.jpg)
Tyréns to lead major research project transforming parking into vibrant urban life
Tyréns has been awarded funding through ShiftSwedens Impact innovation: Designing the places of the future for attractive, accessible and sustainable communities and will serve as the coordinator and lead partner for a new research project focused on redefining how urban space is used. The ambition is clear: to move from car-dominated environments to vibrant, inclusive and transport-efficient urban places.
From parking to urban life
The project, From Parking to Urban Life – guided by the Urban Life Factor, will develop and test a data-driven methodology that enables cities to better understand and transform spaces with an excess of parking into places where people want to be.
By combining advanced urban modelling with the Urban Life Factor methodology, the project will identify where there is an oversupply of parking, and how those spaces can be used to strengthen public life, increase safety and support more equitable urban environments.
“This project allows us to take a holistic approach to the role of parking in cities and demonstrate how we can transform these spaces into something that creates real value for people. As coordinator, we are bringing together the expertise needed to turn insight into action.”
- Mimmi Grybb, Project Manager, Tyréns
Turning complexity into actionable insight
Cities are constantly evolving, yet there is often a lack of structured methods for understanding the full potential of urban spaces in transition. This is the gap the project addresses.
Through its role as coordinator, Tyréns ensures that insights are not just generated but also translated into something usable. The Urban Life Factor will become a practical decision-making support tool for municipalities, enabling them to analyse scenarios, test trade-offs and make more informed choices about how space is allocated.
The outcomes will be shared through a handbook, webinars and an open toolbox, designed to support cities beyond the project itself.
Tested in real cities
The project is carried out in collaboration with Lund University, Simactis and the municipalities of Ulricehamn, Sundsvall and Örebro. Together, the partners bring academic, technical and practical perspectives into a shared effort.
Through real-world pilot environments, the methodology will be developed, challenged and refined in practice, ensuring that it works not only in theory, but in the complex reality of urban development.
Creating space for what matters
Reducing the oversupply of parking is not just about mobility. It is about unlocking space for everyday life.
By freeing up underutilised land, cities can create more room for walking, cycling, greenery and social interaction. The result is not only more efficient use of space, but also more inclusive and resilient urban environments.
.jpg)
