Younger industrial areas as agents for sustainable urban transformation

Only 30-40 years old, postwar industrial enclaves in Denmark change character. Vacancies, new investments in high technology and new civic programs are recorded even within the same enclaves. These postwar industrial areas represent a generic typology – a legacy of the functionalistic paradigm shaping parts of the postwar urban landscape to be found in many western countries. Their current transformation is rooted in social, political and economic dynamics. Difficult to predict and often shaped on a national or global level, yet with a strong local impact.
This ‘not-planned’ change calls for an interest among planning authorities on how to qualify the transformation, yet the complexity of many owners with divergent interests, and uncertain conditions challenges the planning process.
Today, depending on the areas’ geographic and economic context, two overall reactions can be seen: Either the areas are cleared for redevelopment or ignored. However, both reactions dismiss the possible qualities of the existing morphology and activities. This paper argues that this might close an opportunity to consider how recycling these enclaves can be utilized to shape future sustainable urban environments and communities both within the enclaves and the adjacent urban areas.
Through case studies of the current situation in Danish postwar industrial enclaves placed in different urban conditions, the paper presents an open-minded portrayal of the enclaves as new typologies in the urban landscape. These typologies emphasize and distinguish their different characters and opportunities. Secondly, using five objectives from the theory of landscape urbanism, the paper identifies qualities in the enclaves, to be utilized as agents in a sustainable transformation process. Finally, demonstrated with examples from related international projects, the paper pinpoints a selection of spatial transformation strategies addressing uncertainty. Through this, the paper contributes to the discussion on how to recycle the postwar urban landscape and planning in uncertain conditions.