawing legitimacy from central actors and creating networks that facilitate the mobilization of new field members. We conclude with implications for institutionalist research on structuration and field formation as well as implications for the practice of sustainable construction

How standards enable the creation of sustainable construction as a new category

International audienceThis paper examines the role of standards in creating new categories. More specifically, we analyzed the formation of sustainable construction as a new category of organizational activity. Data were derived from four qualitative studies on mandatory regulation and voluntary guidelines pertaining to sustainability within the Danish construction industry. On the basis of these studies, we propose that categories emerge in the form of mandatory rules and voluntary guidelines that 1) stimulate innovations and encourage other actors to adopt this innovation, 2) simultaneously establish the qualities or characteristics of associated technologies and practices based on the development of calculative devices and material exemplars, and 3) generate boundaries around a distinct group of organizations that becomes associated with the emergent category. As more organizations adopt the standardized technologies/practices, the category becomes consolidated and legitimated, which helps to mobilize yet others to take similar actions, thus, underscoring the category’s characteristics. We conclude with implications for organizational research on category formation as well as implications for the practice of sustainable construction

PROCESSES OF INSTITUTIONAL INNOVATION: REFERENCE TOOLS FOR ECO-CITIES IN FRANCE AND DENMARK

National audienceHow does innovation come about in a highly institutionalized field like the construction sector? The construction sector is characterized by relatively rigid routines, strong professional boundaries, clear division of labor, and elaborate national legislation. It tends to lag behind other sectors of the economy when it comes to innovation, being perceived as mechanically responding to external (client) needs and as implementing innovations that originate elsewhere (Winch 1998, Harty 2008). Sustainable construction represents a remarkable break with this tradition with strong ambitions to boost construction in terms of its economic, environmental and social performance. In sustainable construction, new technologies are appearing, new 'best practices' are being formulated, and new managerial systems and labels are being introduced. For instance, innovations like zeroenergy housing and eco-districts have emerged as novel ways to lower energy consumption and otherwise contribute to increased sustainability in the construction sector. Since a coherent template for sustainable construction has not yet taken form, this area offers a unique opportunity to study in real time how innovation emerges within a highly institutionalized field