Transforming Parking into Vibrant Urban Life – The Stadslivsfaktor (the Urban Life Factor) as a Strategic Framework

Purpose and goal

The project develops, tests, and scales a data-driven method for managing and transforming parking as a strategic tool for creating more transport-efficient and vibrant urban districts. By combining an agent-based city model with the new methodology Stadslivsfaktorn (Urban Life Factor), municipalities can analyze where parking can be reduced, how demand changes, and how freed-up space can best be used to enhance urban life, safety, and equitable living environments.

Expected effects and result

The project provides municipalities with a new tool to replace standardized parking requirements with site-specific analyses, test scenarios, and identify where space can be reallocated to walking, cycling, public space, greenery or urban development. Results are disseminated through typologies, guidelines, visualizations and an open toolbox. In doing so, the project contributes directly to transport-efficient districts, increased equity, and more resource-efficient use of urban land.

Planned approach and implementation

In each participating municipality, an area with clear transformation needs is designated. The site serves as a testbed for analytical tools and redevelopment proposals. The pilot areas represent small and medium-sized town centers with surface parking, enabling the development of transferable principles. The work follows an iterative process in which methods, policy tools and design solutions are tested in real-world conditions, with stakeholders and decision-makers involved throughout.