Conceptualizing ‘green’ in urban and regional planning–the cases of Oslo and Helsinki

Abstract

In recent decades, nature has been increasingly acknowledged in the urban environment for its importance to people’s well-being and quality of life, as well as for its role in building sustainable cities. The idea of nature in cities and the conceptualization of ‘green’ (e.g. green structure, green fingers, green infrastructure, parks and ecosystem services) are correlated in planning approaches. This study explores the conceptualization of green by analysing the concepts used in the two regions of Oslo and Helsinki, and by investigating their current master and regional plans through quantitative and qualitative analyses. The findings exhibit a variety of green concepts and complementary features (between planning concepts introduced earlier and newer ones). Over the years, and in the light of evolving ideas of nature, the master and regional plans of both regions have set up a multi-functionality framework, more recently influenced by ecosystem services approaches. The study contributes to understanding the evolving conceptualization of green in urban and regional planning approaches. The discussion is linked to place-specific contexts and regulatory practices, and connected–to some extent–to the wider international debate and planning ideas that incorporate nature.