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- Caldenby, Claes, et al.
(författare)
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The social logic of space: community and detachment
- 2019
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Ingår i: Contemporary Co-housing in Europe Towards Sustainable Cities? Hagbert, P., Larsen, H. G., Thörn, H. and Wasshede, C. (eds.). - London : Routledge. - 9780429450174 ; , s. 163-182
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This chapter argues that co-housing is a spatial organization that over a long time has shown some important characteristics, and that there is what could be called a ’social logic of space’ in co-housing. Two processes in the creation of ’commitment’ to a collective are identified: on the one hand, ’detaching’ from the surrounding context and, on the other hand, ’attaching’ to the collective. The early predecessors of co-housing were all complex internal spatial organizations detached from the urban context and placed as ’buildings in the park’. Co-housing projects from the 1970s and onwards have in turn been described as coming in two ’models’: the ’Danish’ cluster of low-rise houses and the ’Swedish’ high-rise multi-family building. The Danish model is quite widespread in the Anglo-Saxon world. Using some central concepts in Hillier and Hanson’s space syntax, it will here be questioned whether these seemingly different two models of co-housing are really spatially different as far as ‘internal’ community and ‘external’ detachment is concerned. The chapter ends with a discussion of how co-housing can deal dialectically with the potentially vicious circle between ‘internal’ community and ‘external’ detachment.
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| 2. |
- Hagbert, Pernilla, 1986
(författare)
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A sustainable home? Reconceptualizing home in a low-impact society
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis addresses the environmental and socio-economic impact of modern ways of living, focusing on home-related concepts and practices for transitions to a less environmentally harmful and more socially just society. Exploring diverse conceptualizations of a sustainable home, the aim is to broaden discourses on less resource-intensive ways of living and residing.Employing a primarily qualitative and explorative research approach, the thesis presents three empirical studies on how sustainability in housing and concepts of home are perceived among different actors: 1) developers and architects involved in a new “green” urban development; 2) “ordinary” residents in a tenant-owned multi-family housing association; and 3) “home-front transitioners” engaging in low-impact practices. The findings highlight the complexity of approaching a sustainable housing development. On one hand, the empirical insights reveal structural lock-ins in mainstream market-led development, with a techno-centered view of sustainability, conventional understandings of residents’ preferences and household configurations, and lack of competence regarding social dimensions. On the other hand, there appears to be a gap between a reported interest among residents in living in less resource-intensive ways (including living smaller, simpler, or more collaboratively), and relevant alternatives within the current housing market. Attempting to find ways of going beyond these unilateral interpretations and lock-ins, the thesis suggests conceptualizing home as a node, framing understandings of home and everyday practices as a starting point for transitions to a low-impact society, rather than seeing the dwelling as an object upon or in which sustainable technologies and solutions can be placed. This is further linked to exploring agency in and of the home, acknowledging residents as active agents rather than “end-users” or consumers. In conclusion, the thesis emphasizes the need to problematize contemporary discourses on sustainability in housing. It makes a case for the need to rethink how we view home in relation to a radically reduced resource intensity, proposing a reconceptualization of home in transitions to a low-impact society.
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| 3. |
- Hagbert, Pernilla, 1986
(författare)
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Conceptualizing the sustainable home - Explorations of alternative home practices
- 2015
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Ingår i: Abstract presented at CIB W069 Meeting “Explorations on Residential Qualities: Situations of Dwelling, Ageing and Healthcaring. Inquiries of Transdisciplinary Nature”, 14-17 October, 2015, Göteborg.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- How we design, build and manage our living environments is instrumental in the environmental, socio-cultural as well as politico-economical implications of the built environment. A main indicator of resource use in particular is moreover found in individual residents’ ways of life, as well as aspects of material, spatial and thermal standards that influence the energy and resource intensity of contemporary home life. Of interest to the presented research is how residents’ perceptions of home, housing development and living standards relate to environmental attitudes and interpretations of sustainability. It explores perceptions of and the potential for less resource intensive home-related practices, primarily linked to voluntary simplicity, living smaller, as well as sharing spaces and resources in or in relation to the dwelling.A mixed methods approach is used to study residents’ perspectives, with empirical material from two different studies in two varying contexts: an urban tenant-owned housing association in Gothenburg; and semi-rural households in the Municipality of Alingsås. In the first study, questionnaires were distributed to all households within a selected housing association, with a response rate of 51% (n=156). By recruitment through the questionnaires, follow-up interviews were conducted with 22 of the households. A second study revolves around narratives from people that have intentionally chosen to live in various alternative ways, where seven deep interviews, following a more ethnographic approach, offer valuable empirical insights.The studies provide a basis for exploring alternative home-related practices. The efficacy of current ‘green’ housing development is discussed, as well as the willingness among residents to reduce resource use in relation to more or less normative representations of home. The need for understanding residents’ dispositions and the implications this might have for targeting the resource intensity of homes in more or less radical ways is emphasized, in order to develop future approaches and policy.
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| 4. |
- Hagbert, Pernilla, Dr, 1986-, et al.
(författare)
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Futures Beyond GDP Growth : Final report from the research program 'Beyond GDP Growth: Scenarios for sustainable building and planning'
- 2019
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- A future society no longer based on economic growth – what would that look like?The research program “Beyond GDP Growth: Scenarios for sustainable building and planning” (www.bortombnptillvaxt.se) is a strong research environment funded by the Swedish Research CouncilFormas, which has run between 2014 and 2018. In collaboration with societal partners, the program hasgathered researchers from diferent disciplines to explore key issues and conditions for planning for asustainable future beyond GDP growth. This is a relevant contribution to a largely under-researchedarea, where few scientific studies have explored what a sustainable society could look like, and what asustainable economy that is not based on growth might actually mean.In economic and political discussions, the notion of continuous economic growth is often taken forgranted and seen as a prerequisite for a safe and sustainable societal development. At the same time,a blind faith in and expectations surrounding growth can constitute a threat to the development of asustainable society if growth declines. Also an optimistic prognosis from the OECD indicates that it islikely that future GDP growth will be lower than what has come to be seen as the normal level duringthe second half of the 20th century. Declining economic growth could mean risks for increased socialgaps and unemployment. However, economic models show that the possibilities for handling these risksincrease if there is an awareness of them, and if this is addressed politically. Therefore, it is important tonot just assume continued economic growth, but to plan also for alternative scenarios.A starting point for the research program has been an understanding of the significant transitionsneeded to approach a safe and just operating space for humanity within planetary boundaries. Fourgoals that should be met in order to consider the societal development sustainable were specified: twoenvironmental goals related to climate and land use, and two social goals regarding power, influence andparticipation, and welfare and resource security.Four scenarios for Sweden 2050 were developed, which show the diferent directions society could taketo reach the set sustainability goals. The scenarios illustrate future societies that do not have to build onthe current economic logic, but that instead are centred around four alternative strategies:Collaborative EconomyLocal Self-SufciencyAutomation for Quality of LifeCircular Economy in the Welfare StateSo, can we reach the selected sustainability targets in the four future scenarios? A transformation ofhistorical proportions are needed – and it needs to start immediately. According to the sustainabilityassessment conducted within the project, the environmental goals of climate and land use can be reachedin all scenarios, even though it demands changing multiple parameters at the same time. Nothing pointsto it being impossible or generally difcult to achieve the social goals in the four scenarios, however theremight be diferent aspects that are particularly tricky. There are both development potentials and risks,which can be diametrically opposite for diferent social groups and parts of the country, depending onthe local prerequisites.Many diferent images of sustainable futures are needed. The scenarios should be seen as a tool fordiscussion and analysis when it comes to planning for a sustainable societal development beyondGDP growth. They challenge notions of what is possible, what changes that can and should be made,6what decisions that are needed and what should be prioritized. The scenarios all suggest a largechange compared the current development trajectory, and for example all point towards the need forredistribution of resources. It might involve economic resources, but could also relate to power andinfluence over production, or the possibility to use land for production of food, materials and energy.This redistribution could happen according to diferent principles in the diferent scenarios.In all the scenarios, the consumption of goods and of meat is reduced. Flight travel also needs to bedrastically reduced to reach the climate target. There is furthermore a need for reducing the constructionof both housing and road infrastructure, although to varying extents in the four scenarios. Other aspectssuch as working hours, the organization of welfare systems, the characteristics of the built environmentand the amount of infrastructure needed are on the other hand diferent in the diferent scenarios.The research program has explored what a development that isn't based on economic growth, in linewith the strategies that are depicted in the scenarios, would mean for rural as well as urban conditions.Three case study municipalities were selected with regards to their diferent geographical location,built form, economic development and size of the population: Övertorneå, Alingsås and Malmö. Insome sub-studies in these diferent contexts, descriptions emerged of cognitive as well as structuralbarriers, a sense of powerlessness and a weak capacity for transition among diferent actors. This isconnected to expectations and general assumptions regarding growth, partly irrespective of the context.Municipalities and companies to a large extent plan for and expect a societal development that buildsupon a further expansion of infrastructure, transport and consumption. Despite visions for sustainabledevelopment, in practice this often leads to a reproduction of current unsustainable structures and waysof life.At the same time, specific empirical studies within the project point toward stories of self-sufciency,of regional upswings and that the population is more important than GDP. There is an increasedawareness and a multitude of examples of experimenting with new sustainable practices that constituteseeds for change. Critiques against planning for continuous growth is being taken more seriously andclearer political visions are demanded. New forms of organizing the economy, society and welfare arealso being developed. Some examples include working from a perspective on socio-ecological justice,integration of sustainability targets in all planning, and developing new roles for consumers andproducers. These ideas can be seen as windows of opportunity, but also show that change can happenwithin the current system.The future means change. In this research program, we point towards some possible futures that aimat reaching certain sustainability targets. The scenarios and the discussion and analysis that they havebrought about show that there is an opportunity to move towards a sustainable development withmaintained or even increased well-being – provided that the understanding of well-being is based onother values than those of our current society. For these possible future trajectories to gain support,there is a need of political instruments and measures that actively drive the development towards a justand safe operating space for humanity
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