Circular and inclusive renovation of the public housing in Trollhättan - towards climate neutrality and social sustainability

This project explores the potential synergies between climate neutrality, social inclusion and circular economy, with an emphasis on how the user, the resident, can contribute to and be included in the implementation of circular methods and processes for renovation. Trollhättan is a city with a high growth rate, having the goal of becoming 70,000 inhabitants by 2030.

The focus of Trollhättan´s development often ends up on new constructions, but neither climate nor social goals can be reached without acknowledging the already built environment.

Trollhättan has close to 10,000 rental apartments, where a considerable part are built within the million programs and require renovation.

Based on design and systems thinking, the project examines how circular and inclusive renovation of the Humlan neighborhood can promote a climate-neutral renovation of the million programs that simultaneously contribute to strengthened resident influence and willingness for the residents to stay in their neighborhood and in the long term - a mixed city.

Projects in Sweden that have so far dealt with the issue of climate-smart renovation of rental apartments and co-creation have mainly focused on energy efficiency issues.

This project complements this knowledge by exploring and creating conditions for a circular and inclusive renovation that contributes to a pleasant, energy-efficient and healthy living environment where residents can afford and want to stay after the renovation is done.