There has been lately a rich amount of articles highlighting the incoherent nature of theterm social sustainability and what it really means in an urban practice. Some argues for anincreased knowledge about the relation between social aspects and the physicalenvironment in order to better enhance the social dimension. The normative- and designoriented concepts human scale, the city at eye-level and public life may clarify the role ofdesign to accomplish desired social aspects.The aim of this thesis is to investigate how these concepts may provide a way to approachsocial sustainability with a focus on the public realm. Further aim is to identify problems andopportunities in the implementation phase since the often occurring gap between vision andpractice. The strategy is to create guidelines from theoretical understanding of the conceptsbased on a literature study and examine how these may relate to a created conceptualframework of social sustainability. Afterwards the guidelines are used to evaluate three caseexamples; the renewal of Rosengård, Malmö; the development of Järla Sjö, Nacka and thedevelopment of Prästviken, Botkyrka, regarding their fulfillment of the concepts. Knowledgeabout the case examples are mainly gathered from interviews by practitioners involved inabove mentioned projects and also function as an insight of general implementation issues.The results show that human scale, the city at eye-level and public life promote severaldesign inputs with effects on the functionality and experience of the public realm andargued social impact on safety & security, sense of belonging, social interaction and wellbeing. However these impacts may only be indicated and the concepts fail to acknowledgethe political dimension of social sustainability. Further the possibility to implement thedesign implications depend on geographical location, project driving forces and the nature ofthe builder / En betydande andel av nyligen publicerad forskningsartiklar framhäver en syn på socialhållbarhet som ett osammanhängande begrepp med liten koppling till innerbörden ipraktiken. Vissa argumenterar för vikten av en ökad kunskap om kopplingen mellan socialaaspekter och den fysiska omgivningen för att bättre framhäva den sociala dimensionen.Möjligen kan dem normativa och design orienterade begreppen human scale, the city at eyeleveloch public life klargöra designens roll i uppfyllandet av önskvärda sociala aspekter.Syftet med detta examensarbete är att undersöka hur koncepten kan utgöra etttillvägagångssätt för att närma sig social hållbarhet. Vidare syfte är att identifiera problemoch möjligheter i implementeringsfasen eftersom det ofta förekommer ett gap mellan visionoch praktik. Strategin är att skapa riktlinjer från teoretisk förståelse av begreppen baserat påen litteraturundersökning och analysera hur dessa relaterar till ett sammanställt teoretisktramverk av social hållbarhet. Efteråt utvärderas tre exempelfall; områdesförnyelse iRosengård, Malmö; bostadsprojektet Järla Sjö, Nacka och bostadsprojektet Prästviken,Botkyrka, utifrån riktlinjerna gällande deras uppfyllande av koncepten. Kunskap omexempelfallen insamlas i huvudsak från intervjuer av verksamma personer inom projektenoch fungerar också som en insikt om generella implementeringsfrågor.Resultaten visar att human scale, the city at eye-level och public life förespråkar designimplikationer med effekter på funktionaliteten och upplevelsen av det offentliga rummetmed påstådd påverkan på trygghet & säkerhet, tillhörighet, social interaktion ochvälmående. Emellertid kan denna påverkan endast indikeras och koncepten misslyckas atthandskas med den politiska dimensionen av social hållbarhet. Vidare beror möjligheten attimplementera koncepten på geografiskt läge, drivkrafter inom projekten och byggherrensnatur. / Social hållbarhet,human skala, staden i ögonnivå, offentligt liv

I dagens samhälle fortsätter inflyttningen till städer att växa och Stockholmsregionen fortsätter att förtätas. Detta medför att nya stadsdelar måste inkorporeras i redan befintliga. Arenastaden är en ny stadsdel som utvecklas i Solna som är en tätort i Nordvästra Stockholm. Att skapa nya stadsdelar för människan är viktigt för att uppnå en social hållbarhet. Det är även viktigt att ta hänsyn till omgivningens åsikter när nya stadsdelar inkorporeras i redan befintliga. För att uppnå en god stadsutveckling är en viktig faktor att det finns ett fungerade samarbete mellan de inblandade aktörerna. För att undersöka Arenastadens utveckling ur ett stadsplanerings- och samarbetes perspektiv har följande utförts. Med social hållbarhet i fokus vid stadsplanering har en jämförelse mellan Vällingby, som utvecklades på 1950-talet, och den nya stadsdelen Arenastaden utförts. För att undersöka omgivningens åsikter på att Arenastaden utvecklas har intervjuer utförts. Dessutom har intervjuer genomförts med nyckelpersoner från de inblandade aktörerna. Detta för att ta reda på samarbetets funktion i Arenastaden. BREEAM Communities, ett nytt certifieringssystem för hållbar stadsutveckling, har undersökts huruvida denna skulle haft en positiv inverkan på Arenastadens utveckling. Efter genomförda undersökningar har följande slutsatser kunnat dras. Det visade sig att Vällingby har bättre förutsättningar för att uppnå en social hållbarhet än vad Arenastaden kommer att ha. Den närliggande omgivningen till Arenastaden har främst visat sig ha en positiv syn på dess utveckling. I Arenastaden har samarbetet mellan aktörerna fungerat bra eftersom de har inkluderat många av de grundläggande delarna som krävs för ett gott samarbete. BREEAM Communities hade kunnat tillföra Arenastaden en del fördelar i dess planeringsprocess och stadsutveckling. / The urbanization is growing in the communities today and the region of Stockholm keeps on densifying. This cause that new districts must be incorporated into existing. Arenastaden is a new developing community in Solna, which is an urban in the Northwest of Stockholm. It is important to create new communities for the human being and to achieve social sustainability. The opinions of the neighborhood is important to consider while a new community is incorporated into an existing. It is significant to have a functioning cooperation between the participants of the urban development. To investigate the development of Arenastaden with a perspective on urban planning and cooperation, has following been done. With social sustainability in focus in urban planning, a comparison has been performed between Vällingby, which was developed in the 1950s, and the new district Arenastaden. Interviews has been done with the neighborhood to investigate their opinion about that Arenastaden is being incorporated into Solna. To figure out how the cooperation is functioning in Arenastaden, interviews has been done with the most significant participants of the development. A study of BREEAM Communities, a new certification system for sustainable urban development, has been done. This has been done to find out if it would have give some positive effects on the development of Arenastaden. The study of Arenastaden have given the following conclusions. It turned out that Vällingby has better conditions to achieve social sustainability than Arenastaden will have. The neighborhood of Arenastaden have mostly a positive opinion about the urban development. The participants in the development of Arenastaden have a successful cooperation between each other. They have included the basic components that a good cooperation needs. BREEAM Communities could have contributed some positive effects to the planning process and the urban development of Arenastaden.

The study explores the possibility that a transition zone can become a ‘filter’ that surrounds an urban core. As a filter, the transition zone can regulate and rehabilitate ecosystem services to support human well-being. The main research question focusses on how eco-systemic development can act as a filter while supporting human well-being. The two sub-questions concern (a) how architecture can become a buffer between urban and suburban areas in Pretoria, and (b) how architecture can aid in ecosystem rehabilitation to regenerate urban and human well-being. Through the research done in this study, it is evident that transitional zones around city centres are commonly derelict and unsafe. Human well-being is under pressure as a result of the increasing degradation of ecosystem services, which is brought about by human misuse and urban densification. As cities and human populations grow, urban cores expand. This expansion results in constant re-zoning as well as the demolition and degradation of existing spaces (Preston, 1966:240). Basic human well-being is dependent on successful ecosystem services and the biodiversity of urban environments (Bolund & Hunhammar, 1999:299). This study aims to identify, reintroduce and rehabilitate ecosystem services on an urban edge to facilitate the health and well-being of the community living there. The study addresses three main themes, namely: (1) urban zoning and development, (2) human well-being, and (3) ecosystem-service rehabilitation and reintroduction. By analysing the themes of urban development, well-being as well as social sustainability and ecosystem services, different theories and principles are identified to provide lenses through which the dissertation will be approached. The main lens is that of Vitruvius and the principles he sets out in Ten books on architecture, which relates all design decisions back to nature. Other theories, such as Ernest Burgess’ concentric circle model and the circular economy theory, and the guidelines of the Living Building Institute led to the selection of the site, the development of the urban framework and the design of the intervention. By combining these theories with a programmatic intervention, which was derived from the site and themes, the end result aims to revive the community, the well-being of its members and to reinforce the existing development while ensuring ongoing rehabilitation of the ecosystem services. This intervention aspires to become a catalyst according to which all transition zones in urban environments can be transformed from eye sores and barriers to filters and activators. / Mini Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Architecture / MArch (Prof) / Unrestricted

Background: Sport is often perceived as inherently positive for sustainable development. This widespread assumption is however found to be quite normative, and the standardization of its boundaries dangerously naive. The lack of contextual specificity across the dominant schools of thought calls for a more comprehensive analysis of what different activities entail in different contexts.  Purpose: This study examines the field of sport for development through a critical lens. Different initiatives using traditional mainstream sports and lifestyle sports, seeking an array of social development objectives, are structurally and systematically unpacked, hence uncovering the attributes that shape the achievements and challenges of the projects.  Methods: Through a qualitative approach, six organisations operating in varying scopes and environments were interviewed using a semi-structured approach.  Results: The investigation pinpoints the encompassing theme of sportification as a force of change influencing the internal and external dynamics of lifestyle sports as well as traditional mainstream sports, though to a lesser extent. Several important issues emerge from the investigation, such as how the notions of focus, networks and the fundamental benefits and challenges underlying each type of sport can materialize into concrete impacts on social development.  Conclusions: A fine balance of sportification is necessary in order to gain the leverage and capital required to access the opportunities presented by organized sport yet without excessively compromising the innate social qualities of the activity.

The importance of actions towards sustainable operations and corporate social responsibility has increased over the years, and the awareness of the phenomenon has increased. Good environmental-, economic- and social actions are all essential in order to achieve sustainable development. Social sustainability as a part of sustainable development seems to be overlooked or underrepresented area in the field of sport and exercise research, especially in Finland. In this research gender equality is seen as an aspect within social sustainability, and the deeper focus is in it. In Finland, gender equality has gone far, but issues have also raised and for instance women are minority when it comes to decision-making regarding sport and physical activity. This research aims to examine and problematize how and if social sustainability, with a focus on gender equality is perceived and experienced in Finnish sport organisations and their practices. Furthermore, this study examines the role and possible potential of Finnish Olympic Committee’s guidelines regarding equality and equal opportunity in sport. The research follows a qualitative case study approach. Five people working in different Finnish sport organizations participated in the research. Semi structured written interviews were conducted to obtain data, and thematic analysis was used to interpret the data from the interviews. The concepts of social sustainability, gender equality and gender theory by Meyerson and Kolb was applied as a theoretical framework. In the Finnish sport field, social sustainability and its aspects are acknowledged and perceived important regarding responsible actions in and towards communities and society. Organizational practices are perceived equal, but issues are recognized in sport practices and sports themselves. The direction seems to be towards neutralizing gender and seeing and treating everyone as individuals over genders. Guidance is perceived important and useful, but more different level cooperation is hoped, especially when considering larger issues like gendered sports. The imbalanced numbers in representation of genders does not seem to impact on how the practices within the sport organizations are perceived. The main gender issues are caused by gender norms in sport, and in order to shape those, it requires larger push from more powerful operators.

Despite the value of public spaces for creating greater social cohesiveness, they risk not being prioritized in urban planning. This thesis aims to investigate the role of public spaces for a social sustainable urban development, focusing on equality in Linköping. The research questions concern the municipality's work, qualities and challenges regarding equal public places. Previous research highlights social sustainability based on equality and problems surrounding planning of public places. The study is based on qualitative interviews, with a politician and employees at the planning department of Linköping, and a supplementary document analysis. The results highlight the municipality's work with equal public spaces and a lack of evaluation methods. Accessibility, security and multifunctionality are important in the design of equal public places. The challenges are densification, privatization and conflicts of interest. It can be stated that Linköping’s work with the issue is reflected in previous research. However, there are development opportunities regarding citizen dialogue, evaluation methods for equal meeting places and better definitions of goals and concepts. / Offentliga mötesplatsers riskerar att bortprioriteras i den fysiska planeringen, trots sitt värde för den sociala sammanhållningen i staden. Uppsatsens syfte är att undersöka offentliga mötesplatsers roll för en socialt hållbar stadsutveckling med fokus på jämlikhet i Linköpings kommun. Frågeställningarna berör kommunens arbete, kvaliteter samt utmaningar gällande jämlika mötesplatser. Tidigare forskning lyfter främst upp social hållbarhet utifrån jämlikhet samt problematiken kring planering av offentliga mötesplatser. Frågeställningarna besvaras genom kvalitativa intervjuer med en politiker och tre tjänstepersoner från Linköpings kommun, samt en kompletterande dokumentanalys. Resultatet redovisar kommunens arbete med jämlika mötesplatser samt en brist på utvärderingsmetoder. Tillgänglighet, tillhörighet, trygghet samt mångfunktionalitet är viktiga vid utformningen av jämlika mötesplatser. Utmaningarna som betonas är förtätning, privatisering samt intressekonflikter. Det går att konstatera att den tidigare forskningen återfinns i Linköpings kommuns arbete med frågan. Dock finns det utvecklingsmöjligheter gällande medborgardialog, utvärderingsmetoder för jämlika mötesplatser samt bättre definitioner av mål och begrepp.

The social dimension of sustainability has been underdefined and under researched when compared to the fields of economic and environmental sustainability. The paper explores the difficulty in understating the concept of social sustainability and the difficulty in operationalising the concept, items discussed in interviews. Through a qualitative content analysis, the paper highlights how the concept of social sustainability is positioned within the sustainability discourse and in a conflictual relationship with the economic and environmental sustainability. The concept of social sustainability is explored in the understanding of both a traditional and a new set of values, the latter being a weak instrument in operationalising compared to the former. The role of governance in navigating the interpretation of social sustainability is explored, with particular focus on policies as the result of decision-making process in governance. Partnerships structures are emphasised as an answer to incorporating social sustainability components of equity, empowerment, representation, and inclusion in policymaking. Urban regeneration is explored as an opportunity to change at local level, and EU policies are presented to highlight the discourse of urban regeneration to be more inclusive of social sustainability themes. Lastly, the case study of Leipzig East suggests the local authorities’ means to create a more socially sustainable governance structure during urban regeneration programmes. The case study shows strong local leadership and attention to power sharing during partnership schemes which involve public, private, and civic actors alike. The paper shows how Leipzig’s partnerships for urban regeneration fostered the creation of a more inclusive, democratic environment for both governance and residents alike.

Children and youth’s involvement in participatory urban planning processes is a phenomenon that is given increased attention by planning actors and stakeholders, as well as it is gaining space in research regarding environmental- and social sustainability. This thesis research examines how children and youth’s participation is defined, and implemented, in the two major Swedish cities of Stockholm and Gothenburg. The main challenges, and current possibilities, for planning professionals in the two cities are explored. Drawing on qualitative interviews with experienced planning professionals, and relevant documents, I analyze current issues with defining and implementing children and youth’s participation in the practice of urban planning. Discerning participation from consultation, or simply asking about children and youth’s opinions, is surrounded by some confusion. This occurs in the phase of defining and implementing children and youth’s participation, in both theory and practice. There are also factors in the formal institutional context which pose challenges to implementation, since time frames, budgets, and resources to develop knowledge and competence are limited. Other challenges planners face relates to ways in which they can use the information collected when engaging children and youth, and how to provide feedback to participants as a part of daily practice. Participatory planning projects allow for learning to take place, inclusive of planners, children and youth. Children and youth contribute with new perspectives and insight about their surroundings, which are important to include in urban planning. Participatory processes enable them to develop skills of becoming community builders and democratic citizens.

Much of the existing literature on the social aspects of sustainability in the supply chain has focused on dyadic buyer-supplier relationships. However, supply chains are much more extensive, featuring multi-tiered systems consisting of many interconnected sequential and parallel dyadic relationships; therefore, a more expansive and holistic approach to exploring the management and integration of social sustainability standards across the extended supply chain is desirable. This research attempts to help fill this void and considers the extent to which a series of sequential upstream and downstream supply chain partners, rather than only a focal organization’s immediate suppliers and buyers, influence the formulation process of the social aspects of a sustainability strategy and the deployment of associated practices across the extended supply chain. Findings in the literature indicate that, inter alia, sustainability efforts in the supply chain are likely to be guided by stakeholders’ sustainability desires/requirements, the geographical location of buyers and suppliers and the associated sustainability enforcement regulations and cultural norms, and the volume of trade between the buyer and supplier. This paper uses the results gleaned from a review of the literature to propose a conceptual framework for selection of sustainability strategy across the multi-tiered supply chain. Finally, we introduce a conceptual approach to the process of implementing and deploying the social aspects of sustainability strategies and practices across the supply chain using an integrated social-sustainability information management system (ISIMS).

Due to globalization and influx, Sweden is facing the challenge of fostering socially inclusive and non-segregated cities. To tackle this challenge, the implementation of social sustainability in urban development projects is crucial. Therefore, this study examines how leadership is perceived to facilitate this process. For this purpose, the authors propose a leadership approach consisting of three aspects (i.e., Communication of Vision, Stakeholder Engagement, Adaptation to the Transition Process) and a framework that makes social sustainability tangible in an urban context. The context of this descriptive case-study was Drottninghög, a multicultural district in Helsingborg, which was the focus of an ongoing urban development project during the conduction of this thesis. The study made use of a qualitative approach, consisting of semi-structured interviews with leaders and community members in Drottninghög and unobtrusive field observations. The data were analyzed using a directed content analysis. Among the main findings were the importance of the use of diverse communication strategies and channels and continuous information loops, to adequately reach all stakeholders while communicating the vision; the significance of empowering stakeholders to actively engage in the community by offering appropriate and diverse activities and creating a personal atmosphere as well as including stakeholders as early as possible in the processes; and the value of leaders being flexible and adaptive to individual needs through inside knowledge and personal involvement when supporting stakeholders to adapt to the transition process.