Jeff D. Loux, director of the Land Use and Natural Resources Program at the University of California, Davis, Extension. He is a department chairman, and faculty member in the Department of Environmental Design. He has worked in the public and private sectors addressing sustainable planning, urban design, natural resource management, public policy dispute resolution and water resources issues for over twenty-five years.
Every July, I have the privilege of leading a UC Davis Summer Abroad class of 28 University students through a life-changing experience in 5 countries and 10 cities in northern Europe. The course, which I developed several years ago, is called Sustainable Cities of Northern Europe. It explores innovations in ecological and sustainable city design in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and other countries.
Stockholm and Malmo have been a part of the course from day one. Both cities offer a cornucopia of sustainable lessons, not to mention just plain fun and aesthetic urban venues. The concept of our course is to learn about policy, planning, design and lifestyle lessons that we can take back home and apply to communities in California and throughout the US. Our students come from 8-10 separate universities throughout the country, although most are from the University of California campuses.
From integrated and convenient transit systems, to zero energy eco-districts, to biogas production from wastewater, students learn in the field and from our hosts and colleagues in each city. Our class typically begins in Stockholm. The classroom is hosted by the Stockholm Royal Art Institute on Skeppsholmen; we stay on a boat on the Södermälarstrand; enjoy the midnight sun, dine at Herman’s on the cliffs above Slussen, and tour on foot, transit and bicycle all over the city. One of the best parts of Stockholm is simply the way it is planned for walking, biking, transit use, and enjoying the endless waterfronts– good lessons for all urban planners, designers and architects.
Highlights of our Stockholm stay include the eco-districts of Hammarby Sjöstad and the emerging Royal Seaport, the well-designed and programmed plazas and walking districts on almost every island of downtown Stockholm, new technologies like waste to energy and bio-gas plants, the plethora of museums (like the Vasa Museum and Milles Garden), and opportunities to view, swim in, boat on and photograph the endless waterways.
Hammarby Sjöstad offers a model of ecological design with high density, mixed use development served by many forms of transit, walk-able, car free neighborhoods, renewable energy, closed loop water, wastewater and solid waste systems, and quality design of buildings and restored natural areas. There is much to bring back home.
Stockholm is not without its challenges. Traffic can be dreadful, especially near Slussen where we stay. Weather can be rough, for fair weather Californians (although this year it was flawless). Prices for things are way too high. The City can feel crowded and over-run by tourists in the summer. But, overall, I find Stockholm to be one of the most accessible, charming, and energetic cities in the world. Paris may be the “City of Light,” but the light from a double rainbow over the bow of the af Chapman gazing at the cream colored “skyline” of the Gamla Stan is urbanism at its best.
After a week plus in Stockholm, we leave for Malmö by train. The trip allows us a glimpse of the countryside, since so much of the class focuses on cities. Malmö is a very different experience. Not long ago, a tired industrial port city, it has transformed itself almost overnight into a vibrant urban place, which combines new innovations with charms of the past (like Lilla Torg and the walking streets of downtown), the King’s gardens, a legacy of extraordinary parks and trees and public art, and new and old architecture such as the striking (if somewhat overwhelming) Turning Torso. In Malmö, we rent an entire house at the edge of downtown; a former country “woodland” house that has survived the crush of bland apartments of the 1930’s and 40’s, and is open as a bed and breakfast. Highlights of Malmö include the BO 01 waterfront eco-district in the Västra Hamnen with its unique housing mix, energy efficiency, walk-ability and innovative drainage and water systems. Other Malmö points of interest for the class are waterfront parks and beaches, technologies like the wind turbines and waste to energy plant, and Augustenborg Eco-staden (one of the few redevelopment projects that have used green technology as an organizing principle). Our long, hot and complicated bike tour of Malmö is a highlight, at least for the hardy students.
Malmö also has its challenges. The growing population is remarkably diverse, but it has led to some social tensions, that are evident in physical issues around the city. There are large areas of the city that remain drab, lifeless and auto-oriented due to poor urban planning and housing decisions made during the industrial era. And, the transit system, while better than many in the western U.S., does not measure up to other European cities. Still, Malmö has made a conscious attempt to re-invent itself as a “sustainable (and international) place” and is well on the way.
From Malmö, we take a short train ride across to Copenhagen for a few days there, followed by time in Odense and Aero Island, Denmark, Freiburg, Germany, Strasbourg, France and Zurich, Switzerland.
In my view, having studied cities throughout the world, Sweden has made as much progress as any county to address sustainability issues including greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, reducing auto use, maintaining or enhancing green space, social programs for health and services, and related issues.
Stockholm's Old Town and Riddarholmen as seen from the tower of the City Hall.
But, the real value for the students (and for me) is meeting our Swedish hosts, colleagues and friends. Learning about another culture by being immersed in it is a rich experience, and our students are drenched in new language, foods, social structures, art, history, performances (many on the streets), design, and good, friendly Swedes. And, of course, lots of ice cream. I know the program is having an impact because so many of the students tell me afterwards how it “changed their life” or “formed their career or graduate school path” or “ showed them a new way to think.” The future will be the better for it.
Well, back to my screen saver; a photo of central Stockholm from the City Hall tower.
We will be back again next year with a fresh crew!
Jeff Loux has worked in the public and private sectors addressing sustainable planning, urban design, natural resource management, public policy dispute resolution and water resources issues for over twenty-five years. He currently directs a professional education program that offers 140 classes, conferences and training sessions for 4,500 participants annually in diverse environmentally-related fields like planning, sustainable design, water resources management and GIS. Dr. Loux also facilitates and mediates environmental, land use and water policy processes including ten years as the mediator for the award-winning Sacramento Regional Water Forum as an affiliate of the Center for Collaborative Policy in Sacramento.
Related articles:
