Mobility and sustainability practices in Viva, a sustainable residential building complex in Gothenburg, Sweden

Paper in proceeding, 2022

In a relative central area in Gothenburg Sweden there is a tenant-owner complex with 132 apartments. The complex was built in 2018-2019 with the ambition of being Sweden's most innovative and sustainable apartment building complex. Sustainability, in all its dimensions, guided the construction process and design from installing solar panels, energy storage facilities, facilitating recycling and providing sharing opportunities both for space and goods. From a mobility perspective no residential parking places were constructed and instead tenants are offered access to mobility services such as electric car-sharing, electric bikes and cargo bikes, larger bicycle garages and facilities for bike repair and care. We have followed the residents of Viva through interviews and surveys, before and after moving in the apartment, to assess the impact of moving to Viva has had on their sustainability practices with a special focus on mobility. We find that not having any residential parking does not imply that it is a car free housing. Both the before and after surveys show that there is a fair share of households that have retained a car, some of which reducing from previously having two. From the survey results we don't find that gender or environmental interest has any correlation with deciding to keep the car. However, car owners are slightly older than those without cars. From the interviews we find that other issues such as the ease of making everyday life work are more influential. One household with kids, e.g., was prepared to pay for parking in an adjacent parking lot for a year prior to the move, to be sure that they could retain the car. While another household, also with kids, found a large freedom in not owning a car and the financial opportunity to purchase an apartment in a relative central part of town. In general, the tenants perceive that Viva has facilitated a more sustainable living.