From 10 to 11 June CEOs, top management teams, and Board members of Eurhonet gathered in Varberg, Sweden for our Leadership Summit, to explore together this year’s theme: “Future Neighbourhoods: shaping urban life around people”.
During these two days, we had the chance to examine the ways in which housing providers can contribute to creating spaces that are functional, but also safe, vibrant, inclusive and resilient.
What kind of place do we want to call home?
The first day started with a brief introduction from David Sandrén, Mayor of Varberg, followed by a presentation of Varbergs Bostad by its CEO Ulf Hofstedt, and an introduction to the Summit’s theme by Eurhonet President Antonio Parolini.
Charlotta Mellander, Professor of Economics at Jönköping International Business School, set the tone with reflections on why cities keep growing and what growing places often have in common: a variety of choices, beautiful spaces, strong public services, and easy access to what people need in everyday life.
Helena Bjarnegård, Director of Urban Development at Varberg’s Municipality, then brought the discussion to the local and national level, presenting Varberg’s strategic planning for its development and the development of nearby towns, as well as key insights from the Swedish national strategy for vibrant cities.
Ulf Hofstedt connected these ideas to practice, offering a glimpse into the history and regeneration process of the Sörse neighbourhood and Varbergs Bostad’s “Life Between the Blocks” strategy. This plan focuses on social sustainability, by providing attractive communal spaces, organising social activities and events and ensuring tenant dialogue and collaboration.
Visiting Sörse
The afternoon was dedicated to discovering the different steps of the regeneration of the Sörse neighbourhood.
Divided into five small groups we visited seven different parts of the process, among them the new offices of Varbergs Bostad, and learned more about six biodiversity highlights in the neighbourhood, such as insect hotels, beehives and allotment gardens.
Together we experienced in real life the main principles of “Life Between the blocks.”
What are future neighbourhoods made of?
The second day of the Summit was devoted to exploring the different ways housing providers can help neighbourhoods thrive.
After the Ordinary General Assembly, we welcomed Adnan Bainca, Founder of Unite People FC. He shared how football can be a powerful tool for bringing people together and strengthening community life in the neighbourhood. In his own words, “buildings create neighbourhoods, but connections build communities”.
Afterwards, we worked together in a workshop on the urban development of sustainable neighbourhoods, looking at the places we want future generations to grow up in and what is often missing in modern neighbourhood development.
Our closing speaker, Jonas Birgersson, internet pioneer and infrastructure visionary, introduced EnergyNet, an alternative system for energy distribution, inviting us to consider how future neighbourhoods could become more resilient and affordable in the future.
Building the neighbourhoods of the future today
After these two days, we are going home with our luggage full of new perspectives, ideas and inspiration. The neighbourhoods we are building today are those future generations will continue to live in and enjoy. Can we make them spaces truly worth living in? It is not an easy path, but these two days reminded us why it is worth taking.
A big thank you to our host, Varbergs Bostad, for the warm welcome and for bringing us together.
