Malmö’s Climate Neighbourhoods are designed not only to be resilient to climate change but also to exemplify a sustainable transition toward climate neutrality, all while delivering social benefits for the city’s residents. By integrating these elements, the aim is to create a future-proof, resilient, and thriving urban environment.
How Malmö can adapt to a changing climate and enhance social value
How can Malmö better prepare to handle climate risks while simultaneously creating vibrant neighbourhoods with a high quality of life, and reducing the environmental impact of both the built environment and residents’ lifestyles? These questions are explored in the report “Klimatkvarter i Malmö – Climate Neighbourhoods in Malmö” led by White Arkitekter on behalf of the City of Malmö. The goal is to shift the focus beyond individual buildings, adopting a holistic approach that addresses multiple aspects of sustainability while developing shared visions for the future.
To achieve real results, it’s crucial to look beyond individual buildings, focus on entire neighbourhoods, and involve everyone affected from the very beginning of the process.
Rafael Palomo, architect at White Arkitekter
A model can be found in Copenhagen’s Climate Neighbourhood, which demonstrates how nature-based solutions can adapt cities to extreme weather events while also enhancing quality of life, fostering social activities, and creating added value for residents. In Malmö’s Climate Neighbourhood, we have taken an even broader approach, integrating social sustainability and reducing the climate impact of both buildings and residents’ lifestyles.
As part of the Climate Neighbourhoods in Malmö project, we developed the Climate Matrix – a tool that outlines strategies for climate adaptation, carbon reduction, and social value. This matrix serves as a framework for concept development and stakeholder dialogues, tested by three architecture firms, each developing a unique concept for different sites in Malmö.
In White Arkitekter’s vision for a Climate Neighbourhood in Rosengård, the concept focuses on transforming an existing street into a lush courtyard. This approach enhances the area’s character by introducing new meeting spaces and communal areas at street level, in courtyards, and on rooftops of both new and existing buildings.
Buildings and courtyards are designed to optimize sunlight, maintaining comfortable temperatures. Greenery and ponds manage rainwater, provide weather protection, enhance biodiversity, and create spaces for activities like urban farming and recreation.
It’s about creating a shared narrative and vision that everyone can feel excited about – uniting the municipality, developers, consultants, and both current and future residents to work together towards making it a reality.
Jenny Nordius Stålhamre, landscape architect at White
The report “Klimatkvarter i Malmö” and the accompanying Climate Matrix were developed by White Arkitekter on behalf of, and in collaboration with, the City of Malmö, with contributions from IVL, the Swedish Environmental Research Institute. Tredje Natur and Sydväst Architecture and Landscape also contributed case studies. Learn more about the project on the City of Malmö’s website.
Interested in learning more? Get in touch!
