ABSTRACT
There is no term for livable or livability in Swedish. However, in a study of the American/Anglo-Saxon livability concept in a Swedish (transportation) planning perspective, Moa Thunström finds it quite similar to the Swedish discourse and concept of social sustainability, although livability seems to have a more short-term and local perspective. Other commonalities with the Swedish urban planning and development discourse and practice concerns attractive cities, the need for cross-disciplinary planning processes and multilevel governance, holistic perspectives, etc.
The main goals of the City of Stockholm’s Vision 2030—the citizens’ Stockholm, innovative and growing, and versatile and full of unique experiences—clearly connects to the concept of livability. The goal of Citizens’ Stockholm concerns an accessible, safe urban region with no physical or social barriers. The goal focusing on being innovative and growing stresses the need of being competitive on the global market. The last goal of Stockholm being versatile and full of unique experiences enhances Stockholm’s unique combination of top-class education and business opportunities and unspoiled nature at the doorstep that will continue to attract international visitors.
The Walkable City is the popular name of the Stockholm Strategic City Plan of 2010. Stockholm’s natural and historical assets, the need for a denser city and better integration, and connection between districts are all important starting points for the city plan. The five urban development strategies of the city plan are intended to cater to a sustainable urban growth in Stockholm: continue to strengthen central Stockholm; focus on strategic nodes; connect city areas; and create a vibrant urban environment. Dialogue and collaboration are key process strategies to implement the goals of Vision 2030.
In this chapter livability is discussed through an examination of urban development areas in Stockholm. A common problem in these developments is the lack of socioeconomic integration and affordable housing.
