Why is Sweden removing Parking Spaces on Streets?
6 July, 2021 | Oviyaa Venkateshwaran
Nowadays, parking space occupies a large urban space, offering limited space for green spaces and outdoor social and recreational activities. The COVID-19 pandemic with its travel restrictions has induced the need for public facilities in the local regions.
Cities around the world are rethinking the approach of providing parking spaces in streets as several cities are beginning to prioritize pedestrian and cycling oriented urban development as opposed to car-dominated streets.
The public space is a crucial part of everyday urban life. A high-quality environment can increase both the physical and mental health of urban residents. A pleasant environment attracts more people to stay, shop and experience the city. It reduces the need for residents to travel by including various public amenities within the neighbourhoods.
According to CityLab, Sweden plans to become carbon neutral by 2045. This calls for reduced car use. Sweden is redesigning its cities by replacing parking spaces with meeting spaces, outdoor gyms and playgrounds in a project known as “Street Moves”. The project was initiated in the summer of 2020 which aims to make each street in Sweden – “healthy, sustainable and vibrant by 2030”. This also involves making every street cleaner and pedestrian-friendly.
Parking spaced replaced by street furnitures in Sweden [Image Courtesy: Lundberg Design]
One-minute city
The project is part of a “one-minute city” which shows how streets might remodel within neighbourhoods which prioritises pedestrians and cycling over automobiles and it does not imply that the daily needs of people are available within a one-block distance.
However, the ‘one-minute city’ is an expansion of the “15-minute city” which enable people to reach their daily needs within 15-minute proximity of their homes. It is initiated by collaboration between the Swedish government and the private sector. Vinnova has partnered with the Swedish Centre of Architecture and Design (ArkDes) and Lundberg Design, a design and strategy company in Stockholm.
Active participation from local communities
Sweden is involving its local communities in designing new spaces in the neighbourhoods which will enhance public spaces around their homes. It’s a collaboration with society and the municipalities to create spaces for sustainable and healthier urban areas.
Wooden design and infrastructure
The pre-built furniture modules such as chairs, tables, benches and plants are replacing parking spaces.
The module units are made from Scandinavian CLT Wood which covers a single street-side parking space. The units are made to interlock, which enables various units to be set up along a length of the sidewalk. The wood is sustainable and environmentally friendly and provides a sense of warmth and softness relative to hard and concrete covered spaces.
Design inspiration
The design gets the idea from popular culture such as Minecraft, Lego and Ikea which has a regular system that can be modified, rebuilt, or added to.
After the units are installed, they will efficiently eliminate single street-side parking space and reinstate with spaces for people to enjoy in the immediate neighbourhood.
Public Amenities
Sweden’s plan focuses on providing a set of modules used in varying structures for areas to sit and eat, parks and gardens, playgrounds, open-air gyms, bike parking, and charging for electric scooters. The plan will enhance social and recreational facilities for people living in urban areas.
The COVID-19 pandemic increased the need for access to local services and facilities. Sweden is focusing on improving the social aspects and quality of life of people living in cities. The small transformations in the neighbourhoods are believed to make huge differences in the urban environment.
Thousands of parking spaces are set to be removed in Sweden. The use and the configurations of the units are planned with the communities which are used in a trial in Stockholm. Other cities such as Gothenburg, Helsingborg, Malmo are in various stages of completion.
The project’s reaction has been positive. Out of 332 people surveyed about the remodel, 70% expressed that the units were favourable for them.