ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to discuss the prevailing Norwegian housing development and housing culture from a sustainability perspective and assess to what extent current trends toward more acceptance of dense forms of living are sufficient to bring us closer to sustainability goals. Sustainable development within the housing sector would require housing provision and housing cultures to be based on a radically different paradigm than the prevailing consumerist and growth-oriented conditions. Suburban single-family house development leads to increased polarization by aggravating the local environmental problems facing those inhabitants who are at the outset exposed to the least satisfactory local traffic situations, while providing a sheltered situation for those who move into the new suburban residences. A considerable change in residential preferences among Norwegians has occurred over the last 25 years. The predominant housing cultures exert an important influence on the residential preferences of individuals.
