Smart design for increased security and a city for all

This practice was developed as a response to the expensive and unsustainable habit of pushing socially vulnerable groups towards the outskirts of cities. It is about giving more weight to the perspectives of socially vulnerable individuals when it comes to tackling urban development and security issues. By considering the perspectives of different groups in a more equal manner, meetings in the public space, and around supported housing units, can occur without negative effects on experiences of safety and security.  

The practice is made up of three parts:

1. A model for place-based collaboration around supported housing units
2. A functional programme for supported housing units
3. A review of the urban development process, as well as suggestions and pilots of improved practices 

Supported housing is often poorly maintained, located in temporary buildings in industrial areas, and hard to replace due to NIMBY (not in my backyard) initiatives. This programme is based on best possible knowledge on supported housing, and guides the city in its future acquisition of premises for socially vulnerable.   

3. Review of the urban development process  

The project reviewed the urban development process and asked why homeless and socially vulnerable people’s use of public space is not considered in planning. The project suggests a modified process and pilots how to contribute these perspectives. 

This practice has an obvious social perspective linked to inclusion, integration and the common and equal rights of the users and citizens of a city. These social ambitions are also interlinked with perspectives on costs for public space, and urban greening strategies.  

The practice aims to transfer costs for policing and reconstruction in the spirit of hostile architecture towards funding social support and inclusive physical solutions that are durable over time. A city that finds viable solutions to the challenges of unease between socially vulnerable groups and the wider public can construct public space that is sustainable for many years, promotes care from all users, and does not need premature reconstruction.  

Sustainable spatial design is durable over time and can even shelter the needs of socially vulnerable groups in a way that promotes environmental sustainability. It can be achieved by lowering emissions in relation to construction, and improving possibilities for waste disposal, integrated with social sustainability.   

Research shows that municipal policies for greening, public safety and urban development greatly affect the lives of socially vulnerable people, and possibilities to take part in everyday life in public space. This is why the project addresses urban development processes in general and includes greening aspects. 

The project has been governed by the City of Gothenburg together with two private real estate companies, an NGO and the Chalmers Institute of Technology. It started with a social innovation lab involving representatives from the state, municipal government, civil society and people with experience of addiction and supported housing. The project management worked with a networking approach, meeting many public and civil society actors, to raise awareness and gather perspectives.  

For example, working with place-based collaboration around supported housing units, housing companies invited an NGO to host an “inclusive café”. Guests paid what they could, allowing people from the supported housing unit to come as well as other neighbours. This enabled people living or working in the area to meet and gain positive experiences of co-existing.   

The project also arranged a panel discussion between people with experience of homelessness, as well as politicians and researchers on the topic of homelessness and urban development. The dialogue took place inside a public arts monument in collaboration with a group of artists, raising awareness and highlighting different perspectives.  

To create the functional programme for supported housing, a committee of service users were consulted as well as tenants of two housing units. In workshops they were asked what they saw as qualities in their housing unit, and what they missed – and were consulted on crucial strategic questions. 

After two successful pilots, the place collaboration model is being implemented in all public supported housing units in the city. One case focused on the construction of 1800 apartments and a preschool next to a care facility for people with addiction. Three years after the first residents of the new flats moved in, there have been no complaints, and just a few reported incidents. After six months, the real estate companies could stop their follow-up meetings due to a lack of reported incidents. The functional programme was adopted in December 2024 and is the strategic reference for future work with real estate for supported housing units.

The review of the urban development process has sparked various pilots, as well as suggestions on how to transfer social knowledge from the social welfare administrations to the administrations responsible for urban planning. The project has successfully raised the perspective of socially vulnerable individuals. At this point the administration is overseeing the possible implementation, or up-scaling, of some of the pilots. 

The project has also contributed to the city’s new strategic plan against homelessness, which includes a section on urban development, and will affect the work of all departments in the city. 

This practice uses place-based collaboration to facilitate and improve experiences of security, making it possible to house individuals with complex conditions in regular residential areas. It highlights the need to combine social and physical measures and to review how socially vulnerable groups can be included in urban development – a challenge faced by cities across the EU.  

This is a relatively efficient and inexpensive way to minimise unease related to safety and security without dismantling the public space or pushing homeless people out of the public eye.  

The practice could work in many urban contexts where socially vulnerable groups are excluded: it does not depend on specific national legislation. It does however support Sweden’s new Social Services Act and strategy on homelessness, developing social contributions to urban development.  

In terms of EU and international objectives, the practice supports Sustainable Development Goals 10 and 11. It contributes to the EU Urban Agenda thematic partnerships on Security in public spaces and Urban poverty. It also aligns with the Territorial Agenda, and key European objectives to improve perspectives for all places and people.  

Any city adopting this practice must be willing to find alternatives to repressive strategies. Staff will need to advocate for the rights of excluded groups and possibly work at a more strategical level where urban planning and social dimensions can be combined. The project’s success depends on having the right people at the right place with ambitions to bring about change. 

The guidance for place-based collaboration is general enough to use regardless of country or city. It includes hands-on parts for managers and staff working locally in housing units. There are also strategical elements such as the functional programme, which can be used as an inspiration and learning tool. 

The project has received widespread interest, including an exchange with the city of Stockholm in March 2024.