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LUMES students aim to densify the city of Lund to preserve green spaces and build community

Three women and a man sitting/standing by a table. Photo.
Melissa García-Lamarca is showing LUCSUS' Theo Hagman-Rogowski how to place notes on the map of Lund.

LUMES student Carolina Sandoval Marmolejo organised a workshop on how to densify Lund during Lund Sustainability Week together with fellow student Sari Nomura. With their stand in the city centre, they aimed to start a conversation on how the public would like to see their buildings and public spaces used. Passers-by were invited to place sticky notes on a map of Lund on spaces and areas they think could be used differently or for multiple purposes.

With more than ten years’ experience as an architect in Mexico before starting LUCSUS' international masters' programme in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science (LUMES), the topic of city planning is very close to Carolina Sandoval Marmolejo’s heart. For Carolina and Sari, it is important to challenge the need for new houses and spaces, as their demand on land can lead to a reduction of green areas in a city.

– We are interested in how already existing buildings can become multifunctional and available to several groups and activities. This approach enables the preservation of more green spaces and parks here in Lund, says Carolina Sandoval Marmolejo, who is in her second year of LUMES.

She explains that a multifunctional building can be an office that is used as a dance space early morning or late evenings. Another example is a school gym that can be used for singing, or empty rooms for language lessons. 

Using this “green densification” approach within planning could greatly reduce the need for completely new premises and can also support community building if different groups share the same space, she says.

– We need to start thinking differently about planning in order to foster community and to build a healthy green city, says Carolina Sandoval Marmolejo.

Three women at a table. Photo.
Melissa García-Lamarca, Carolina Sandoval Marmolejo and Sari Nomura is pictured at their stand in the city centre of Lund.

Sari Nomura, who is originally from Japan, explains that the event builds on a LUMES Knowledge to Action student project where they examined the potential of multifunctional buildings in Lund. For her it is important to involve citizens in Lund as they have first-hand knowledge of buildings or empty parking lots that could become multi-use spaces. 

– This was a great opportunity to exchange ideas and learn more about what citizens need and want, says Sari Nomura.

Melissa García-Lamarca, associate senior lecturer at LUCSUS, supported Carolina and Sari during the workshop. 

– To reduce carbon emissions in cities, we need to rethink how urban space is used and developed. Green densification also needs to consider who spaces are created for, to avoid green gentrification and ensure accessible and green cities for all residents, says Melissa García-Lamarca.

The event was part of Sustainability Week 2025. Sustainability week is an annual event in Lund organised as a joint venture by Lund University and Lund municipality. The week serves as a platform for bringing together ideas, cross-disciplinary collaborations, raising public awareness and for inspiring sustainable change.

Read more about Sustainability Week (Swedish)

Read more about LUMES