Nordic cities are renowned for promoting accessibility to greenspace, both in terms of preserving natural landscapes as well as establishing green public space within highly developed areas. At the same time, multiple pressures threaten our access to urban green and recreative spaces. Increasing liberal planning approaches are further commodifying land, and even lasting good practices are under development pressure. Ethnic and economic segregation has also led to significant intra-urban spatial disparities in terms of access to high-quality green and recreation space.

Green Visions explores and evaluates the historical pathways, contemporary development, and future outlook for planning, design, and policy-making of green and recreational cities in the Nordic Region. Landscape architects, planners, policymakers, and active citizens will learn from practitioners who share decades of knowledge regarding the aesthetics, functionality, and significance of urban greenspaces throughout Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

Readers within the Nordic Region and abroad will find an in-depth exploration of urban greenspace that will inspire and incite curiosity over the future of urban greenspaces. As cities navigate contemporary urban challenges and prepare for uncertain futures with regards to climate change, urban densification, and social inequities, the insights from the book act as review and vision for sustainable urban planning and design. The book is published by renowned publisher Arvinius + Orfeus.

Seventy years ago, Nordic cities were known as the greenest in the world and they were claimed to have some of the world's most progressive park policies. It is time to raise awareness of the proud traditions we carry and look ahead.

With the book Green Visions, we want to show how we can build on that tradition so that Nordic cities can once again emerge as role models for the rest of the world through the transition to a green, competitive and socially sustainable Nordic region.

Kjell Nilsson, Director of Nordregio and Editor

The book

The book will be available at common retailers such as Adlibris and bpokstores around the world from the 26th of January. You can also buy it directly from the publisher, Arvinius + Orfeus Publishing. 

You receive this invitation because you have subscribed to Nordregio Magazine and news from Nordregio, or to one of our thematic news lists.