Royal Seaport – Stockholm’s New Sustainable District

Stockholm Royal Seaport is bringing to life a vision for a more sustainable future, aiming to become an attractive, resource-efficient, and fossil-free neighbourhood. Recognized as a hub for innovative solutions, this district stands as Sweden’s largest initiative in sustainable urban development.

Stockholm Royal Seaport (Norra Djurgårdsstaden) is transforming into Sweden’s largest sustainable district, embracing a vision for a future that prioritizes resource efficiency, fossil-free living, and innovative urban development. This ambitious project spans 236 hectares, formerly an industrial site, and is set to become a vibrant, green neighborhood that integrates sustainable practices into everyday life.

With plans to build at least 12,000 homes and 35,000 new workplaces, Stockholm Royal Seaport will also feature new services, such as schools, sports facilities, and cultural centers. The design also incorporates a network of green spaces that aims to ensure that every resident can find a park within 200 meters of their home, promoting health and well-being.

To further enrich the area’s character, the municipality is preserving culturally significant buildings, and repurposing them into local, attractive destinations. A notable example is the Gasworks area (Gasverket), where historic structures are being refurbished and made accessible to the public, blending the district’s legacy with modern development.

A Hub for Sustainable Innovation

Stockholm Royal Seaport aims to be fossil fuel-free by 2030, aligning with Sweden’s climate-positive goals for 2040. To accomplish this goal, the district is serving as a testbed for implementing pioneering solutions in areas such as energy efficiency, waste management, and climate adaptation. These innovations are designed to reduce climate impact while enhancing resilience. The vision is that the Royal Seaport inspires other cities and municipalities to think about sustainable urban planning in new ways.

One standout example is the innovative stormwater management system, designed to address future challenges posed by climate change, including the risk of flooding due to rising sea levels and more intensive rains. This water management solution has garnered attention as a best practice for climate adaptation that also doubles as an attractive outdoor space, providing both functional and recreational benefits for residents also during warm and dry periods.

Award-Winning Urban Development

The Royal Seaport’s development has earned significant recognition for its forward-thinking sustainability initiatives, including:

• The C40 Award for best project in Sustainable Urban Development at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris (2015).
• The Swedish Architects’ Landscape Architecture Prize (2019) for its green spaces that combine aesthetic beauty with climate adaptation.
• The ROT Award (2021) for Building 8 in the Gasworks area. This annual award honors the best building renovation project in Stockholm.

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