The role of urban atmosphere for non-work activity locations

Abstract

Urban atmospheres as emotionally perceived quality of a situation, have received limited attention in empirically based studies so far. This study applies the concept of urban atmosphere to explore what, whether and how atmospheric characteristics of different locations, mainly downtown areas but also neighbourhood centres and non-central areas, influence and are of importance for residents’ perceived quality of life. The results stem from 33 qualitative in-depth interviews conducted in the metropolitan areas of Oslo and Stavanger. Nine themes of atmospheres were identified in the interviews, referring to several common groups of both positive and negative characteristics.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Petter Næss, leader of the RESACTRA project, and to Arvid Strand, Sebastian Peters, Fitwi Wolday and Linda Dalskau for their contribution to the project.