Skills and Knowledge from the HCA
Eco-towns: Hammarby Sjöstad (Stockholm, Sweden)
A benchmark for brownfield developments
Keywords: Housing, Community, Brownfield, Transport, Leadership, Planning, Eco-town, Energy, Rest of World, Partnership Working, Education
Overview
Hammarby Sjöstad is a lakeside area south of Stockholm city centre. Originally planned for development as part of Stockholm's bid for the 2004 Olympic Games, this formerly disused, polluted brownfield site is now one of Europe's leading eco-towns.
The bid failed; however work was already under way to clean and redevelop the area for the Olympic Village and it was decided to retain this momentum to create positive change. Formerly derelict and polluted, the site was transformed with an emphasis on ecology and environmental sustainability.
The construction of Hammarby Sjöstad is still under way. It is envisaged that the area will eventually house some 35,000 people on completion in 2015. In addition there is a new school, church, shops, offices and a park all located on a 7.6 hectare brownfield site within easy reach of Stockholm's inner city.
Hammarby Sjöstad is a good example of the Swedish “green welfare state” approach to Eco-towns and shows how it can “promote sustainable development, new jobs, growth and welfare” into the future. As well as being ecologically innovative, it is also socially ambitious inline with the Swedish government mandate that all citizens should be provided with a decent, safe, affordable home that will be sustainable in the long term.
Background
The vision behind the Eco-city
The process of designing Hammarby started with a politically driven commitment to Sweden's sustainability programme and the “green welfare state”. This has since gained global recognition. Emphasis was given to decontamination of the brownfield site, the provision of an effective public transport system to discourage the use of cars, the reduction of energy consumption, and water/waste recycling.
High density housing is situated by water wherever possible
Vision and leadership
Strong leadership from the local authority ensured a single vision from the development of the masterplan to building on the ground. It owns most of the land of Hammarby Sjöstad and so a high degree of control can be exercised over the development.
Strategy
A master plan was developed, with the division of the area into twelve districts. Key principles include exemplary standards in public transport, a commitment to distinctive architecture, a rich mixture of uses for buildings, thought for the town-scape, public spaces and relationship to water.
The city has whole-heartedly committed to an ambitious and inspiring environmental programme which includes the development of the Hammarby Ecocycle Model, setting goals that are twice as effective at energy production, waste recovery and energy conservation as similar projects in Sweden.
The local authority has fostered a successful partnership approach, working with developers and their architects to develop design statements and codes for each part of the development, which then formed part of the formal planning consent. This open working arrangement drove up the standard of design, resulting in delivery of a high quality and popular development.
The Impact
What were the outcomes?
Connectivity
A number of transport initiatives are in place in Hammarby. Alongside public transport, which includes a free ferry across the lake, a car pool scheme has attracted 10% of residents. 75% of the 30 cars in the pool scheme run on bio fuels.
Environmental goals for transportation in Hammarby Sjöstad by 2010
• 80% of residents' and workers' journeys shall be by public transport, on foot or by bicycle by the year 2010.
• At least 15% of the households in Hammarby Sjöstad shall be signed up to the car pool by 2010.
• At least 5% of the area's workplaces shall be signed up to carpools by 2010.
• 100% of heavy transportation shall be by vehicles that meet current environmental zone requirements.
Environment
An initiative called 'The Glass House' provides a mechanism for consultation and ongoing engagement with residents and businesses about transport and other environmental issues, seen as key to the success of the sustainability of the area.
An effective public transport system has discouraged the use of cars
An effective public transport system has discouraged the use of cars
On the ground, a number of approaches to energy conservation run in parallel:
• Solar cells and panels have been installed in buildings throughout the area. However, the biggest advances are in the area of district heating and district cooling. By removing small amounts of heat from water effluent at the water treatment plant, district heating (by distributing the collected heat) and district cooling (by circulating the cooled water) is achieved.
• Sludge resulting from water treatment is used to produce biofuel for cars and buses, as well as to power around 1000 gas stoves.
• Storm-, rain- and melt-water are collected and treated in the area, transported via three decorative canals. The “water ladder” received a prize from the Swedish Association of Architects in 2005.
Theming and character
Adhering to the principle of creating a townscape, the buildings vary in height from six to eight stories along the main corridors and four to five along the Sickla canal. Attention to detail and a considered approach have contributed to the success of such dense housing. The consultation over plans for each district has produced light, high-ceilinged homes with open plan layouts, balconies and views of water and parks. There are high quality open spaces for public use.
The settlement was carefully planned to explore relationships to water
The settlement was carefully planned to explore relationships to water
Community and the public realm
Much of the success of Hammarby Sjostad can be attributed to the Glass House - a conscious effort to promote the dialogue between public authorities, developers and residents needed to change attitudes and shape minds towards sustainable living. It provides specialist advice (and a forum for discussion) on how best to use the new technologies on site and learn to conserve resources.
Good Practice
What can be learned from this project?
There are key lessons to be drawn from this development:
• Strong leadership from the public sector can ensure development of the highest quality, ensuring that the masterplan can be realised in the physical environment.
Waterside housing in Hammarby at dusk
• A considered and highly developed masterplan is essential to form the basis for land-use policy and the development of streets and public spaces.
• The local authority fostered good partnership working, enabling a wide range of specialists to work successfully together.
• A strong design ethos with an emphasis on modernity and diversity, with a mix of private and public uses, creates desirable places to live and work and fosters community.
• Strong commitment to designing and implementing alternative sustainable energy solutions.
• The Glass House environmental education centre fosters discussion and acts as a learning resource.
• A well-resourced, highly skilled team within the City of Stockholm was able to make careful judgments about design quality, project management and delivery.
Reference
External links
Hammarby Sjostad official website
Stockholm City website: Hammarby study
Guardian online: The Swedish suburb that sustains itself
As a pioneer in the creation of eco-towns, Hammarby Sjöstad has been at the forefront of innovation in modern methods of construction. However some of these technologies are still being perfected, and have inherent challenges. Eco-towns are still learning from each other's mistakes as well as their successes. Read more:
Traffic-free pathways have created safe routes for cyclists and pedestrians
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