1. Introduction

During the fall of 2021, group 1 & 2 from the Urban Ecological Planning Master’s program worked on a project connected to a case study to get further insights on problems and opportunities of the Svartlamo(e)n area in Trondheim, Norway. This area is an alternative housing solution that emerged three decades ago after a fight for their housing rights to the city. Urban Ecological Planning presents various participatory approaches and methods to localize the needs of communities that should be addressed.

During this fall, we conducted several interviews from a vast spectrum of stakeholders, ranging from the regular day drinkers in the streets to very formal meetings with the stakeholders from the municipality. We also performed house visits in Mellamon, the new extension of Svartlamo(e)n and visits to the local workshops to get closer and curate relationships with the inhabitants. Lastly, we utilized open online discussions with the locals and other important stakeholders to ensure accessibility to those who may not have been available during our visits.

Svartlamo(e)n is a small neighborhood in the northeast part of Trondheim centrum. This area has a history of activism due to conflicts with the local government thus contributing to shaping their local and national reputation as well as perceptions in the media. Now it’s the first trial area for an urban ecological way of living in Norway, aiming to find other experimental ways of renting and living. This experimental trial area has been created in a response to rising housing demands in Norway due to housing shortages, rising house costs, and declining ecological areas.

However, working with a group of residents who are also activists and consider Svartlamo(e) n as a completely self-governed area could bring its own challenges. In this report there will be discussions of several aspects of the methods used and their purpose, the results obtained from the various analysis’s, and what both the groups will propose as spatial solutions for Svartlamo(e)n.

Figure 5: Shared Garden in Svartlamo(e)n, Huan Chang