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| A Growing Stockholm requires urban development experts  The challenges that face Stockholm with its rising population are growing. The city is in dire need of more housing and commercial real estate, increased infrastructure development, and new public transport solutions.Building at new locations affected by noisy traffic and challenging technical settings is something that requires expert consultants. Therefore specialists from Ramboll work extensively with construction and development projects that meet difficult challenges such as high noise levels, severe geotechnical conditions, and contaminated soil issues. "We are developing the society of tomorrow, based on the needs and opportunities that exist today. In a city that is already developed, a population surge presents significant new challenges", says Patrik Schelin, Director at Ramboll Sweden, Central Division and continues: "We provide comprehensive solutions for new housing at congested locations that were previously determined as unbuildable. For example, we can simulate sound images in noise-affected locations, which in turn can form a basis for future building decisions in our growing city". Biogas and cycling – a green choice Another challenge for the city is the increasing air pollution due to the growth in road traffic. Here it is important to combine investments in public transportation with the use of biogas as a fuel, since this will contribute to a healthier and more sustainable environment, according to Patrik Schelin: "We support the City of Stockholm's vision that all inner-city buses will run on biogas within five years. Ramboll can manage the entire process, from the production of biogas to its distribution and use. In this regard, we are currently working in Hammarby Seaport with a bus depot for buses that are fuelled on biogas", he says. Stockholm needs to evolve into a better city for cycling Cycling is another area that is highly relevant for solving the traffic situation. The numbers of cyclists are increasing steadily while the city's infrastructure is lagging behind the overall development, thus creating accessibility and traffic safety problems. "Stockholm needs to evolve into a better city for cycling. Here we have much to learn from Copenhagen, where Ramboll has developed cycle routes and integrated the bike as a natural part of the traffic flow", says Patrik Schelin and continues: "We can also see an increasing demand for architects in planning and construction in an expanding Stockholm. In this regard, a good plan provides opportunities for increased densification, as well as for a local environment that makes people feel more comfortable. A sustainable result at this point is to balance technology, design and aesthetics. When a district expands, it is important to have a comprehensive overall strategy. Our vision, in other words, is to make Stockholm a city where everyone can feel comfortable". write your comments about the article :: © 2014 Construction News :: home page |