Despite being a hot topic in research and often argued as a necessity in terms of urban planning, there are only few empirical research examples of urban sustainability transformations.
Urban Sustainability Transformations –project studies whether a sustainability transformations has taken place, using Eco-Viikki, a district of the city of Helsinki as a case. Eco-Viikki was built in 1998-2004 as one of the first environmentally friendly residential areas and it has gained international notoriety. This project frames urban sustainability transformation to require changes on personal, practical and policy level, and examines whether this has happened.
Sirkku Juhola from UEP leads the project. During the year 2017, researchers from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences have been collecting energy and water consumption data to study practical transformation. Anna Salomaa joined the team in autumn 2017 and will be focusing on the personal and political level research in 2018 in her postdoctoral research. MSc. students Eevi Laukkonen and Jenni Nieminen from UEP will write their master’s thesis in the project. UEP researchers will organize workshops and interviews for residents in addition to policy level analysis during 2018.
In addition to the University of Helsinki and Metropolia, the project group includes HELEN, the City of Helsinki, Kaupunkiakatemia and Viikki-Seura, a local residents’ group. The project is funded by KatuMetro programme.
More information in Finnish: Miten kestävyysmuutos toteutuu kaupungissa (KEMUT) - Esimerkkinä Eko-Viikin asuinalue Helsingissä