Expert Interview - David Carlsson

How does your work uniquely contribute to the evolving dialogue on sustainability?
I work with sustainability on different levels. My knowledge company, Designboost, brings people together to share thoughts which lead to an upgrade of knowledge concerning holistic sustainable design. Through our website, we present interviews and texts with interesting personalities from the world of design. Through my trend report, The David Report, I'm trying to bring together a new and more interesting view on sustainability through written reports, lectures and workshops.

What is your vision of a 'sustainable future'? What would you like to personally experience?
To me a 'sustainable future' is a future that respects life at all levels. Personally I think that TIME is one of the most luxurious goals there is. Time to reflect, to be with your family, to find yourself, to do exactly what you want most of all. I have to say that work is much overrated. A 'sustainable future' is a future of freedom.

Do you see distinctions between a sustainable village and a sustainable city?
I live in a small beach village myself. I can see a difference between a village and a city that not only has to do with scale. The village invites a social life in a more direct way. You can say that the city is a collection of many villages, both on a psychological and a physical level.

What is your initial response to the CLEAR Village project? (e.g. its scope, timeline, proposed scale)
It seems like a very nice project and I wish you all luck.

Are there past examples of both success AND failure we can learn from?
I think that one of the main problems when it comes to sustainability is the lack of a holistic view. To be able to create a successful sustainable village you have to look at humanistic values as well as materialistic dittos.

If you were leading the master plan for a sustainable village, what issues would you prioritise? What would your work process look like?
I would start to ask questions to the people who eventually will inhabit the village. Which in turn would lead to an interesting and creative ongoing dialogue. To build a sustainable village is not a project, it is a process.

Do you think plans for one sustainable village can be replicated elsewhere?
I think every place and every situation has its own unique possibilities. But, of course, the process can be repeated and translated to new places.

Which elements would remain consistent across contexts? What would need to change on a case-by-case basis?
See above.

What special issues need to be considered with respect to culture (and/or citizen engagement)?
As humans we are cultural creatures. That's what gives life sense. According to that, culture is extremely important in all developments which include human beings.

Are there any existing business models we could leverage to make the design of the CLEAR Village more robust?
Probably. It's not stupid to use an old idea. On the contrary, it is very smart and sustainable, time efficient and economically sensible. Picasso who once said: 'Good artists copy, great artists steal'. Why not - do we really have to invent the wheel over and over again?