While urban transformation aims to create better and more sustainable cities, the current urban quality of life is often neglected. This thesis develops a framework to enhance urban quality of life during such transformations. After a comprehensive literature review, a theoretical core incorporating time and transformation is established, leading to the selection of Sydhavnen in Aarhus, Denmark, as the primary case study.

The case study informs the development of three theoretical lenses: Post-industrial site transformation, Urban quality of life, and Landscape-based transformation. These lenses guide the analysis and provide a framework for improving urban quality of life during transformations.

The thesis investigates the role of landscapes in urban transformation and synthesizes findings to develop design recommendations and a toolbox for urban designers, landscape architects, and planners. It proposes four landscape-based strategies—Reuse, Porosity, Re-naturing, and Open-endedness—to enhance urban quality of life in post-industrial sites, applicable to Sydhavnen and similar sites.

Dansk

Mens bytransformation sigter mod at skabe bedre og mere bæredygtige byer, bliver den nuværende bykvalitet ofte forsømt. Denne afhandling udvikler en ramme for at forbedre bykvaliteten under sådanne transformationer. Efter en omfattende litteraturgennemgang etableres en teoretisk kerne, der inkorporerer tid og transformation, hvilket leder til valget af Sydhavnen i Aarhus, Danmark, som primær case study.

Case studiet informerer udviklingen af tre teoretiske linser: Post-industriel transformation, Bykvalitet og Landskabsbaseret transformation. Disse linser vejleder analysen og giver en ramme for at forbedre bykvaliteten under transformationer.

Afhandlingen undersøger landskabets rolle i bytransformation og syntetiserer fundene for at udvikle designanbefalinger og et værktøjssæt for bydesignere, landskabsarkitekter og planlæggere. Den foreslår fire landskabsbaserede strategier—Genbrug, Porøsitet, Re-naturering og Åbenhed—for at forbedre bykvaliteten i post-industrielle områder, anvendelig for Sydhavnen og lignende områder.