Welcom to my blog

Summary:

During the last decade, Göteborg city has been faced great challenges in development of its waterfront areas. On one hand, there are many abandoned industrial land placed next to the water in central parts of the city which need to be renewed. On the other hand, there is a high risk of flooding in these low‐lying areas due to future climate changes.

The intention in this project is to introduce an appropriate urban waterfront structure in Frihamnen- former shipyard area along the Göta River in central Göteborg- which fulfills both economic and environmental needs of the society. In other word, the purpose is to find a balance between economic growth and the need to address climate change in the development of this area. Download the complete project description from here.

01 October 2010

Interview with Ulf Moback


March 2010

Ulf Moback
City Planner
City of Gothenburg

In which way climate is changing in Göteborg region? What are the scenarios?

  • In 100 years:
           Global sea-level will rise by 0.2-0.6 m
           Nordic sea level will rise by 1.8-2 m
  • Currently in Göteborg water level rises up to 1.8 m in the case of extreme weather events.
  • Extreme weather event has happened 2-3 times in Göteborg since 2005 and it will happen more often in the future.

How these changes will affect the future life in the buildings, settlements, and regions in Göteborg? 


  • How quick the water level goes up (only in few hours) in the extreme weather conditions
  • The weather forecast agency only can inform municipality (public) 24 hours in advance!!!
  • 3 kinds of actions
                --> Defend
                --> Attack
                --> Retrieve

  • Affects of sea-level rise and extreme weather event in Göteborg:
                       Flooding
                       Landslides
                       Pollution of drinking water
What actions have been taken or will be taken?
  • Current precaution measures: finished floors should not be less than 2.8 m (normal buildings) and 3.8 m (buildings with important functions like rail station) above normal water level.
  • Building Locks/barriers in the river to stop water from coming to the city in the extreme weather conditions. But this is not so much effective. The extreme weather conditions can be informed only 24 hours in advance!!! And water level goes up so quickly (only in few hours). There are many smaller streams that bring water to the city. Therefore locks only would work for only one hour. (There is an ongoing research on this issue)
History of Göteborg and Frihamnen:

  • Founded in 1621
  • Second largest city in Sweden –appr. 500,000 inhabitants
  • Administrative capital of the County of Västra Götaland
  • Long tradition of international trade and industry
  • Swedish East India Company
  • World leading in shipping industry
Business today
  • SKF, Volvo, Ericsson, Astra Zeneca
  • From dockyards to science park
  • Triple-Helix model  (Business, Research, Municipality)
  • Port of Göteborg – Scandinavia’s largest port and logistical centre
Frihamnen was a wetland (plants growing in water) 
in the old times now it is a fill-in land.
 
Future of Göteborg?

  • 80000/year increase in population
  • 1.5 million people by 2020
  • 40000 new workplaces in central Göteborg
  • 30000 more houses in central Göteborg

Future of Frihamnen?

Strengths and weaknesses? It is a very low land while it is extremely interesting for development
 
Planning questions?
+
  • It is big
  • Situated in the center
  • Situated by the waterà extremely attractive
  • Exposed (without so any buildings)
  • Link to Lindholmen and Backaplan
  • Heavy transport
  • Municipality owns the land
  • Great to transport
-
  • Extremely low
  • Barriers (road, water)
  • Bad conditions (technically)
  • Kvillabakens river special species (preserving environment)
  • Noise and bad air
  • Dangerous goods transport
This studies is going to be presented for politicians in spring.
Posted by

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)