| Green Oslo and Beyond: Investigating the Origins and Shaping the Outcomes of Green Urbanism
Global/Local Symposium with speakers from North America, Europe and Scandinavia Monday the 7th of June - Tuesday the 8th of June 2010 Oslo, Norway
Project Description
It is our contention that Oslo has a long history of being a “green city” in the sense both of having a strong self-awareness of the city in its wider geographic setting and a long tradition of conservation of natural resources and green spaces. A critical history of Oslo can make an important contribution to understanding the opportunities that exist today for bringing the urban structure into a still finer relation to its geographical and natural surroundings thereby furthering Oslo’s “green city” reputation.
We also believe that the specific character of planning decisions of the present and future should be informed by an understanding of place that relies on various aspects and modes of place analysis: the cultural geography, including imaginations and representations of place; the natural setting understood as landscape and region; the cultural landscape; and architecture and urban physical space.
This project has two primary goals. First to hold a symposium which will air perspectives related to green urbanism and the Oslo area for both scholars and the informed public. Second, to develop material for a book to be published in 2011.
Call for Papers
There have been three key arguments about the interaction of cities with the environment. The first is structural: it looks at changes in land use, communication and transportation technologies, and provisions for green spaces. It argues that future decisions for environmental sustainability must choose between potential urban forms. The second argument focuses on the impact of discourses in literature, art, housing and community that have re-imagined life around nature or the environs. The third argument, takes a broad cultural approach, framing the green city in the narratives, practices and activities of its inhabitants; it sees these in historical and contemporary perspectives.
We invite papers that address any of these aspects of green thinking or practice, both from a strictly local or international perspective.
Panels are organized around the following themes: • The structure of a green city
How have changes in land use, communication and transportation technologies, and provisions for green spaces shaped 20th century metro regions? What has been the history and relative significance of green structures in the development of Oslo?
• The green city as a discourse
How has the idea of a green city been constructed? Which representations, imaginations, concepts and knowledge have contributed to the formation of such a discourse? In what ways has Green Oslo differed from and paralleled broadly similar conceptions of “greening” the city?
• Living in a green city
How is the green city experienced by its inhabitants? Is there a “sense of Oslo” as a green city and what are the narratives and practices that may confirm this?
The deadline for the second and final call for abstracts is February 15th. After this date the abstract submission process will be closed. Abstracts must be submitted through our webpage.
Please note that abstracts will be automatically limited to 250 words.
Subsequent to the deadline all abstracts will be reviewed by the organising committee. Acceptances of the proposed papers will be issued by January 15th. | |
