The Swedish paradox

One of my favorite blogs is Yimby, short for Yes In My Backyard. The blog discusses the urban development of Stockholm, and as you would expect it's always a two-front discussion between progressiveness (represented by architects and urban planners) versus conservatism (represented by politicians and "concerned" citizens). 

It's easy to summarize the Swedes attitude towards urban development:

They say they want this: 

… but in their hearts they actually want this:

That's probably the reason why there are no noteworthy architectural projects going on in Stockholm, only bland bloxes for sleeping and fucking (image how houses would look like if Volvo designed houses). There's of course nothing wrong with the dream of village cosiness (referred to as mysighet in Swedish), but meanwhile the absence of true urbanisation in terms of density makes housing prices skyrocket to international levels while salaries remain domestic. 

It's time for people to decide whether they want to live in a village OR city. You can't have both. 

Comments

[richi]

But way cant we just have like huge villages. Like picturesque cities.
San Francisco is a good example if we look at the US and in Europe we have lot of nice cities that can make pattern. Like Amsterdam, Barcelona or Copenhagen, an urban development but a lot of the traditional environment still is left

[Leon]

The problem with BIG villages is: cars.

Amsterdam is a terrible example. The Randstad area (despite its public transportation system) has the worse congestion problems in western Europe.

[Anders Gardebring]

As a true YIMBY I both say I want, and actually DO want, what is displayed in the first picture.
And I do in fact believe there might be more people than first meets the eye that signs up for that. The problem is that small and vocal groups have for long stopped any real development of the urban aspects in Stockholm.
We do what we can to change that... :)

[Leon]

Hello Anders, nice of you to post a comment here and keep up the good work. I'm on your side!