Gårdsten in Gothenburg shows how innovation, persistence, commitment, cooperation and participation can turn things around in a troubled urban district. Since Gårdstensbostäder was founded in 1997, crime has halved and 1,500 new homes with various forms of tenure are being built.
Gårdsten has become something of a model for smart community development, and both Swedish and foreign visitors regularly come to study this recipe for success. Gårdsten has gone from being a troubled city district to being a highly appreciated and attractive development, gaining much attention and raising a few eyebrows in the process.
More than one-third of apartments empty
Gårdsten, in north-eastern Gothenburg, was built between 1969 and 1972, with around 2,200 municipal apartments. The district later underwent a change and became one of Sweden’s most run-down, unsafe areas with high crime and unemployment rates, as a result of which people started moving out of the area. In 1997, when municipal housing company Gårdstensbostäder was founded, more than 800 of the 2,200 or so apartments were empty.
Emphasis on social sustainability
Gårdstensbostäder had a clear remit from the municipality when it was founded; to reverse the trend in Gårdsten. The owner’s directive included adopting a long-term approach to sustainability in three dimensions: social, ecological and financial, with an emphasis on social sustainability for the entire district. A key aspect was that Gårdstensbostäder should be located in Gårdsten to facilitate real influence from and engagement with tenants, increase safety and design measures to create jobs.
Sustainable modernisation
The district was also modernised through a number of sustainable solutions, with both environmental and economic effects, and, not least, the impact of boosting the attractiveness of and pride in the area:
• Solar PV and thermal panels on the three Solhus buildings produce 780 MWh a year of electricity and heat.
• Some apartments have greenhouses and composters that turn household waste into topsoil.
• Half of the energy for the properties comes from a wind turbine, located on one of Gårdsten’s hills and built in cooperation with Gothenburg’s energy company.
• Individual metering of water, electricity and heating consumption save 25 kWh of electricity and 1 cubic metre of water per square metre per year. The residents have been leading this issue and are now saving money.
• The 100 new washing machines installed in 2014–15 were the first in Europe to be heated by district heating, which means they use up to 80% less electricity.
• The tenants can join Gårdstensbostäder’s carpool and rent an electric car. The cars are charged using electricity from the Solhus solar panels and the wind turbine.
From empty apartments to 1,500 new homes
After this transformation from a troubled area, people are queuing up to move to Gårdsten and 1,500 new homes are being built with various forms of tenure. The transformation shows that even the most run-down areas can be transformed with the right measures and local support.
