The Just Communities Blog

The Tale of Two Zip Codes

A short video detailing life expectancy differences between people based on the built environment, policies, and access to health resources in their neighborhood, often due to racial and economic discrimination. The video shows how zip code can be more influential to health than genetic code.

Augustenborg, Sweden

In 1998, the Augustenborg district in Malmö, Sweden, initiated a renovation process through an urban renewal program at the community and household scales. They focused at the household level to improve energy efficiency, create green roofs, and improve access to recycling facilities.

Stockholm Royal Seaport

Formerly a brownfield site, the Stockholm Royal Seaport is designed to be a world-class waterfront urban district with a strong focus on sustainability. When completed in 2030, it will provide 10,000 apartments and 30,000 workspaces. The Stockholm Royal Seaport aims to be a diverse neighborhood combining offices and climate-adapted housing with a green inner-city character.

Hammarby Sjöstad, Sweden

The Hammarby Sjöstad area was originally intended to be an olympic village for Stockholm’s application to the 2004 summer Olympics. Instead, Hammarby Sjöstad is now the result of a long process of converting a brownfield area into a sustainable waterfront residential neighborhood.