Envisioning futures: A sufficiency approach for a building sector within absolute boundaries: The case of planning Copenhagen towards 2050
Authors
Liveri, Anna Maria ; Sjørvad, Hans
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-05-28
Pages
97
Abstract
This thesis examines how 'sufficiency'—meeting needs with fewer resources—can guide the building sector and the wider built environment (buildings, infrastructure, and public spaces) toward absolute sustainability, understood as operating within Earth's planetary boundaries. Using Copenhagen as a case, it maps current practices, development trends, and proposed strategies, and considers future scenarios for the city. The study argues that we urgently need to imagine and choose pathways that keep construction and urban development within ecological limits. It explores how a sufficiency-based approach could help re-envision, plan, and transform building practices accordingly. It calls for a shift in perspective, a critical re-evaluation of prevailing narratives and routines, and highlights the central role of public policy in enabling change. Small-scale 'niche' examples show that alternatives already exist and can maintain—or even improve—quality of life. Overall, the thesis concludes that a systemic transformation toward decision-making aligned with planetary limits is needed in how we plan and shape our cities.
Specialet undersøger, hvordan 'sufficiens'—at dække behov med færre ressourcer—kan styre byggesektoren og det bredere byggede miljø (bygninger, infrastruktur og byrum) mod absolut bæredygtighed, forstået som at holde sig inden for Jordens planetære grænser. Med København som case kortlægges nuværende praksisser, udviklingstendenser og foreslåede strategier, og der ses på mulige fremtidsscenarier for byen. Studiet peger på, at vi akut må forestille os og vælge veje, der holder byggeri og byudvikling inden for økologiske grænser. Det undersøger, hvordan en sufficiensbaseret tilgang kan hjælpe med at gentænke, planlægge og omstille byggepraksis i den retning. Det opfordrer til et perspektivskifte og en kritisk revurdering af gængse fortællinger og rutiner og fremhæver, at politik og regulering spiller en nøglerolle i omstillingen. Små 'niche'-eksempler viser, at alternativer allerede findes og kan fastholde—eller endda forbedre—livskvaliteten. Samlet konkluderer specialet, at der er behov for en systemisk omstilling mod beslutninger, der er på linje med planetens grænser, i måden vi planlægger og former vores byer.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
Keywords
Planetary boundaries ; Absolute sustainability ; Sufficiency ; Copenhagen ; København ; MLP ; Lynetteholmen ; City development ; Future planning ; Scenario ; Scenario planning ; Tiny living ; Safe operating space ; Climate change ; Biodiversity loss ; Constructivism ; Building stock ; Residential area ; Building sector ; Futures cone ; Building stop ; Sustainability ; Byggestop ; Space sharing