Integrating cultural and spatial qualities into decision-making: towards sustainable transformation of the Sørsida waterfront area in Ålesund

Abstract This paper examines how a focus group methodology supported by the NEB Impact Model was used to promote the integration of cultural and spatial qualities into the decision-making process for the sustainable urban transformation of the Sørsida waterfront area in Ålesund, Norway. Following the approval of the Sørsida waterfront development plan in 2015, the municipality of Ålesund initiated a series of artistic, cultural, and creative initiatives, including temporary urban interventions and the temporary reuse of buildings originally scheduled for demolition. These initiatives aimed to foster social engagement throughout the area’s long-term transformation. In 2024, with the support of the Re-Value project, a multidisciplinary group of experts participated in a workshop organized by Ålesund municipality and Sørsida Utvikling AS, a municipal property management company. This workshop was specifically designed to leverage the knowledge and experiences generated by the Kulturhavna initiative, reflecting on the cultural and spatial quality in the Sørsida area and identifying opportunities and actions for a climate-neutral future by integrating these qualities in the decision-making process. The NEB Impact Model, a framework used within the Re-Value project to assess the environmental, social, cultural, governance, and economic impacts of urban development, was used to analyse the main outcomes of this workshop within a broader context. The reflections emerging from this analysis offer valuable insights for Ålesund’s climate-neutral transformation and reinforce the focus group methodology as a model for other cities seeking to integrate cultural and spatial values in their urban development.