Stormwater agents in a political perspective

authored by

Torben Dam, Ole Fryd, Antje Backhaus, Marina Bergen Jensen

Abstract

Urban policies are often created years before concrete physical projects take form. The transformation of future cities is far more complex than any one person or discipline can comprehend. Planning and design with this kind of complexity can be characterised as a wicked problem: a problem that can only be defined once a solution to the problem has been found. A research project in Copenhagen explores the complexity of a specific catchment area where 60% of the impervious area is disconnected. The project suggests four strategies in the specified area. The strategies have stormwater as the driving force - the agents; and site specific, water sensitive urban design as the goal. A political perspective allows a comprehensive discourse on some of the dilemmas to be found in aging infrastructures and in the defined strategies. This then allows us to return to, and define the problem. The paper concludes that the agents and strategies defined in the Harrestrup stream plan will work with changes in a political perspective. The transformation of the city depends on private initiatives and public planning; requiring a dedicated policy on all levels to push climate change adaptation forward.

External Organisation(s)

University of Copenhagen

Type

Conference contribution

Publication date

2012

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Civil and Structural Engineering, Building and Construction, Architecture

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 13 - Climate Action