Bakgrunn og erfaring
I investigate the design of climate-adapted and seasonally oriented buildings and urban spaces, with a particular focus on winter conditions. The research includes topics of cold climate building technology, climatological methods in areaplanning and urban design, and 'seasonal thinking' in development and management of cities.
At large, my research encompasses society/technology/climate issues in urban settings with a historical and interdisciplinary perspective. My research contributes to Arctic Urban History, Urban Environmental History, and contemporary perspectives on cold climate, seasons and weather in cities. My research covers the post-WW2 period, but my research interest also include periods prior to this.
My research also covers policy prosesses, municipal planning, and the role of science and technology in society (STS) within the mentioned topics.
I am part of AHO's Arctic research group, but my research interest also span the Alpine regions.
I have previous work experience with areaplanning of winter destinations and ski-resorts, as well as work with traditional architecture and heritage from Innlandet, Norway.
Forskning
Becoming a Winter City: Exploring the Global Winter Cities Phenomenon through the Lens of Arctic Norwegian Winter-Adapted Urban Design and Seasonality
The developmental history of Arctic cities and settlements is underexplored and undertheorized. Urban studies frequently overlook these urban environments due to their distance from southern urban centres and the perception that their Arctic characteristics render them non-urban. However, the active participation of these cities in the global Winter Cities movement from the 1980s onward highlights the need to reconsider their role in broader processes of globalisation and urban economic transformation in the late 20th century. Winter City design and policy proliferated across northern regions, engaging around 200 cities and bringing together architects, planners, experts, and decision-makers to advocate for a 'think winter' approach to architecture, planning, urban design and development. This dissertation offers new insights into this phenomenon, positioning Arctic cities at the forefront.
Utilising theories and methods from Urban Design, Urban Policy Mobilities and Science and Technology Studies, this project follows the 'Winter City' urban phenomenon across the Arctic and beyond, concentrating on the actors, mediating elements, and dynamic processes involved in shaping ‘authentic’ winter-adapted urban environments. To address the central question, “How did the Winter Cities phenomenon manifest in Arctic urban design and development?” this study specifically examines the city of Tromsø as a key case, investigating the translation and implementation of the Winter City model in the Norwegian Arctic. By providing interdisciplinary perspectives on the production of climate-adapted urban environments, this project emphasises the interconnections between seasons, space, technology, culture, economy and politics. In doing so, it contributes to the broader discussions on urban environmental history and the future of Arctic cities in the context of climatic and seasonal change.