Implementing regenerative standards in politically green Nordic social welfare states: Can Sweden adopt the Living Building Challenge?

Forsberg, Mara and Bleil de Souza, Clarice ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7823-1202 2021. Implementing regenerative standards in politically green Nordic social welfare states: Can Sweden adopt the Living Building Challenge? Sustainability 13 (2) , 738. 10.3390/su13020738

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Abstract

This paper focuses on understanding the place for regenerative building standards within the context of politically green Nordic social welfare states. To this end, it examines the particular case of adopting the Living Building Challenge (LBC), an iconic example of regenerative design standard, in Sweden. An extensive document analysis comparing the Swedish building and planning regulations as well as the Miljöbyggnad national certification system with the LBC, shows overlaps and barriers the standard can face when adopted in the country. Barriers are validated and further discussed in interviews with one of the few architects trying to achieve a certified LBC building in Sweden and Swedish public authorities from the Boverket (Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning). Results from the document analysis and interviews show barriers to implement the LBC in Sweden are a product of a conscious political and ideological decision from the welfare state which considers infrastructure, and all its potential sustainable versions, a public good to be provided to all and funded by all. This premise contrasts with the self-sufficient approach promoted by the LBC, which in this particular aspect, can be interpreted as a threat to the welfare state.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Architecture
Publisher:	MDPI
ISSN:	2071-1050
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	8 January 2021
Date of Acceptance:	8 January 2021
Last Modified:	02 May 2023 13:21
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/137448

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