The Road Towards Liveable Streets - A transformation along Ystadvägen in Malmö

Sammanfattning: In the end of March this year (2023) UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) declared humans are to blame for the 1,1-degree global warming of our planet. Furthermore, that the Paris Agreement will fail. Our lifestyle and energy consumption are unsustainable, and the emissions must now be reduced within a few years to mitigate the effects of climate change. The transport sector is one of the biggest emitters of CO2, in Europe particularly the emissions caused by the transport sector grew 25% the last 30 years. Passenger cars and motor vehicles stand for a majority of these emissions, 62% respectively. In addition to the negative impact cars have on our environment, health, and safety they also take up a lot of space. Parking lots and multiple car lanes are occupying the urban realm, and thus suppress its potential of contributing to a livable and attractive city environment. Reimagining spaces given to cars is therefore a good way to start the work towards more sustainable and liveable cities. The aim of this thesis is to show how Ystadvägen, a car dominated road in Malmö with a lot of spaces dedicated to cars, can be transformed into an environment that prioritizes people. Enhancing those areas with mixed functions, such as housing, schools, cultural hubs, and active ground floors is the key design philosophy of this thesis. The mobility of Ystadvägen will prioritize modes such as walking, biking, and public transportation - transforming a grey and unattractive road into a living and inviting street. Ystadvägen will no longer be a place that you just drive through, but a place where you want to stay.