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2025
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Report: Visions in the North step 2 – Umeå

Photo: Ebba Hallin/Team VEX. 2024. Tomtebo strand, Umeå.

How can we create sustainable housing in a short time while utilising existing resources and creating good quality living environments in the long term? This is the main question in the innovation project Visions in the North step 2.

In Norrbotten and Västerbotten, some of the largest investments ever in green transition, technology and infrastructure are currently underway. The investment places great demands on more housing, attractive living environments and long-term sustainability.

Through a call for proposals in the spring of 2024, the Council for Sustainable Cities selected Team VEX to explore how design and small-scale tests in the present can be used as tools for social sustainability over time, based on Tomtebo strand, Umeå.

Team VEX proposal OMLAND wants to add a layer to the development of Tomtebo strand and address issues of the future city. The proposal is based on the thesis that active participation and co-creation is an effect of room for manoeuvre. The team proposes new tools to share responsibilities and resources on a small and local scale. They propose a prototype in three stages ranging from investigation of possible land allocation models and forms of tenure to concrete tests on site. Team VEX‘s inventory, analysis and proposals are summarised in a report consisting of a management and development plan.

Visions in North step 2

Visions in the North step 2 is initiated by the Council for Sustainable Cities ↗, the government’s initiative for sustainable urban development. ArkDes, Boverket ↗, Energimyndigheten ↗, Vinnova ↗ and Formas ↗ are behind the initiative, together with the municipalities of Kiruna ↗, Gällivare ↗, Boden ↗, Luleå ↗, Skellefteå ↗ and Umeå ↗.