Environments by Design

Abstract

In order for our cities to respond global issues related to climate, sustainability agendas and increasing urbanization, urban planning must be a discipline of improving and adapting the existing – avoiding fragmented project development – focus in transformation of the existing into the agenda of the future. 

For this, I suggest a change from development towards transformation on the concept of urban heritage. Transformation is about continuity of the existing – a continuum. I have investigated the change from development towards transformation through case studies of transformation in Danish former working-class districts in Vejle, and Copenhagen. The case studies of Copenhagen depart in a market-driven project development. The case study of Vejle takes its departure in an approach of transforming existing.

In the case studies, I investigated how the different approaches created different perceptions of the area and how the different approaches created different output towards an answer on the global issues.

Based on the case studies, I suggest a transformation approach based on the concept of urban heritage in planning of existing urban districts, trying to contribute to a planning process where the understanding of the existing is not just knowledge production but a situational action connecting the past, present and future. Creating continuity, infills and slow transformation as s way to access the urban issues with start and end in the existing urban fabric. The approach is described through new heritage and assemblages.