Arctic Spine: Urban Planning in the Remote/Arctic Settlements
(2026) ASBM01 20261Department of Architecture and Built Environment
- Abstract
- This thesis investigates the relationship between urban planning, climate adaptation, and cultural continuity in Arctic Canada, with a particular focus on remote northern settlements. While contemporary discussions surrounding resilience and sustainability are predominantly centred on large metropolitan regions, Arctic communities experience distinct spatial and infrastructural challenges that are rarely addressed within mainstream planning discourse. Settlements in northern Canada face increasing pressure from housing shortages, fragmented infrastructure systems, environmental instability, and rapid climatic transformation, all intensified by conditions of remoteness and limited accessibility (Taylor, 2016).
Remote northern settlements... (More) - This thesis investigates the relationship between urban planning, climate adaptation, and cultural continuity in Arctic Canada, with a particular focus on remote northern settlements. While contemporary discussions surrounding resilience and sustainability are predominantly centred on large metropolitan regions, Arctic communities experience distinct spatial and infrastructural challenges that are rarely addressed within mainstream planning discourse. Settlements in northern Canada face increasing pressure from housing shortages, fragmented infrastructure systems, environmental instability, and rapid climatic transformation, all intensified by conditions of remoteness and limited accessibility (Taylor, 2016).
Remote northern settlements occupy spaces, where conventional urban models no longer fully apply. Unlike southern settlement systems organised around clear relationships, many Arctic communities operate through weak and unstable connections to external centres. In many cases, the network and direction of changes produces highly dynamic conditions that challenge long-term planning stability (Taylor, 2016). The research critically examines how conventional planning and architectural models applied in the North have frequently relied on standardized and externally imposed solutions that inadequately respond to Inuit social structures, cultural practices, and everyday patterns of living. In parallel, environmental changes such as permafrost thaw, shifting coastlines, and changing seasonal conditions increasingly threaten existing urban fabric and future development possibilities. These combined pressures reveal the need for planning approaches that are both environmentally adaptive and culturally responsive.
The study focuses primarily on the interconnected themes of climate and culture, understanding them as key forces shaping spatial organisation and public life in the Arctic. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9243011
- author
- Deliowska, Anna Weronika LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- ASBM01 20261
- year
- 2026
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- sustainable urban design, urban planning, remoteness, Arctic Canada, climate adaptation, Iqaluit, cultural resilience
- language
- English
- id
- 9243011
- date added to LUP
- 2026-06-23 12:35:39
- date last changed
- 2026-06-23 12:35:39
@misc{9243011,
abstract = {{This thesis investigates the relationship between urban planning, climate adaptation, and cultural continuity in Arctic Canada, with a particular focus on remote northern settlements. While contemporary discussions surrounding resilience and sustainability are predominantly centred on large metropolitan regions, Arctic communities experience distinct spatial and infrastructural challenges that are rarely addressed within mainstream planning discourse. Settlements in northern Canada face increasing pressure from housing shortages, fragmented infrastructure systems, environmental instability, and rapid climatic transformation, all intensified by conditions of remoteness and limited accessibility (Taylor, 2016).
Remote northern settlements occupy spaces, where conventional urban models no longer fully apply. Unlike southern settlement systems organised around clear relationships, many Arctic communities operate through weak and unstable connections to external centres. In many cases, the network and direction of changes produces highly dynamic conditions that challenge long-term planning stability (Taylor, 2016). The research critically examines how conventional planning and architectural models applied in the North have frequently relied on standardized and externally imposed solutions that inadequately respond to Inuit social structures, cultural practices, and everyday patterns of living. In parallel, environmental changes such as permafrost thaw, shifting coastlines, and changing seasonal conditions increasingly threaten existing urban fabric and future development possibilities. These combined pressures reveal the need for planning approaches that are both environmentally adaptive and culturally responsive.
The study focuses primarily on the interconnected themes of climate and culture, understanding them as key forces shaping spatial organisation and public life in the Arctic.}},
author = {{Deliowska, Anna Weronika}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Arctic Spine: Urban Planning in the Remote/Arctic Settlements}},
year = {{2026}},
}