Lisbet Harboe

• Hemmersam, Peter & Harboe, Lisbet (2025). Arctic urban space affordances: Discussing residential urban design in Greenland/Kalaallit Nunaat. Urban Design International. ISSN 1357-5317. doi: 10.1057/s41289-025-00294-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  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.

• Harboe, Lisbet & Hoelscher, Kristian (2023). Architecture, politics and peacebuilding in Medellín. Peacebuilding. ISSN 2164-7259. p. 403–424. doi: 10.1080/21647259.2023.2211835. Full text in Research Archive
• Geirbo, Hanne Cecilie; Harboe, Lisbet; Hoelscher, Kristian & Petersen, Sobah Abbas (2022). Interpretive Flexibility as an Approach to Designing Inclusive Urban Space: Learning from Medellín and Beirut. Nordic Journal of Urban Studies. 2(2), p. 141–160. doi: 10.18261/njus.2.2.4. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In this article, we examine how urban design can promote inclusion by simultaneously accommodating multipleexpressions of interests and identities and providing common ground for interaction between different social andcultural groups. Borrowing from science and technology studies, we use the concept of ‘interpretive flexibility’, whichrecognises multiple and incongruent perspectives as a resource in design and extend this by drawing on the architec-tural notion of ‘generality’, which supports the ability of a design to accommodate change in usage without a changein its properties. We illustrate the potential of interpretive flexibility as an approach to designing inclusive urban spacewith a comparative case study of Medellín, Colombia and Beirut, Lebanon. This approach treats architectural consid-erations about materials and form as an integral part of planning interventions for social change. In discussing thisapproach, we identify key insights from our cases and their relevance for Nordic and other urban contexts.

• Hoelscher, Kristian; Geirbo, Hanne Cecilie; Harboe, Lisbet & Petersen, Sobah Abbas (2022). What Can We Learn from Urban Crisis? Sustainability. 14(2). doi: 10.3390/su14020898. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The irreversible transition towards urban living entails complex challenges and vulnerabilities for citizens, civic authorities, and the management of global commons. Many cities remain beset by political, infrastructural, social, or economic fragility, with crisis arguably becoming an increasingly present condition of urban life. While acknowledging the intense vulnerabilities that cities can face, this article contends that innovative, flexible, and often ground-breaking policies, practices, and activities designed to manage and overcome fragility can emerge in cities beset by crisis. We argue that a deeper understanding of such practices and the knowledge emerging from contexts of urban crisis may offer important insights to support urban resilience and sustainable development. We outline a simple conceptual representation of the interrelationships between urban crisis and knowledge production, situate this in the context of literature on resilience, sustainability, and crisis, and present illustrative examples of real-world practices. In discussing these perspectives, we reflect on how we may better value, use, and exchange knowledge and practice in order to address current and future urban challenges.

• Harboe, Lisbet & Geirbo, Hanne Cecilie (2021). Interdisciplinarity on site: Exploring the urban interventions ‘Unidades de Vida Articulada’ in Medellín. In Stender, Marie; Bech-Danielson, Claus & Hagen, Aina Landsverk (Ed.), Architectural Anthropology: Exploring Lived Space. Routledge. ISSN 9780367555757. p. 109–121. Full text in Research Archive
• Hemmersam, Peter; Harboe, Lisbet & Morrison, Andrew (2018). Building the Brief : Developing a Place-specific Urban Practice. In Lorentsen, Elise & Torp, Kristine A. (Ed.), Formation - Architectural Education in a Nordic Perspective. Architectural Publisher. ISSN 9788792700247. p. 200–216. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2015). Tyin tegnestue Architects. Integrating On-Site Education and Practice. Architectural Design. ISSN 0003-8504. 85(2), p. 82–87. doi: 10.1002/ad.1880. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2013). "All of the Above": The Architect as Social Agent. In Yvenes, Marianne & Lunde, Anne Marit (Ed.), Under 40. Ung norsk arkitektur 2013. Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og design. ISSN 9788281540798. p. 15–25. Full text in Research Archive

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• Harboe, Lisbet; Holm, Erling Dokk & Hemmersam, Peter (2024). Praksis og paradokser i bærekraftig byutvikling. Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i Oslo. ISBN 9788254703731. 132 p. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet; Hemmersam, Peter & Holm, Erling Dokk (2022). Nabolag - AHOs urbane utredninger 2022. Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i Oslo. ISBN 9788254703540. 206 p. Full text in Research Archive

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• Harboe, Lisbet; Holm, Erling Dokk & Brunsell, Harsvik Rina (2024). Strategisk byledelse - å styre det ustyrlige. Arkitektur N. ISSN 1504-7628. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2023). Strategisk byledelse. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2023). Kan strategisk byledelse være en måte å få bedre prosesser og resultater på i byutviklingen? Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2023). Åpning av bymiljøarkivet. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2023). Hva skal vi med arkivene? Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2023). Her er 18 toppledere på kurs i byutvikling. [Journal]. Kommunal rapport. Full text in Research Archive
• Hemmersam, Peter & Harboe, Lisbet (2023). Evolving Colonialism and Urban Space Design in Kalaallit Nunat (Greenland). Full text in Research Archive
• Hemmersam, Peter; Holm, Erling Dokk & Harboe, Lisbet (2022). Introduksjon. In Harboe, Lisbet (Eds.), Nabolag - AHOs urbane utredninger 2022. Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i Oslo. ISSN 9788254703540. p. 10–17. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet & Holm, Erling Dokk (2022). Arendal har en rekke nylig vedtatte reguleringsplaner som bryter med gode prinsipper for en attraktiv by. Agderposten. ISSN 0805-3723. Full text in Research Archive
• Geirbo, Hanne Cecilie; Harboe, Lisbet; Hoelscher, Kristian & Petersen, Sobah Abbas (2021). Crisis as condition and learning from urban crisis. Full text in Research Archive
• Geirbo, Hanne Cecilie; Harboe, Lisbet; Hoelscher, Kristian & Petersen, Sobah Abbas (2021). Kriseutsatte byer kan vise vei mot bærekraft. Bybloggen, OsloMet, https://blogg.hioa.no/byer/. Full text in Research Archive
• Haarstad, Håvard; Hanssen, Gro Sandkjær; Andersen, Bengt; Harboe, Lisbet; Ljunggren, Jørn & Røe, Per Gunnar [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). Nordic responses to urban challenges of the 21st century. Nordic Journal of Urban Studies. 1(1), p. 4–18. doi: 10.18261/issn.2703-8866-2021-01-01. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Cities and urbanism have become increasingly central to social change because of their dominance in culture and politics and as a result of massive urbanization. In line with such developments, ‘urban studies’ has grown into a broad research field that embraces study across disciplines within social sciences and urban planning. The central idea behind this journal is that a strengthened Nordic community of urban scholars can advance the debates within this field of study. In this editorial article, we elaborate on the scholarly foundation that provides the starting point for the journal and critically reflect on how urban experiences in the Nordic countries may provide responses and solutions to challenges of the 21st century. In doing so, we trace some of the research traditions in Nordic societies that can underpin the scholarly advances this journal seeks to make. Finally, we outline an interdisciplinary urbanist approach that we aspire to develop through this journal and point towards research topics that may be well served by further exploration from a Nordic perspective.

• Haarstad, Håvard; Hanssen, Gro Sandkjær; Andersen, Bengt; Harboe, Lisbet; Ljunggren, Jørn & Røe, Per Gunnar [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Nordic responses to urban challenges of the 21st century. Nordic Journal of Urban Studies. 1(1), p. 4–18. doi: 10.18261/issn.2703-8866-2021-01-01. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Cities and urbanism have become increasingly central to social change because of their dominance in culture and politics and as a result of massive urbanization. In line with such developments, ‘urban studiesʼ has grown into a broad research field that embraces study across disciplines within social sciences and urban planning. The central idea behind this journal is that a strengthened Nordic community of urban scholars can advance the debates within this field of study. In this editorial article, we elaborate on the scholarly foundation that provides the starting point for the journal and critically reflect on how urban experiences in the Nordic countries may provide responses and solutions to challenges of the 21st century. In doing so, we trace some of the research traditions in Nordic societies that can underpin the scholarly advances this journal seeks to make. Finally, we outline an interdisciplinary urbanist approach that we aspire to develop through this journal and point towards research topics that may be well served by further exploration from a Nordic perspective.

• Harboe, Lisbet & Hoelscher, Kristian (2020). Reconceptualising and responding to urban crises: Researcher-practioner reflections on innovation, culture and transformative urban practices. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet; Hoelscher, Kristian & Geirbo, Hanne Cecilie (2019). Exchanging knowledge of urban sustainability: ON URBAN REPAIRS. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet & Holm, Erling Dokk (2019). De store kulturinstitusjonenes betydning for byutviklingen: Bygge nytt eller utvikle eksisterende lokaler? Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2019). Om medvirkning i byutvikling. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet; Hoelscher, Kristian & Geirbo, Hanne Cecilie (2019). Learning from Medellin: Architecture, beauty and the politics of transformation. Full text in Research Archive
• Hemmersam, Peter & Harboe, Lisbet (2019). Place-specific Arctic urbanism. In Larsen, Janike Kampevold; Hemmersam, Peter & Morrison, Andrew (Ed.), Future North Svalbard. Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i Oslo. ISSN 9788254703274. p. 29–33. Full text in Research Archive
• Skjulhaug, Marianne & Harboe, Lisbet (2019). Desentralisert boligfellesskap. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Det blir SOL - husk mat og drikke! Vi gleder oss! Tur og introduksjoner ledes av Kaspar Øines Skjulhaug, Marianne Skjulhaug og Lisbet Harboe Som en del av Oslo Arkitekturtriennale inviterer vi til diskusjoner om hjemmet i Norge i 2019. Dette eventet handler om et desentralisert boligfelleskap og er en av tre diskusjoner som tar for seg tre forskjellige hjemrelaterte temaer i et mulig nedvekstsamfunn. DESENTRALISERTE BOLIGFELLESKAP vil se nærmere på hvordan et familienettverk kan organisere seg og hjelpe hverandre til å etablere mer bærekraftige boformer. Vi vil presentere det desentraliserte bolignettverket som et alternativ til dagens boligdiskusjon om kollektiv, sosiale boligbyggeri, arv og eie/leie. Tur til Liggern (hyttekollektiv) i Nordmarka. Målet med turen er å ha felles diskusjon rundt kollektive boformer/eierformer/løsninger. Turen er ledet av turguider fra The Family og det vil bli mat i løpet av eventet, ta med matpakke og drikke. Varighet ca. 8 timer. Vi møtes på Oslo Bussterminal og tar buss 09.23 til Skar, billettpris 36 kroner, reisetid 52 minutter Ankomst Skar kvart over ti. Fra Skar til Liggern går vi sammen 4,7 km på sti, med ca 300 høydemeter stigningpå sti. Avgang Liggern ca. 15.00 tilbake samme vei til Skar, 4,7 km gange. Buss fra Skar 16.17 til Oslo Bussterminal, Billettpris 36 kroner, reisetid 52 minutter. Ankomst Oslo Bussterminal 17.09 Vi går på sti, så lenge det er tørt i været holder det med joggesko. Ta med matpakke og drikke til turen. Se også to andre hjemlige diskusjoner: HJEMMENES ROT https://www.facebook.com/events/506431629923683/ HJEMMENES SOLLYS https://www.facebook.com/events/380505749552619/ ENGLISH Just like in 1940, the year "Nye hjem i Norge" was published, we are facing a challenging and unpredictable future. We acknowledge the need to change our way of life, but we do not know all the answers. We invite you to our home to discuss home-related issues that need to be challenged today: HOUSING ECONOMY DECENTRALIZED SHARED HOUSING Today, the situation is that a large percentage of the older generation – the generation "Nye hjem i Norge" was aimed at – are owners of highly valuable property, while their grandchildren, or newcomers to this country, have to take on debt in a high-priced housing market, pay dizzyingly high rent or be without a home. The goal is to turn this challenge into a solution: How can the generations help each other? «The home-making phase» has become a demanding stage of life. Even though the number of young people in the housing market is very high, the increasingly high prices and debt levels over the last decades have left the new generation increasingly exposed. The consequence is not only a life of debt with all its implied limitations but also a standard of living that could have been far better. Our goal is to obliterate this phase. That is why we have designed a cooperative model – a form of decentralized shared housing that unites the young and the old and opens up for a different financing option – and even a different way of life. DECENTRALIZED SHARED HOUSING will look at how a family network can help establish more sustainable housing arrangements. We will present the decentralized housing network as an alternative to the current housing debate on shared apartments, social house- building, heritage and owning versus renting.

• Harboe, Lisbet; Geirbo, Hanne Cecilie & Hoelscher, Kristian (2018). 2 Cities - 2 Ciudades | Oslo & Medellín forum. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet & Aspen, Jonny (2017). Hva arkitekturen kan gjøre og ikke kan gjøre. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2017). Emerging Arctic. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2017). Longyearbyen: Tourism Restaged. In Berre, Nina (Eds.), Arkitekturårbok 2016/17. Pax Forlag. ISSN 9788253039114. p. 26–27. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet; Røe, Per Gunnar; Bergsli, Heidi; Hanssen, Gro Sandkjær & Skjulhaug, Marianne (2017). Vi trenger en offentlig og nyansert byutviklingsdebatt. p. 23–23. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet; Hemmersam, Peter & Morrison, Andrew (2017). Developing a Place Specific Urban Practice in the Arctic. In Harboe, Lisbet; Hemmersam, Peter & Ip, Morgan Alexander (Ed.), Borderlands Arctic City Urban Design Master Studio 2017. Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i Oslo. Full text in Research Archive
• Hemmersam, Peter & Harboe, Lisbet (2016). Place Specific Arctic Urbanism. Full text in Research Archive
• Hemmersam, Peter & Harboe, Lisbet (2016). Arctic City. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet; Hoelscher, Kristian; Geirbo, Hanne Cecilie; Petersen, Sobah Abbas & Christie, Ingrid Nytun (2016). Hvilken vei skal byene gå? p. 6–6. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2016). Both idealistic and pragmatic: Young architectural practices. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Session: "The Architecture and the Capital" Paper title: "Both idealistic and pragmatic: Young architectural practices" In 1973 the architectural theorist Manfredo Tafuri declared it impossible for even the avant-garde architect to operate outside of the logic of capitalism. Architects should therefore abandon their utopian ambitions and devote themselves solely to designing society's physical environs. For Tafuri, this was the drama of contemporary architecture: "to see architecture obliged to return to pure architecture, to form without Utopia; in the best cases, to sublime uselessness". This paper will explore the work of contemporary young Norwegian architects who, as several in their generation, are driven by a social engagement. They explore the possibilities of more a pro-active role in order to address potentials and shortages in specific urban situations while realising improvements, changes and alternatives. Tafuri's dichotomy is not relevant and instead these architects and urbanists oppose the notion of purity in developing architectural projects and intervening in urban environments, pragmatically and idealistically pursuing series of stepwise changes. Their practical approaches thereby echo theoretical perspectives by Susan Fainstein presented in "The Just City" - or the other way around. These architects do not grieve over lost ground, but search for cracks, openings, and opportunities, challenging capitalistic hegemonies, yet, at the same time operating within it. Norwegian practices such as Heimstadlære, Eriksen & Skajaa Arkitekter and Lala Tøyen, hold a design confidence that seems not to be threatened by engagements in multidisciplinary collaborations or public participation. This paper seek to critically discuss the contributions by these kind of practices: What do these practices provide and what do they evade?

• Harboe, Lisbet (2016). Sosialt engasjement i samtidsarkitekturen. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet & Hemmersam, Peter (2016). Arctic city: Developing a place specific Arctic urbanism. Full text in Research Archive
• Hemmersam, Peter & Harboe, Lisbet (2016). Place Specific Arctic Urbanism. Full text in Research Archive
• Hemmersam, Peter & Harboe, Lisbet (2016). Arctic Architectures. Full text in Research Archive
• Hemmersam, Peter & Harboe, Lisbet (2016). Urban Landscape Hybrids in Arctic Cities. Full text in Research Archive
• Hemmersam, Peter & Harboe, Lisbet (2016). Place Specific Arctic Urbanism. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2015). The (changing) role of the architect in todays society. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2015). Playful and serious: Initiatives by architects today. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2015). Playful and Serious: Initiatives by Architects of Today. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2015). Sensous abundance in material scarcity. In Kristine, Guzman (Eds.), Tyin Tegnestue IN DETAIL. MUSAC Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Castila y Leon,. ISSN 9788492572410. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2014). Familiernes Hus i Tuujuk. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet & Aasarød, Håkon Matre (2014). Familiernes Hus, Etape 1, Tuujuk. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2013). Teori og praksis "Ja, takk. Begge deler.". Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2012). Social Engagement in Contemporary European Architecture. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2012). Generous dissidence. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2012). Architecture of Concequence: Sosialt engasjement før og nå. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2012). Den konkrete situasjonen: ”Kritisk nærhet” versus kritisk distanse. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2012). Architecture for Society. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2012). Steg mot en fantastisk värd. Arkitektur : byggnad, interiör, plan, landskap. ISSN 0004-2021. p. 60–65. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2010). Extraordinary reality: Anne Lacaton interviewed by Lisbet Harboe. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2008). Actions and interactions, A Study of Two Contemporary Practices. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet & Hemmersam, Peter (2024). ARCTIC BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION (ABC) Arkitektur og Byrum: Delprojektrapport – Udkast 20.03.2023. Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU). Full text in Research Archive
• Suyama, Bianca; Amaro, Gerardo Lopez; Geirbo, Hanne Cecilie; Harboe, Lisbet; Hoelscher, Kristian & Martins, Daniel [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Learning Flexibility - Pathways to Urban Transformation. NA. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2018). Hvor smart? En samling undersøkelser og diskusjoner av digitaliseringens betydning for norske byer. Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i Oslo. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet; Geirbo, Hanne Cecilie; Hoelscher, Kristian; Petersen, Sobah Abbas & Christie, Ingrid Nytun (2018). Norske floker - urbane utfordringer. Rapport fra forskningsprosjektet Learning Flexibility 2018. Learning Flexibility: Complexity, Innovation & Inter-Urban Knowledge Transfer. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Et stort demografisk skifte til urbane levesett og den økende urbaniseringen gir både muligheter og utfordringer. Blant de største utfordringene kan vi nevne ressursknapphet klimaendringer og byvekst, sammen med mer komplekse og sammensatte samfunn. Selv i høyt utviklede og urbaniserte land som Norge er det viktig å ta tak i framtidens utfordringer i dag for å sikre en bærekraftig byutvikling og levelige byer for senere generasjoner. Denne rapporten peker på noen av hovedutfordringene for norske byer. Disse vil trolig vil kreve økt oppmerksomhet nå og i de kommende årene. Gjennom samtaler og diskusjoner med berørte parter belyser rapporten spørsmål knyttet til byutvikling, energi, styresett og deltakelse i norske byer de neste tre tiårene, samt hvordan man kan angripe disse. Å utforske fleksibilitet som utgangspunkt for å takle hurtig og uforutsigbar endring har stått sentralt i samtalene. Ved å diskutere hvordan fleksibilitet kan arte seg på forskjellige områder som byutvikling, energi, styresett og medvirkning, kan vi trekke opp forbindelser mellom disse områdene.

• Harboe, Lisbet; Hemmersam, Peter & Ip, Morgan Alexander (2017). Borderlands Arctic City Urban Design Master Studio 2017. Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i Oslo. Full text in Research Archive
• Hemmersam, Peter & Harboe, Lisbet (2015). Urban Design: Arctic City – Tasiilaq. Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i Oslo. Full text in Research Archive
• Harboe, Lisbet (2012). Social concerns in contemporary architecture : three European practices and their works. Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i Oslo. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  For some time now, architectural writers and curators have pointed to a new social engagement in contemporary architecture. What does this renewed social interest consists of, and how does it materialize? The thesis looks at contemporary practices whose works and ways of working display a distinct social commitment. Through her research, Lisbet Harboe identifies a set of shared social concerns and uncovers a diverse range of working methods discernable in today’s architectural landscape. Three architectural practices are selected for in-depth studies; Lacaton & Vassal Architectes. Fantastic Norway and Collectif Exyzt. Based on in-depth explorations of their wors and ways of working, the study investigates how these architects in-corporate social concerns into their practice and how these concerns inform their works. The study moves form practice to theory, using selected theoretical and historical references to contextualize and interpret the findings. Informed by the specificities of local situations rather than overarching theories, the studied practitioners are concerned with bottom-up viewpoints and initiatives, and a more just distribution if architectural qualities. They do not produce a “social architecture”, but create environments – physical or processual – that relate to, facilitate, and improve social life in its broadest sense. Combining pragmatic approaches and fantastic solutions, their works rely on a sense of social responsibility and hope for step-by-step change.

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