Integration and anti-segregation: Helhedsplan Gellerup, Denmark

From disadvantaged area to attractive city district

Gellerup and Toveshøj

Outline

• Background information about the area• What research tells us about what works• The concrete development plans

Where is Gellerup located in Aarhus?

Key figuresThe residents:• Number of residents: 6200• Number of housing units: 2000• Children and young people

under age 18 36.5%

Financing:• Investments totalling DKK 1.7 billion in the elements

being implemented

In addition• Renovation of existing housing stock • Private investments• 5000 new residents by 2025

Impact measurement– eight focus areas with indicators

• Employment• Education• Security and well-being• Democratic citizenship• Health• Culture and leisure• A physically open city district• A diverse population

Where are we now?

• In full swing with the first phase of physical changes

• Phase 1 to be completed in 2019• Private investors have gotten involved

Theoretical background- What we know something about:• What has led to the successful

transformation of disadvantaged residential areas elsewhere

• The influence of the physical environment on the social environment

2008

2014

To reach our goals, we must succeed in two things:

1. Retain the residents with strong socio-economic resources who currently move away from the area.

2. Attract more new types of residents.

Attracting a larger and more diverse group of residents will change the social dynamics and norms in the area.

Gehl Architects

Research shows that:human response patterns are directly influenced by the physical environment

The housing project environment has a negative impact on residents’ sense of ownership, belonging, security, etc.

Because few residents actively choose to settle in large-scale housing projects, social imbalances develop. New urban infrastructure and new architecture can interrupt this destructive mechanism.

Structural physical changes are crucial

modernist residential area surrounded by three different urban structures:a. suburban neighborhoodb. city block structurec. medieval town

a.

b.

c.

non-structural transformationthe modernist area remains modernist

structural transformationthe modernist area is transformed into something else

BEFORE

AFTER / 1No change in urban structure

AFTER / 2Change in urban structure

Key elements of the plan1. Establishment of a main street

and an internal ring road2. Demolition of five housing blocks, five

institutions and a dormitory3. Creation of neighborhoods and strongly

increased density with new types of housing4. Renovation of existing housing5. 1000 new jobs will move to the area6. Private development projects7. ‘Youth city’ with 390 housing units for young

people8. Establishment of new urban park 9. Sports and culture campus with approx.

800,000 visitors per year

2. Stage of light rail from Aarhus Cto Braband

Key elements of the plan1. Establishment of a main street and an

internal ring road

2. Demolition of five housing blocks, five institutions and a dormitory

3. Creation of neighborhoods and strongly increased density with new types of housing

4. Renovation of existing housing5. 1000 new jobs will move to the area6. Private development projects7. ‘Youth city’ with 390 housing units for young

people8. Establishment of new urban park 9. Sports and culture campus with approx.

800,000 visitors per year

Key elements of the plan1. Establishment of a main street and an internal

ring road2. Demolition of five housing blocks, five

institutions and a dormitory

3. Creation of neighborhoods and strongly increased density with new types of housing

4. Renovation of existing housing5. 1000 new jobs will move to the area6. Private development projects7. ‘Youth city’ with 390 housing units for young

people8. Establishment of new urban park 9. Sports and culture campus with approx. 800,000

visitors per year

Neighborhoods created through a combination of physical changes and social initiatives

• hierarchy in road network, urban space and buildings• increased density• varied buildings• multiple functions• urban space with recreational areas• human scale in buildings and associated outdoor spaces• events, involvement, homeowners’ associations etc.If the physical infrastructure does not encourage the development of neighborhoods, social initiatives will have limited effect.

The Lottesvej neighborhood

Key elements of the plan1. Establishment of a main street and an

internal ring road2. Demolition of five housing blocks, five

institutions and a dormitory3. Creation of neighborhoods and strongly

increased density with new types of housing

4. Renovation of existing housing5. 1000 new jobs will move to the area6. Private development projects7. ‘Youth city’ with 390 housing units for young

people8. Establishment of new urban park 9. Sports and culture campus with approx.

800,000 visitors per year

Massive interior and exterior renovation

Key elements of the plan1. Establishment of a main street and an internal

ring road2. Demolition of five housing blocks, five

institutions and a dormitory3. Creation of neighborhoods and strongly

increased density with new types of housing4. Renovation of existing housing

5. 1000 new jobs will move to the area6. Private development projects7. ‘Youth city’ with 390 housing units for young

people8. Establishment of new urban park 9. Sports and culture campus with approx.

800,000 visitors per year

Technical Services & Environment office building

Key elements of the plan1. Establishment of a main street and an

internal ring road2. Demolition of five housing blocks, five

institutions and a dormitory3. Creation of neighborhoods and strongly

increased density with new types of housing4. Renovation of existing housing5. 1000 new jobs will move to the area

6. Private development projects7. ‘Youth city’ with 390 housing units for young

people8. Establishment of new urban park 9. Sports and culture campus with approx.

800,000 visitors per year

Key elements of the plan1. Establishment of a main street and an

internal ring road2. Demolition of five housing blocks, five

institutions and a dormitory3. Creation of neighborhoods and strongly

increased density with new types of housing4. Renovation of existing housing5. 1000 new jobs will move to the area6. Private development projects7. ‘Youth city’ with 390 housing units for

young people8. Establishment of new urban park 9. Sports and culture campus with approx.

800,000 visitors per year

New ‘youth neighborhood’

Key elements of the plan1. Establishment of a main street and an

internal ring road2. Demolition of five housing blocks, five

institutions and a dormitory3. Creation of neighborhoods and strongly

increased density with new types of housing4. Renovation of existing housing5. 1000 new jobs will move to the area6. Private development projects7. ‘Youth city’ with 390 housing units for young

people

8. Establishment of new urban park 9. Sports and culture campus with approx.

800,000 visitors per year

The city park

Key elements of the plan1. Establishment of a main street and an

internal ring road2. Demolition of five housing blocks, five

institutions and a dormitory3. Creation of neighborhoods and strongly

increased density with new types of housing4. Renovation of existing housing5. 1000 new jobs will move to the area6. Private development projects7. ‘Youth city’ with 390 housing units for young

people8. Establishment of new urban park

9. Sports and culture campus with approx. 600,000 visitors per year

From disadvantaged area to attractive neighborhoods in western

Aarhus