#Sustainable Vadstena
There is quite a lot of building going on in Vadstena. Drabanten is a social care housing project which includes many ideas about sustainability. Energy use of course and use of appropriate building materials but community and finding ways to avoid loneliness is important for social sustainability. The architecture in Drabanten is inspired by the middle ages both in form and colour, even if it is clearly contemporary. An ongoing building project by Birgittastranden is also working with ideas around social sustainability. Work has just started in Karlsfrid. It will become an area of mixed housing including owner flats, rented flats and detached houses. To deal with future increase in rainfall a central greenspace is being planned, doubling as an attractive play/walking area and capturing excess rainwater. Norra Kvissberga is an area now in the planning stage. It will consist of mainly detached houses with some other uses, such as elderly care. New districts influence the infrastructure, sometimes in unexpected ways. The widening of a pavement might for example be necessary to enable a school route for children in a new district.
A major ongoing project is the renovation of Vadstena’s three elementary schools. Here you have to take into account their valuable architecture when adapting to contemporary needs for access and work environment.
But it is not housing alone that creates sustainable towns, the entire municipality needs to work together to meet global targets. The municipality is actively working to contribute to reaching the national climate quality goals and make sure the municipality follows existing law.
The concept of sustainability consists of three perspectives – ecological sustainability, social sustainability, economic sustainability. All three perspectives need to be addressed in parallel to create a long term sustainable society.
Vadstena is working towards all global goals and here are some examples:
The Climate box, reducing food waste. If there is food left from school and kindergarten lunches, staff and parents have the opportunity to buy one or more portions for a reduced price.
Interim Targets 2, 12, 13
The new strategic plan (ÖP40) which will be approved during 2024 is based on the global goals for a sustainable future. One of the goals of ÖP40 is to support movement and wellbeing for citizens and the provision of sustainable electricity.
Interim Targets 3, 7, 11
The Council organizes Meeting Places, a place where everyone in the community can meet. You can come to the meeting place to socialise and to take part in different activities such as cycling, talking to others or bowling. These activities are today run by Wasagården and Dahlsgården.
Interim Targets 3, 11
During 2023 a project focusing on meeting places in urban space to counter involuntary loneliness will get started.
Interim Target 3
Trygghetsboende (secure housing) providing ordinary flats for rent for anyone over the age of 65. The flats are designed to meet potential special needs that might arise later in life. Social activities are available for those interested.
Interim Targets 3, 11
Sustainable tourism supporting local culture. An ongoing project involving businesses and associations in Vadstena wanting to co-operated to develop their tourism related activities and strengthen sustainability and marketing
Interim target 12
The Planning and Building Department is working to develop a plan for climate adaptation to meet the ongoing and future challenges in the built environment through climate change.
Targets 13, 14, 15
Nyckelfri hemtjänst – a system to reduce travel (by car as well as other transport) between the provider and receiver of homecare in the community.
Interim target 13
Vadstena municipality serves only sustainable MSC-label fish
Interim target 14
Events, cultural activities and different forms of physical activity are available for all community members. Meaningful spare time means different things for different people and therefore a wide variety of activities must be available. Within the municipality there is a Culture school, municipal indoor pool, youth building, meeting places and many associations for sporting and cultural activities. This gives every child growing up in Vadstena a ”culture guarantee” and means everyone from age 0 – 18 can take part in a range of cultural activities throughout their childhood.
Interim targets 3, 4, 11, 16