B_Kiel_sample_work_CASESTUDY1

Bryan Kiel Sample Work: Case Study of New Development in Malmö, Sweden
Sustainable Development in Northern Europe B
Bryan Kiel and Deedee Chao
The Western Harbour in Malmö
Socioeconomic Issues and Social Sustainability
Overview
The Western Harbour, or Västra Hamnen, is a relatively new, sustainable district in
Malmö, Sweden, that contains “a mixture of housing, service industries, workplaces,
education and recreation.”1
It serves as an example of modernized, technologically
advanced urban sustainable development that emphasizes a unique mix of new
architecture coupled with natural aspects such as canals, green spaces, and the
waterfront. The Western Harbour subverts the notion that “eco-friendly” equals a
regression in technology and quality of life in exchange for being closer to nature and
good for the environment.
Although considered a proud accomplishment of Malmö, the idea behind the Western
Harbour, especially in its residential areas, calls into question whether or not the
sustainable development of the district properly took into account the socioeconomic
issues that are present within the Malmö community, and whether or not the area is
socially sustainable, in addition to being environmentally and economically
sustainable. The housing costs of the Western Harbour are higher, which prevents
those of lower classes from moving into the area and causes a concentration of upper

class groups into one district, makes the area part of the bigger socioeconomic
inequity problem in Malmö as a whole. This study investigates the role that the
Western Harbour plays and whether it exacerbates or helps remedy issues of equity
in the Malmö community.
Context and History
Once home to the Kockums naval shipyard, the Western Harbour (Västra Hamnen) is
referred by the municipality as “Malmö’s most obvious symbol of sustainable urban
development.”1
The factories and crane of industrial past gave way to new
development with a number of features that contribute to its intended natural and
social sustainability. The city marks two key institutions that became catalysts for
sustainable development in the hamnen: the University, opened in 1998, and Bo01,
the 2001 European Housing Expo located in Malmö.
Malmö University. The University is home to over 24,000 students and a large number
of staff, creating a permanent population in the area. Besides the culture that
students bring with them, the Western Harbour also acts as a neighborhood for
students, many of whom occupy flats in the new development. Student housing here
is more expensive than typical housing, but less expensive than most other housing in
the Western Harbour, allowing for a more diverse society.
Bo01. More evident in the development was the impact of the housing expo, Bo01.
Combining the skills of over 20 architectural firms from all across Europe, Bo01
brought some of the most innovative architecture in all of Malmö to the Western
Harbour. Bo01 highlighted sustainable building, planning, waste and energy systems.
Its buildings feature a wealth of variety in styles, and its medieval street pattern
protects homes from the harsh winds from the waterfront and discourage
transportation on more than two wheels.
Stakeholders Involved
The city of Malmö initiated the overall development process of the region, from the
Oresund bridge connecting Malmö to Copenhagen and the creation of Malmö
University, to the Bo01 project, which many parties became invested in. The city
received support from the Swedish government, which put 250 million Swedish
kroner towards the exhibition.3
It also received help from the European Union, as it
was an expo for all of the EU, inviting different countries to build their own
sustainable house in the area.2
The Swedish Energy Agency also provided financial
support for Bo01.2
Many construction companies became part of the process through signing contracts
with the city to develop in the area, and continue to be major stakeholders until and
after development all over the Western Harbour is concluded. Construction
companies and developers have agreed to building sustainably within the energy and
environmental regulations set forth, and have even agreed to extra measures such as
providing funds for community carpooling for the first five years that residents live in
their apartment blocks.
Various private companies, such as energy companies, as well as those who own
office buildings in the Western Harbour, are also stakeholders in the area’s continued
development and well-being. The growing number of residents who live, work, and go
2

to school in the district are also stakeholders as well, and perhaps the most important
ones for the area to continue to thrive and be socially sustainable.
© m.dac.dk
How It Works
The Western Harbour is a conglomeration of a few different developments. The
success of Bo01, particularly in its technical systems and architecture, has led to
further development in the Western Harbour. Plans to grow further onto the
peninsula have been developed, with affordable housing being the main goal new
construction. The new construction sites include Fullriggaren and Kappseglaren,
which are mostly rental apartments, and subscribe to many of the eco-friendly
principles that has made the Western Harbour.
Of particular interest is the Flaghussen project in the West Harbour, a product of “the
good dialogue” between planners and stakeholders to provide community-supported
development. According to the municipality, Flaghussen was planned with four
aspects of sustainability in mind: high architectural quality, social sustainability,
economic sustainability and ecological sustainability. While social sustainability deals
with housing design with all ages in mind, economic sustainability makes housing
available to a greater pool of people through affordable measures. Flaghussen had its
first residents in 2007, and now has close to 400 of its 626 units available as
affordable rental units.4
While the ecological and architectural sustainability of the Western Harbour is well
documented, its livability is less widely understood. Upon initial assessment, we
observed a resident-based community with very little streetlife. Homes were
sustainable, but lack of people was extremely evident, and there were little public
spaces being used. The hierarchy of resident before visitor was evident in that the
housing units themselves were well-designed for residents, but the area appeared
less welcoming for those who did not live there, although the public spaces were
present.
3

This seemed less true as we ventured towards the eastern sections of the Western
Harbour, which housed public institutions like schools and lower-cost apartments.
While these were further away from the water, the highest value location, this area
also sported the most street life during the day. This area seemed designed for the
typical public user, was visitor and resident friendly, and presented a more
“commoner” streetlife.
Finally, one aspect of social
sustainability that
developers tried to interject
in the Western Harbour was
its connection to other parts
of Malmö, and the rest of
Sweden, through
transportation. While bus
routes are well-traveled in
the region, its carpool
system is one of the most
innovative, allowing
residents the opportunity to
rent an electric vehicle to
travel as they may, and
share rides with their neighbors to get to work in other parts of the city. While still in
its infancy stages, its success could mean further confirmation of the circular economy
that goes hand-in-hand with the many aspects of sustainability.
Planned Goals and Actual Achievements
Planned Goals. The idea behind developing the Western Harbour was to convert the
unused industrial area into a new district that would help combat the effect of the
1980s financial crisis on Malmö. The reborn district would serve for the enjoyment of
all city residents on the waterfront and in the green spaces of the residential areas, as
well as in the planned cafes, restaurants, and nightclubs. To this end, the government
preserved the roads and lanes in the area as public property instead of selling them
along with housing plots to developers, ensuring that public spaces would remain and
the creation of a gated, exclusive community would not occur. The modern building
projects would also address a popular mistaken idea from the 1990s that eco-friendly
neighborhoods had to be technologically backwards and revert to “living with nature.”
The city started with the Bo01 housing exhibition, which aimed to create energy
self-sufficient housing units and decrease GES emissions. They also planned to
reclaim soil, use 100% renewable energy, create ease of transportation, build
ecologically, and increase biodiversity in the area.2
Additional residential blocks were
also planned to be built after the housing expo, in the sustainable style of the Bo01
housing project, but in a much more affordable, uniform method.
Actual Achievements.Malmö’s residents have taken well to using the Western
Harbour as a recreational area, taking advantage of its cycling paths, walking paths,
and waterfront area for exercising and getting in touch with nature, as well as
frequenting the cafes and restaurants located along the shore. The Bo01 European
Village itself serves as a tourist attraction, bringing money into the city and the district,
as well.
4

On the downside, in the haste to finish building in time for Bo01, the first set of
housing units - the European Village - did not meet their ambitious goals for energy
consumption, and had to be remodeled after the expo to fit the regulations that had
been set. Although the original limit for energy usage was 105 kWh/m2
/year, the
calculations made to reach this number had been based on faulty assumptions, and
the low-energy goal proved impossible.2
However, revisions have brought the
household energy use levels much closer to what they were aiming for, and future
development projects have used the Bo01 experience to better their own plans for
low-energy housing units.
The European Village itself contains about 600 apartment buildings and houses
around 2500 people, while the entire Western Harbour that has been built as of now
contains 4000 homes. Industry and office complexes in the area boast 10,000 jobs.
The district is expected to contain 11,000 homes for over 20,000 people, and offer
17,000 jobs, by the time it is fully developed.2
In terms of education, the area already
has schools for its residents, and is expected to eventually contain three schools and
fifteen preschools.2
© www.visitsweden.com
Socioeconomic Issues
In a place that emphasizes sustainable development, carbon neutrality and efficient
waste systems are not the only considerations. The socioeconomic aspects of
sustainability can be split into two general categories:
Affordability: Includes the costs of living in the Western Harbour- who can afford to
live here? Does the neighborhood account for a range of socioeconomic statuses?
Accessibility: Deals with the openness of the community to visitors as well as
non-traditional residents. Is the neighborhood available for others to use? Is there a
good mix of people, with many uses for each?
Our assessment leads us to believe the Western Harbour provides a mixed bag in
regards to socioeconomic issues. While the intention was there to create a
community many would want to live in and see, its end result certainly excludes a key
demographic: low-income individuals and families. The high price of the community
5

has created segregation in some of the most intriguing buildings. While these
developments are probably reaching market value, its social cost moves lower class
residents to the periphery. Our concern is that socioeconomic issues were not fully
taken into account in the original master plan, and therefore more affordable
developments (see Flaghussen) are pushed to the outside, disqualifying the social
benefits that would accrue from integration.
The above graph shows an increase in income distribution in the city of Malmö. Notice the decrease in
change in disposable income in the lower tiers (0-10k/10-20k) over the 20 year period. A lack of affordable
housing, combined with this socioeconomic trend, demonstrates a lack of sustainability for affordability
in the Western Harbour.5
One concern in regards to accessibility is the resident-first principles that were put
into the medieval street plan and Bo01 development. These projects lacked much in
the way of public institutions. While small play spaces existed, street life was bare due
to the lack of institutions (schools, libraries, etc.), commercial outlets (small grocery
stores, coffee shops, etc.) and ultimately the abundance of homes that are bare
during the day. These tended to exist on the outskirts of the Bo01 area, along the
waterfront and also more inland, near Flaghussen and the more affordable apartment
complexes. Thus, a lack of mixed use contributes to the original residential area’s lack
of accessibility. This is not to say that any one group of people is discouraged from
going, but the neighborhood’s vitality may suffer due to lack of population.
Social Sustainability
Definition. Social sustainability is defined as “a process for creating sustainable,
successful places that promote well-being, by understanding what people need from
the places they live and work,” by Social Life, a UK-based social enterprise. The
Western Australia Council of Social Services adds, “Social sustainability occurs when
the formal and informal processes; systems; structures; and relationships actively
support the capacity of current and future generations to create healthy and liveable
communities. Socially sustainable communities are equitable, diverse, connected and
democratic and provide a good quality of life."6
In summary, social sustainability
6

embodies the concept of creating social places, both abstract and physical, that will
foster healthy, vibrant living for the entire community involved. It is an important pillar
of sustainable development, as it enforces social inclusion and integration, therefore
strengthening the community, yet is often overlooked in favor of economic and
environmental sustainability.6
The Role of the Western Harbour. As an icon of modern urban sustainable
development, the Western Harbour should be a role model in social sustainability as
well, not just environmental and economic sustainability. At first glance, however, the
higher priced residential complexes in the waterfront area and the lack of street life in
public spaces during the weekday our group visited seems to bode poorly for social
integration and community-forming in the area. The Western Harbour should also be
taken into consideration as one part of the whole of Malmö, rather than as its own
entity; Malmö’s social sustainability issues are just as relevant to the area as it is to
central Malmö and the rest of the city.
Part of the reason for decreased social sustainability and rising social inequity in
Malmö is because of its rapid growth as a city following development in the Western
Harbor area, particularly in the construction of the Oresund Bridge, which connects
the city to Copenhagen, a hub for travel and economic activity.7
In addition, manual
labor and construction jobs that were created through continuous development of
the harbor lead to a class dichotomy where blue-collar workers are creating a district
for higher socioeconomic classes without ever interacting with each other. Thus it can
be said that in its creation and continued growth, the Western Harbor creates
obstacles for social sustainability in the overall Malmö community.
However, we see that in the design of the area itself that social sustainability was to be
a priority, although it is difficult to notice firsthand. The Quality Programme of Bo01,
7

published in 1999 before the residential area was constructed, notes that people and
their needs come first, thus basing the construction of physical spaces and buildings
around “human” proportions and their desires for aestheticism, a natural
environment, community and solitude.8
While these concerns rest on the individual
level, the concern for people who make up the community is evident.
The Programme goes on to address society on a bigger scale, stating,
“Diversity is a fundamental quality of the City of Tomorrow...There should be many
different housing alternatives, as regard to both cost and design. Segregation is a
very grave social problem. The district should be capable of providing low-price
housing. The human mix is important. Students, seniors, new and native Swedes,
the affluent and the hard-up - all of them should be able to find a home in the City
of Tomorrow. ”8
It appears in present day that the Western Harbour is striving towards this goal of
diversity by building newer apartment complexes designed to be more affordable,
and customizing apartment blocks to be suitable for different groups of people, such
as the elderly and university students. As development still continues to be in
progress, increases in diversity and social integration will have to be monitored until
the conclusion of residential projects in the area.
The Western Harbour has created numerous physical spaces for the congregation of
people to build community, but has failed to encourage community involvement
through means other than architectural ones. While opportunities and foundations
for social sustainability exist, such as through the use of green spaces and the
carpooling system in place, it appears that residents are either not taking advantage
of these places or do not realize the importance of having social sustainability in the
Western Harbor and in Malmö as a whole.
Assessment: Costs vs. Benefits
The Western Harbour created a dynamic change both physically and symbolically for
the city of Malmö. After the fall of the shipping industry, Malmö has turned towards a
wave of actual sustainable development, manifested in the Western Harbour’s unique,
ecologically-advanced architecture. It also stands as a symbol for “green cities” across
the world who look to transition their ailing post-industrial neighborhoods into livable
communities. The Western Harbour provides these benefits. Along with the money
saved in the long term due to more efficient energy, waste, and transportation
systems, the livability of the Western Harbour offers huge benefits that outweigh the
costs of development.
Still, replicating the Western Harbour tile for tile may not be the best system. At the
expense of lavish planning and building came a very expensive environment - the first
residential area of the Harbour - that catered to the richer classes of Malmö, which is
not a model that promotes socioeconomic integration and social sustainability. This
cost is one that can go down if further development of the Harbour area integrates all
social groups into the fabric of the city through the development of more diverse,
lower-cost apartment blocks and the encouraged use of public spaces as community
gathering areas.
8

Recommendations
The Western Harbour plays a part in increasing socioeconomic inequity in Malmö and
fails to properly establish social sustainability, but also offers an opportunity for the
city to take advantage of the foundations established in the area and reform it into a
truly socially sustainable community that serves to aid socioeconomic equity, and
from there, use it again as a new symbol of environmentally, economically, and
socially sustainable urban development. The Commission for a Socially Sustainable
Malmö, formed in 2011, can play a large role in revamping the Western Harbour and
adjusting its course by reviewing the area and its specific socioeconomic inequities
and advising the city on what to do, including the following:
➔ Continue effort to build affordable, specialized residential blocks for diverse
groups of Malmö residents, and make sure they are advertised well to bring more
people into the area.
➔ Increase the quality of life and living standards in all of Malmö, bringing it up to the
level of the richer areas such as the Western Harbour, in order to maintain high
standards and also achieve equity across the board.
➔ Collaborate with local organizations and developers to create more opportunities
for community involvement and engagement in order to bring residents of the
Western Harbor together and form the basis for a socially sustainable,
socioeconomically diverse community that can serve as an example to the rest of
the Malmö.
➔ Educate the residential community on the importance of social sustainability in
order to mobilize the people and encourage them to independently foster a sense
of community and society.
➔ Make social investments in the areas of education and work to increase human
capital and create a foundation for socioeconomic equity.
© makinglewes.org
9

Bibliography and Sources
1. Malmö stad. Bo01 / Western Harbour. [Online] Available from:
http://Malmo.se/English/Sustainable-City-Development/Bo01---Western-Harbour.h
tml. [Accessed: 22 September 2015].
2. Energy cities. (2008) Bo01 City of Tomorrow - Malmö SE.[Online] Available from:
http://www.energy-cities.eu/IMG/pdf/BO01_EN.pdf. [Accessed: 22 September
2015].
3. Dalman, Eva. The National Archives: A Collection of UK Government Websites
(2008). Western Harbour - Sustainable Urban Development in Malmö. [Online]
Available from:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110118095356/http:/www.cabe.org.u
k/files/udss2008-evadalman.pdf. [Accessed: 22 September 2015].
4. Malmö stad. (2009) “The Creative Dialogue Concerning Flaghussen” [Online]
Available from:
http://malmo.se/download/18.af27481124e354c8f1800015973/1383649554732/Fl
agghus+broschyr+ENG+tryckkvl.pdf
5. Stigendal, Michael; Östergren, Per-Olof. Commission for a Socially Sustainable
Malmö (2013). Malmö’s Path Towards a Sustainable Future: Health, Welfare, and
Justice.; Figure 39.
6. Woodcraft, S.; et al. Social Life (2011) Design for Social Sustainability. [Online]
Available from: http://www.social-life.co/media/files/DESIGN_FOR_SOCIAL_SUSTAINABILITY_3.pdf.
[Accessed: 22 September 2015].
7. Western Australia Council of Social Services. [Online] Available from:
http://www.anu.edu.au/. [Accessed: 22 September 2015].
8. Dalman, Eva; et al. Bo01; City of Malmö; et al (1999). Quality Programme - Bo01 City
of Tomorrow. [Online] Available from:
http://malmo.se/download/18.4a2cec6a10d0ba37c0b800012615/1383649555473/
kvalprog_bo01_dn_eng.pdf. [Accessed: 23 September 2015].
Other sources: Johanna Elke. (2015) Tour Guide for Malmö.
Pictures without source information were personal photos of the area.
10

B_Kiel_sample_work_CASESTUDY1

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (20)

Similar to B_Kiel_sample_work_CASESTUDY1

Similar to B_Kiel_sample_work_CASESTUDY1 (20)

B_Kiel_sample_work_CASESTUDY1