Arctic urban space affordances: Discussing residential urban design in Greenland/Kalaallit Nunaat
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Greenland’s residential architecture reflects its colonial history and has been criticized for its inadequate adaptation to local conditions and culture. In contrast, the urban design practices and urban spaces remain understudied. Looking at 13 cases, this study explores residential urban space in Greenland’s two largest cities. It examines how architects and planners have conceptualized and designed the Arctic city and how residents perceive and interact with their surroundings through an affordance perspective. The article identifies six affordances of residential urban space that allow residents to engage with their surroundings in meaningful ways. The study finds that urban design in Greenland is transformed through the recontextualization of Danish and international design templates. It highlights the importance of recognizing the diversity of cultures and the evolving dispositions of users, as well as designing for a looseness of space that allows for unforeseen uses over time. Enhancing the critical awareness of the design of urban spaces and the residents’ responses can contribute to transforming urban design practices in a rapidly urbanizing postcolonial society.
Source: URBAN DESIGN International
Authors: Peter Hemmersam, Lisbet Harboe
Institution: Oslo School of Architecture and Design
Language: English
Subfield: Architecture
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,190
OpenAlex ID: W4414971129