Havsrum

Havsrum, literally “sea space” in Swedish, is a planning concept used in Sweden to describe a coastal zone that sits between land and sea and is designed as a multi-use, resilient space. The term is used in urban and regional planning discussions to emphasize public access to the coast, ecological restoration, and protection against climate-related hazards such as sea level rise and storms. The concept emerged in Swedish planning discourse during the 2010s as authorities sought ways to combine coastal protection with recreation and biodiversity.

Havsrum is not a fixed physical entity but a guiding idea for how to design and manage coastlines. Its core principles include creating permeable, hybrid landscapes that blend protective infrastructure with natural habitats, adopting blue-green infrastructure, and enabling recreational uses such as promenades, beaches, and harbors. It also involves zoning and land-use planning that allow for flexible responses to changing conditions while preserving ecological values.

Implementation often relies on integrated coastal zone management, cooperation among municipalities, county administrative boards, and national agencies, and stakeholder engagement. Practices may include restoring dunes and wetlands, locating defenses behind natural features, and designing public spaces that remain usable under flood conditions.

Critics caution that the concept can be vague, risking inadequate protection or conflicts among interests such as development, tourism, and nature conservation. Proponents argue that havsrum offers a framework for adaptive, inclusive, and ecologically sound coastal development.