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 | Completed |
| 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 |
Important results from the project
The project explored the role of the city center in the transition to sustainable consumption in small towns, using strategic foresight and speculative design. Four key functions emerged: engaging meeting places, circular resource use, active and shared mobility, and flexible spaces. It highlights challenges, solutions, and steps toward a diverse, social city center where commerce, culture, and services interact.
Expected long term effects
The project has opened up new paths and future discussions locally. This can lead to concrete tests of ideas for a more sustainable city center. The foresight method is expected to be used in more contexts and the project can inspire other municipalities to innovate, learn and more active citizen dialogue in the urban space. The project also highlights the important role of small towns and municipalities in innovation and development of sustainable societies of the future.
Approach and implementation
The project was carried out in three phases – from future analysis to design and reflection. Methods such as strategic foresight, speculative design and backcasting were used to broaden perspectives and create local engagement. The future prototype gained strong local visibility and involved many stakeholders and residents, demonstrating strong local interest. Insights from the prototype and earlier activities were used to formulate a future vision.