The picture is a visualistion from above of how the Sørsida area might look in the future. It show the city of Ålesund and what appears to be a seriies of new buildings on the waterfront area.

Image from visualisation of Sorsida by Sorsida

Ålesund

Located on the picturesque Norwegian west coast in the Sunnmøre fjords, Ålesund is the largest city between Bergen and Trondheim.

About

As the largest municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Ålesund is a cultural centre and world-leading in marine and maritime industries. It has a well-established partnership between research, the private sector and, to a large degree, an engaged local population. In these partnerships, the city also commits to sustainability and its significant built heritage of aesthetically pleasing Jugendstil architecture.

In addition, Norway's largest port for fisheries is located here and the municipality is a major hub for public transport and tourism, cruise ships being a major contributor.

Re-Value(ing)

In the Re-Value partnership, Ålesund is actively working in the Sørsida area to create a sustainable and accessible urban environment contributing to urban quality and climate neutrality. In 2019, the municipality created a Special-Purpose Vehicle, “Sørsida Utvikling AS” (SUAS), a municipal company, to coordinate the development of the Sørsida waterfront district. The municipality and SUAS will use Re-Value to co-create and implement the district's transformation using data-driven approaches and story-building with the local community and other stakeholders. 

Sørsida is to be developed from an under-utilised waterfront area to become a leading example of an urban area with sustainable solutions that deliver on the environmental urgency while working with the goals for economic development and social sustainability. The development will include business premises, cultural venues, and housing. Social sustainability will be fostered by creating suitable meeting places, safe urban spaces, innovative mobility solutions, and a diverse urban environment that promotes equal opportunities for all.

As part of Re-Value, Ålesund will develop processes to support the area's development and future city plans, with a strong emphasis on collaborative urban design and planning, using culture as a vehicle — all aiming to make the urban transition towards climate neutrality truly irresistible for Ålesund and its residents.

Learn more about the effort on Sørsida’s website.

Key Numbers

6

Local partners in Re-Value

67,000

Population

88,500m2

Pilot area

Timeline

Re-Value Impact Model (Intermediate Version)

Learn how six waterfront cities are using innovative Impact Model workshops to balance climate goals with urban quality. Through stakeholder-driven collaboration,...

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Inclusiveness and Diversity Management Plan 2

This plan showcases how Re-Value cities are embracing inclusiveness and diversity through real-life stories. From revitalized public spaces in İzmir and Constanța...

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Inclusiveness and Diversity Management Plan 1

Built on local expertise and enhanced with innovative tools like the NEB Compass and CrAFt Cookbook, the plan serves as a roadmap for inclusive and transformative...

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Urban Planning and Design Approaches Portfolio (Initial Version)

Discover how nine European cities are reimagining their waterfronts to align urban quality with climate neutrality in their living Portfolio of tools, methods, and...

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Partners

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