The function of a city center
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Tranås kommun |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 199 267 |
| Project duration | November 2024 - September 2025 |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Venture | Impact Innovation: Designing the places of the future for attractive, accessible and sustainable communities |
| Call | Impact Innovation: Designing the places of the future for attractive, accessible and sustainable communities |
Purpose and goal
What functions will the city center need in a future of sustainable consumption? What role will it play in 2040? We aim to challenge the concept of the future attractive city center and emphasize the role of small towns in Sweden’s resource-conscious transition. The goal is to preserve the city center’s social and commercial value by transforming Tranås into a resilient hub that adapts to changing behaviors and consumption patterns.
Expected effects and result
Through future visions, we aim to explore the role and values of the city center, create understanding of how the future can be best shaped and spark discussion. The goal is to raise awareness among residents and businesses about the upcoming transition, encouraging early action. The project will inspire stakeholders to drive a resource-conscious shift while also preparing for changes influenced by external factors.
Planned approach and implementation
The project is carried out in 3 phases. Phase 1 focuses on strategic foresight, in-depth knowledge of Tranås and its future residents. It results in different scenarios. In phase 2, we develop a scenario using speculative design and visualization. We create future artefacts that are placed in the urban space. Phase 3 summarizes the insights in a vision of the future, accompanied by a system map that highlights the critical changes needed to drive toward the shift and the described future.