Nordic Experiences of Sustainable Planning

For well over a decade, there has been a drive towards sustainability in planning throughout the Nordic countries. But are these countries experiencing a paradigm shift in planning research and practice with regards to sustainability? Or is the sustainability discourse leading them into an impasse in planning? This book includes overviews of the planning systems in the five Nordic countries, drawing attention to their increasing focus on sustainability. A leading team of scholars from the fields of planning, urban design, architecture, landscape, economics, real estate and tourism explore how the notion of sustainability has shaped planning research in the Nordic countries. Case studies from Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark shed light on what lessons can be learned and some possible future developments. By focusing on the actual settings and practices of local and regional planning activities, it enables a discussion on the current state of planning for a more sustainable future. This book will be valuable reading for students and academics interested in planning policy, environmental policy, architecture and urban design work.

Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the Agricultural University of Iceland.

Part I: Setting the Scene 1. Introduction: The Planning Pyramid Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir 2. Enduring the Neo-liberal Rollercoaster: Resilience or Sustainability as Planning Theory's Response? Tore Sager Part II: Nature and Economy 3. The Physical Frame of Planning Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir 4. Co-Management in Environmental Planning: An Alternative to the Precautionary Principle Arvid Viken and Torill Nyseth 5. Cycles in Housing Markets, Policy and Finance Lúðvík Elíasson Part III: Government and Regulations 6. The Planning System and Practice in Norway Eva Irene Falleth and Berit Irene Nordahl 7. The New DNA of Danish Spatial Planning Culture: The Case of Regional Planning Carsten Jahn Hansen 8. The History of Swedish Planning Kristina L. Nilsson 9. Icelandic Planning: Milestones of Sustainability Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir 10. Balancing between Efficiency and Sustainability: Discourses on the Finnish Land-use Planning System Hanna Mattila Part IV: Built Environment 11. How Does the Carbon-neutral Settlement of Brøset Contribute to a New Paradigm in Planning the Urban Fabric? Dag Kittang 12. Suburb in Limbo: From an Idea Conceived in an Economic Boom and Realised During a Crisis: A Case Study of a Reykjavik Suburb Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir 13. Three Restricted Developer Competitions: Experiences from Sweden Magnus Rönn Part V: Liveable Community 14. The Finnish Local Government Reform: Juxtaposing Cost Structures and Centre-periphery Relations of Municipalities in Urban Regions Raine Mäntysalo, Olavi Kallio, Petteri Niemi, Jarmo Vakkuri and Jari Tammi 15. Rebound Effects for Reduced Car Ownership and Driving Juudit Ottelin, Jukka Heinonen and Seppo Junnila 16. When Planners Aim for More Sustainable Cities: Lessons from Scandinavia Enza Lissandrello Part VI: Future Scenarios 17. Urbanity as a Strategic Aim: Will the Nordic Cities be Sustainable in 2030? Johanna Lilius 18. Discussion and Conclusions Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir