LIVEABILITY TOOLBOX LIVEABILITY AND BUSINESS ATTRACTIVENESS IN URBAN TRANSFORMATION NOVEMBER 2019 ARKITEMA & EVERYDAY STUDIO & FRU ANDERSEN CONTENT INTRODUCION P.3 PHASE 1 - ANALYSIS P.15 Introduction p.4 Introduction p.16 Aprroach and advice p.5 Exercise -Liveability & anti-lievability mapping p.17 Exercise - Liveability Focus s.18Sum up - Liveability Focus p.30 LIVEABILITY INDEX P.6 PHASE 2 - VISION P.32 What is liveability in a Nordic context p.7 Introduction p.33 Examples of liveability themes and topics p. 8 Exercise - Vision questionaire p.34 Sum up - Vision formulation p.35 TOOLBOX P.9 PHASE 3 - INITIATIVES P.36 Introduction to the toolbox p.10 Introduction p.37 Exercise - Define initiatives p.38 Sum up - Describe initiatives p.39 DIALOGUEPLAN P.11 PHASE 4 - IMPLEMENTATION P.40 LIVEABILITY TOOLBOX Introduction p.12 Introduction p.41 Liveability and Business Attractiveness in Exercise - Stakeholder- and dialoguemapping p.13 Exercise - Implementation matrix p.42 Urban Transformation Sum up - dialogueplan p.14 Sum up - Implementation plan p.43 The Liveability Toolbox is created for: PHASE 5 - EVALUATION P.44 The Nordic Minister of Councils Introduction p.45 Municipality of Salo, Finland Exercise - Indicators of liveability p.46 Municipality of Akranes, Iceland Sum up - Measurements of liveability p.47 Municipality of Middelfart, Denmark Municipality of Växjö, Sweden SITES, TOWNS AND CHALLENGES P.48 The toolbox is created by: Participating towns in the project p. 49 Arkitema Architects in collaboration with Middelfart - Denmark p.50 Everyday Studio and Salo - Finland p.52 Fru Andersen Växjö - Sweden p.54 Akranes - iceland p.56 All diagrams are made by Arkitema and Everyday Studio. All photomaterial is provided by the municipalities. The material, exept from the portraitphotos on page 59, can be EPILOGUE P.58 quoted and used freely whithout limitations - but it’s gives you good karma to mention the creators. The work was finished in november 2019 2 INTRODUCTION 3 INTRODUCTION THE TOOLBOX Various challenges and structural problems have affected A network of small and medium-sized Nordic towns – consist- other small and medium sized Nordic towns to transform their This toolbox is aimed at municipalities that want to improve numerous small and medium-sized towns outside major cities ing of 18 Nordic municipalities – has participated in the project own vacant commerical or industrial areas into new attractive liveability in small and medium-sized towns through urban and metropolises in past years. From industrial businesses in the period of 2017-2019. They worked in four (thematic) urban areas and thus create added value to the town. transformations. It introduces planning and dialogue tools moving or shutting down and leaving behind large factory ar- groups – focused on different parts of the project. This project, that promote a focus on liveability, urban life and business eas and ports, to commercial and residential decline in urban the toolbox, focuses on how LIVEABILITY can become an Many Nordic cities need to reinvent themselves in order to attractiveness throughout the process. The work is based centers leaving behind vacant shops and housing, etc. The important development factor at all levels - for the benefit of retain or attract younger demographics and new businesses. on local identity and conditions, and helps to keep both the migration to big cities and intercity competition challenges the cities, their residents and stakeholders. The municipalities of However, towns must find ways to change without weakening municipality and the developer focused on liveability from the conditions for a number of smaller urban communities in the Middelfart, Salo, Arkanes and Växjö have identified a shared their existing qualities. There’s no need to change something early planning phase to the implementation and evaluation of Nordic countries. challenge; how to connect future transformation areas to the that is already working, or change without improvement at a given project. town centre, and how to make these areas accommodate the the same time. To map out and focus on existing and future The presidency project has developed a joint Nordic strategy high quality of life associated with small and medium sized qualities will become more important. This is why the focus on PARTICIPANTS for how towns and their surrounding areas can become more Nordic towns. This shared challenge is the foundation of the liveability is so commendable. The toolbox is a part of the larger project, Attractive Nordic attractive through the development of vibrant and inclusive ur- project, and through the development of the toolbox, the four Towns, which was launched in 2017 during Norway’s presi- ban environments that are economically, environmentally and municipalities have tested the tools in the ongoing develop- Urban planners and urbanists need to develop a shared dency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Attractive Nordic socially sustainable. The Nordic Council of Ministers wants ment processes of their individual transformation sites. language with policy makers around the theme of liveability. Towns project focuses on small and medium-sized towns and to develop methods and tools that can help small and medi- Current indicators for town development often focus on quan- is one of several initiatives promoting Nordic competitiveness, um-sized towns strengthen their work in urban area transfor- Read more on the Attractive Nordic Towns project here: tifiable factors outside the scope of liveability, and there is a green redevelopment, transition to a low-emission society, mations with an aim to counteract further emigration to larger https://www.regjeringen.no/no/tema/kommuner-og-regioner/ general lack of social indicators that can help define and mea- integration, and environments that promote public health. It, cities and contribute to how municipalities develop smaller and by--og-stedsutvikling/attraktive-nordiske-byer- sure the liveability and urban qualities of towns. The toolbox among other initiatives, focuses on urbanization as one of the medium-sized urban communities. can change this by ensuring a continuing focus on liveability – key challenges that the Nordic region faces in its transition to VALUE TO OTHER TOWNS based on the local identity, premises and conditions. a green economy. The toolbox has a generic design, which makes it usable for 4 APPROACH • Maps the relevant decision makers and actors that should be TIPS & TRICKS the way. It can be useful to use a cash flow model to calculate This toolbox will lead you through the process of securing involved in the transformation project and process. The tools in the toolbox, templates, the recommendations and the project’s finances throughout the project period. liveability in your town. • Consider which organization will be working on the transfor- guiding questions is not meant as a fact list or a manual that is mation project. Organize the upcoming process and decide to be followed from a-z. It is our hope that this advice, together with the toolbox, will A liveability index with 9 themes is introduced first. The who will be the key actors and who is mandated to make the add value in the Nordic urban development. themes are chosen by the 4 participating municipalities as final decisions Every city’s situation is different. This applies to geography, the most relevant themes representing liveability in small and • Use the tools in the toolbox for the upcoming process and culture, context, needs, etc. Therefore, use the toolbox as in- THE TOOL’S 5 PHASES: medium sized cities in the nordic region. adapt them to your specific situation and needs. spiration and customize and hack the tools, so they will fit the 1. Analysis | Mapping liveability opportunities and challenges You will be guided through a series of exercises that will help • The primary focus is at first to create a unified overall vision needs of your process, specific town and context. within the town and site. to organize your development process, and aid with mapping, for the project, and then produce subvisions that unfold in the analysing, making visions, putting together a list of initiatives, different parts. Create the vision together! Urban development is a living process. Barriers will appear 2. Vision | Formulation of a liveability vision for the site. creating an implementation plan, and ultimately evaluating the • Create your own definition of the term LIVEABILITY, and along the way and will require the ability and willingness to result. what it means for your town and culture, and by that, the de- adjust the project and reconsider decisions to overcome them. 3. Initiatives | Definition of liveability initiatives needed to mands and requirements to be obtained in the transformation realize the vision. In short, the approach is like this: process. During the development and realisation of the transformation • Establish a productive dialogue with all actors along the way, project, it is very important to ensure the necessary mandates 4. Implementation | Development and implementation of a • Spend the right amount of time analysing and understanding and continuously align the process and results with decision from the decision makers. This applies to both the individual plan to realise the liveability initiatives. the specific towns and regions and their situations in a global- makers. phases of the project and dialogue with stakeholders. ised and competitive world. Uncover and map the challenges • Make a concrete and financially realistic plan for project 5. Evaluation | Evaluation methods of the liveability initiatives. and opportunities. implementation. Costs associated with a transformation project are often • Understand the specific project in the globalised context and • Evaluate the project along the way and make a plan for when difficult to get an overview of and often become a barrier to Besides the 5 phases, the toolbox introduces an ongoing dia- clarify what challenges city is facing. it is to be evaluated. realisation. It is therefore recommended to link competencies logue and reality check.