Abstract
The city of Oslo, the Norwegian capital, is in the midst of executing a huge urban waterfront project in Bjørvika. This project has triggered several years of public debate. A key concept in the development project is “sustainable development”, but it is unclear what the concept implies. Several interests are involved which emphasise different goals and different values. In this article, a discourse analysis of the concept, in this particular context, is conducted. Five discourses are identified, which overlap as well as collide. Special attention is paid to how the respective discourses are related to a neoliberal form of government, and as part of the analysis, a discussion of how cultural heritage is used to increase the city’s attractiveness is undertaken. This article concludes that planning for a sustainable use of cultural heritage should imply establishing a reflective cultural policy not subsumed under economic sustainability.
Highlights
The Fjord City project embodies the most extensive urban development scheme in the Norwegian capital since 1624, when the old town burned down and the city centre was moved further west
I shall investigate this debate and conduct a discourse analysis of a concept that occurs with some frequency in planning documents, newspaper reports and opinions expressed by the public – the concept of “sustainable development”, termed “sustainability”, and “sustainable urban development”
Regarding what status these discourse-coalitions have, I will use an epistemological understanding of discourse corresponding to Norman Fairclough’s “Critical Discourse Analysis” (CDA)
Summary
The Fjord City project embodies the most extensive urban development scheme in the Norwegian capital since 1624, when the old town burned down and the city centre was moved further west. The present plan involves freeing up waterfront areas for housing, commerce, culture and recreation. The Oslo Opera House, home of The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) building were among the first to be completed in the Bjørvika area. All have to comply with the political regulations and guidelines, as well as accommodating different social interests arising from the general public and from various interest groups. The purpose is to develop a critical reflection of the variety of meanings and uses of the concept, in order to address some challenges to urban planning in general and in Oslo in particular. The way the concept is used in different contexts reflects urban planning policies and ideologies. This analysis is not motivated by semiotic curiosity only. The aim is to render visible the blind spots in urban planning, and thereby contribute to an improved ground for decision making
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