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Sustainable urban transformation projects in European cities:

Theoretical landmarks and lessons from emblematic-innovative experiences

Alexandra Ionita

Abstract:
The paper aims to address the emerging concept of sustainable urban transformation in the context of European cities. Due to its complexity, a clear definition will be difficult, at least, to provide. The paper will address the concept of sustainable urban transformation by first decomposing it into parts and address each one. Assessing the concepts of urban transformation and

sustainability will also comprise a brief evolution to highlight the theoretical landmarks that enriched and widened their meaning spectrums. Then the concept will be evaluated through the use of three case studies, Hammarby Sjostad in Stockholm, Vauban in Freiburg and GWL terrain in Amsterdam, in order to obtain a clearer image of the elements that can provide a sustainable urban transformation.

Introduction
In an attempt to address the concept of sustainable urban transformation, due to its complexity , we find it necessary to address first the concepts that compose it, meaning urban transformation and sustainability, as each one brings into this mix its own characteristic features and limits.

Urban transformation
A simplified definition for the term transformation is a change of form or condition. Therefore it implies a process, an action. Therefore we could say that urban transformation in the process of changing an urban form, an urban condition. Even after a short literature review one should come to the conclusion that caution is needed in addressing the concept of urban transformation due to the risk on overlapping meanings (Yang, 2010). The transformation meaning developed, over time, alternate meanings, that are convergent up to a point. Its the case of transition, change, evolution, revolution (Yang, 2010). From these, the most confusing one is transition as is it extremely similar to transformation. But there are small b ut important differences in nuances ., as transformation is a continuous process mainly driven by driven by endogenous forces (e.g. poverty, economic growth, governance) while transition is a non -linear change process mainly driven by exogenous factors (e.g. fundamental changes to a political or economic system, energy crisis, climate change) (Yang, 2010, p.30).

Referring to a dynamic system, the city, the concept of urban transformation changes along with the entity is derives from, changing its definitions in planning theory and practice. Thus urban transformation can be assessed in relation with three main categories: heritage conservation, urban regeneration and urban redevelopment/renewal (Couch et al, 2003; Gulersoy and Gurler, 2011). a. The urban transformation based on heritage conservation placed the focus on the historical and cultural significant areas of the city. Using methods like restoration, renovation, re-use , the main concern was the protection and retrieval ( both physically and functionally ) of heritage. A particular issue concerning the industrial heritage conservation is underlined by Francoise Choay in her book L'allgorie du patrimoine. The author remarks that, due to the fragility of the industrial heritage, a product of the XXth century, had caused a Noahs complex (Choay, 1998)

3 by placing under the heritage protection umbrella the exhaustive set of structural type occurred during this period. b. The urban transformation based on regeneration addressed urban areas with latent economic and functional potentialities (mainly reminiscences of deindustrialization and the shrinkage of production areas - derelict and obsolete industrial areas, docklands). This, using methods like regeneration, restructuration, redevelopment, delivers areas oriented towards consumption (of goods, experiences)and flagship projects. c. The urban transformation based on (re)development addresses deteriorated urban areas placing the emphasis on the socio-economic component. Therefore, the tools used are revitalization, renewal, rehabilitation. ( Gulersoy and Gurler, 2011) In the 21st century, urban transformation moves towards an integrated urban regeneration that brognd together heritage, competiveness and culture ( Gulersoy and Gurler, 2011)

Sustainable urban transformation

Although interest about Earth capacity to handle human activities have emerged early in the 60s ( 1962, Rachel Carson in Silent Spring ), followed by the Club of Rome in 1972 report and the Tbilisi Declaration in 1977, the notion of sustainable development became a component of the urban development language with the publishing of the Brundtland Report. The Brundtland Report, with its definition - "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland, G. H., et al., 1987) set into motion a productive discourse that from that point on enriched and widened the grasp of its meaning. Sustainability is a difficult concept to pin down in the definition catalog, due to the complexity of the term. The literature review regarding sustainability provides a wide array of interpretation, providing one common feature. Regardless of the variation on the theme (the pyramid model, the egg model), they all underline the convergence of the economical, social and environmental component (the three pillars model base). Therefore, a definition of sustainable urban transformation derives from the understandings of urban transformation and urban sustainability combined. Applying sustainability in the urban transformation context leads to the understanding of sustainable urban transformation as a series of urban (transformation) processes along with increase economic growth, social welfare and reduce impact on the environment. (Yang, 2010; IDRC, 1997)

Case studies selection

The case studies selection was based on the notoriety of the project. The aim of the paper being to assess lessons from emblematic-innovative experiences, the level of notoriety at an international level has the main criteria in case studies selection. The second one was diversity. Talking about urban transformation, the selection aimed at providing examples of transformation processes in areas that cover a wider palette of examples , both in former use ( industrial site, water facility, military base ) and size.

Hammarby Sjostad - Stockholm, Sweden

Hammarby Sjostad - aerial view (source: http://www.cabe.org.uk/case-studies/hammarby-sjostad)

Hammarby Sjstad is the largest urban transformation project of Stockholm in the recent years. The position of the restructured area - as a natural extension of the center of Stockholm - has helped transform some old industrial sites into attractive residential areas with parks and attractive green public spaces. The area situated in the vicinity in southern Stockholm of lake Hammarby Sjo's, Lake, has dramatically changed many times. Few areas can be described as "quiet and idyllic landscapes of nature" in the 1920s, and then, a few decades later, shift to being sarcastically called "ghettos of steel", only to be reborn in the new millennium, as part sustainable modern center of Stockholm. The area was partially destroyed when Hammarbyleden highway was built and, immediately after the highway was delivered, the area became available for storage and industrial use. But no company or industry established in the area: instead, a ghetto started to grow, and the area started to become a small industrial area. Then ghetto lasted until 1998, when it was demolished to make way for the project Hammarby Sjstad. The idea of creating a new neighborhood in the area emerged in the early 1990s. The concept aimed at capitalizing on a unique opportunity the site possessed to expand city center with a focus on establishing a connection with the natural element, the water, and at the same time, to restructure the old industrial and naval areas into a modern neighborhood. With Stockholm's plans preparation for the 2004 Olympics bid to win a major impetus for development and infrastructure in the area. The core area of Hammarby was imagined as the Olympic village with a strong emphasis on ecology and sustainable development, and was promoted as one of Stockholm's unique advantages as Olympic city. Although the tender was not successful, the development was already underway and the momentum for change was triggered. The municipalities decision was to keep this momentum to create positive change. When the planning for district Hammarby Sjstad began the general objective was to reduce by 50% the environmental impact generated by the district, compared with a neighborhood built in the early 1990s. The main objective in the Hammarby Sjostad project emphasized the ecological aspects and the connection with the natural element. The development of Hammarby Sjstad aimed to create a residential environment based on sustainable use of resources. It aimed to minimize energy consumption and waste production with resource conservation and maximizing recycling and reuse. The 200 hectare area is a new district for the city of Stockholm and will comprise 9,000 apartments, housing for 20,000 people, and 200,000 sqm of commercial floor space, adding this way another 10000 jobs in the area. The financing of the project involved, along with the city of Stockholm,

6 which acquired the majority of land in the area, and 25 other developers, contributing to 80% of the cost. Additional funding also were provided by two government agencies ( Swedish Rail Administration and the Swedish Road Administration). The design process highlights the efficient connection on both the horizontal and vertical dimension of leadership and collaboration. The municipality designed the strategic Master plan, and then divided it into 12 sub-districts. As a control tool, it implemented a parallel sketch design, where the strategic masterplan was submitted to an on the ground level check made by architects/planners from the private sector (chosen by the municipality) at the sub-district scale. This resulted in detailed proposals, which were assessed by the municipality, assimilating the best features. This division of the masterplan and the assignments of different team to design the sub-districts, with the City as final arbiter ensured two important features of Hammarby Sjostad. The first is the diversity and variation in the design of the area, as well as a strong community involvement in the process, assuring the viability of the delivered spaces and units. Secondly, the oversee of the City ensured the truth of the Masterplan (what you see is what you get). The similarities between the drawn Masterplan and the physical result are a striking feature of the project.(CABE ) An element of international notoriety now of the new district is its environmental program, as the core of the project. Beginning with the decontamination of the industrial site and the re-use of a brownfiled area, the development addresses the issues of public transport to discourage car use, energy consumption reduction, recycling of water and waste. The social component is also an element in the environmental strategy set into play, as the project provided an educational center on sustainability and environment issues, the Glass house, built in the center on the district. With the project main focus in mind, a connection with the natural element, the district maximizes the location near the water (view, pathways, building orientation). Hammarby Lake became the "blue eye" of the district providing public space representative.

Lessons from Hammarby Sjostad: A proactive municipality that provided a high quality housing district in order to meet emerging demands from the city of Stockholm. A strong masterplan that ensured coherence and truthfulness to the project. Diversity within unity by developing detailed masterplanes for individual sub-districts, but in the same frame provided by the Masterplan and under the same arbitrage

7 Flexibility in design by using parallel sketches to check the ccompatibility and relevance of the strategic masterplan with the on ground-level reality. Strong environmental program that was implemented and respected, including the educational aspect reflected in the Glass House. Land-policy use to ensure mix-use and economic viability to the area (CABE ).

Vauban - Freiburg, Germany

Aerial view of Vauban neighborhood ( source: http://www.stevemelia.co.uk/carfreeareas.htm)

Vauban is a new neighborhood for the city of Freiburg, Germany, located 4 km South from the citys center. Built as a sustainable district on a former military area, the Vauban project started in 1993 and was completed in 2006. The 38 ha development was design for 5000 inhabitants and will provide 600 jobs.

The planning and development of the site was the responsibility on the municipality of Freiburg, the owner of the site. A distinctive feature of the project is the community involvement. From the star, the municipality divided the site in small lots that were sold to individual or groups (co-housing ) of private builders. The main component of the development, the feature that brought the international notoriety is the implementation on car-free and parking-free concepts, along with the extensive ecological measures. The cars are parked at the periphery of the neighborhood and specific regulation prohibit the build of parking place on private property. All these regulation are sustained by an efficient public transport network, seconded by a car -sharing network. The municipality adopted a Learning while Planning concept (Sperling, 2008), allowing for a flexible planning, incorporating proposals and allowing changes in later stages. This was the mechanism used to encourage citizens participation in the design processes of their future neighborhood. Citizen structures, like Forum Vauban became powerful partners in the transformation of the site. The flexibility of the development allowed for alternative projects to emerge, developed by different initiatives group ( like the group of students S.U.I.S.- that developed living spaces for students). The development plan laid out a series of regulation for the design and layout of the homes (prohibiting detached housing in order to provide a dens urban development, prohibiting buildings higher than 4 stories). The energy strategy for the project was developed between the municipality, the Forum Vauban and Freiburg Energy Company. According to this strategy, every house has to apply the passive house or energy plus standard.

Lessons from Vauban: Applying the car-free and parking-free concepts the Vauban project reduced by 50% the car-usage and ownership. The tools used here urban policy and design strategies. Using space design to influence future uses, there was able to break the stereotypical image of housecar.

A good public transport network, together with a car-sharing network are making the strategy viable. Another crucial elements are the presence within the neighborhood of a local provision of jobs, reducing the need to drive to work and the proximity of the city center. Community involvement in the project provides a model to be replicate, due to the mitigation of lack of sense of community and place attachment .

GWL-terrein Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Aerial view ( source: http://www.kcap.eu/images/000729_gwl_terrein.jpg)

10 Developed on Amsterdams former water facility, GWL-terrein is a community housing project, with a central focus on providing housing for families while addressing environmental issues, located less than 3 km form center Amsterdam. The development was managed by the City of Amsterdam. The project applies also the car-free concept as its design as a high-density housing development linked to a series of public spaces. Within the area, the heritage components strengthen the local identity as the designers adapted some former waterworks building to current use. Lessons from GWL-terrein: The project provides a successful example of a car-free community.

Conclusions
Urban dynamics constantly alter urban functions, the hierarchy of local needs and, an integrated approach is defined as a priority for assessing the urban components, in an context characterized by consistency between objectives and goals of urban policy. The sustainable urban transformation concept emphasizes on the interconnection between social, economic and environmental components of the urban system , that allows an area to function at a level of quality of life demanded by the current society, without altering the availability of choice for future generations ( Yang, 2010). Sustainable urban transformation project use an integrate approach to the development of an urban area: applying technological findings to reduce the impact on the environment while delivering high quality housing and facilities, involving community in order to sustain the sense of belonging and to enhance the local urban identity, providing strategies to ensure economic development.

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