OBOS is one of the Nordic region’s largest member-owned housing developers with almost 500,000 members in Norway and Sweden. Since the start in 1927, we have delivered over 150,000 homes in Sweden where we operate through our brands OBOS, Myresjöhus, and SmålandsVillan. We are driven by our vision which is to develop the society of the future and fulfill housing dreams.
- THE MAKING OF A SMARTER CITY
OBOS
“At OBOS, we focus on double value creation, that is, what’s good for us shall also be good for people, the environment, and climate in the areas where we’re active.”
– Ola Pettersson, H22 project leader at OBOS
Why are you choosing to be an H22 partner?
Skåne, situated in the densely populated and connected region of Greater Copenhagen, is a strategically important and prioritised region for OBOS as it’s Sweden’s second biggest labour market area and shows continuous growth. At OBOS, we focus on double value creation, that is, what’s good for us shall also be good for people, the environment, and climate in the areas where we’re active. To achieve this, sustainability and innovation are vital cornerstones in our entire operation. We share these values and priorities with the City of Helsingborg and we see the partnership with H22 as an opportunity to show how, through collaboration, we can make a difference together – locally, regionally, and nationally.
In what way will your involvement contribute to the development of Helsingborg and other cities?
The core business of OBOS involves housing development, both in cities and rural areas. In these processes, the focus is always on quality of life and the big picture. In order to build cities and communities where people thrive and feel safe, and where public health is promoted, it’s important to consider several different aspects. At OBOS, we work to ensure appealing architecture and neighbourhood service, to safeguard pedestrians and cyclists, to create public meeting places, but also to preserve and promote nature and biodiversity. At OBOS, we also believe that residential areas which are designed with social sustainability in mind can contribute both to reduced exclusion and increased equality. Through innovative collaborations within H22, we hope to be able to show exactly this.
What does a smarter city mean to you?
A smart home is a part of a smart city. A smart city is a city that makes the most of the possibilities created by innovative technology to simplify everyday life for its residents. A smart city has solutions to the energy challenges we face and has effective sustainable solutions in terms of infrastructure. A smart city focuses on people and their well-being and safety, and it allows new tech and digital solutions to be a facilitator. A smart city is for all people regardless of, for example, age, gender, or ethnicity. A smart city uses innovative means to build social values, such as a sense of safety and comfort, into big and small residential areas.
What challenges does your organisation aim to solve within the context of the H22 initiative?
Issues that concern the climate but also the need for good, sustainable homes where well-being, safety, and integration are essential parameters. Through the H22 initiative, OBOS wants to create a dialogue for these issues together with our own colleagues, partners, municipalities, and political decision makers, but also reach out to the wider public with values that mean something – for real. OBOS wants to show that as a developer, it’s possible to think outside the box in how you operate to achieve double the value creation and exponential effects.
