For several years, AF Bostäder has worked in a strategic and target-oriented way on social, environmental and economic sustainability. Now, the company is introducing culture as an equal fourth perspective. The work started in 2024 with a newly written policy and a new strategy for cultural sustainability.
“Our new sustainability policy is in line with the previous one and establishes that, in our capacity as a student housing provider, we are to contribute to a sustainable housing market in Lund and to long-term sustainable development for society as a whole,” says Louise Halén, Sustainability Coordinator at AF Bostäder. “We also want to continue to inspire customers, staff and the world around us to make sustainable choices. For a number of years, we have worked on social, environmental and economic sustainability based on the company’s dialogue with stakeholders, materiality analysis and goals, as well as the wishes expressed in regular customer satisfaction surveys. We are now adding cultural sustainability and will subsequently make culture part of systematic sustainability management.”
The importance of culture in sustainable development is being increasingly recognised. Culture is a broad concept, and cultural expressions can be both tangible and intangible, such as environments and buildings but also traditions, norms, types of art, languages and narratives.
“Culture links and unites people, and helps us to create identity, both as individuals and as a group,” says Louise Halén. “Cultural sustainability aims to preserve, promote and further develop culture and cultural legacy, for example by creating attractive environments, highlighting cultural history, supporting cultural expressions and strengthening a feeling of togetherness.”
“It’s also well-established that cultural stimulation has great significance for our well-being,” says Louise Halén. “We know, for example, that architecture influences how we feel both at home and at work, and that art and culture can counteract mental health problems. Singing in a choir and other musical experiences can release dopamine, for instance.”
The new strategy contains guidelines based on, among other things, the Foundation’s statutes and the Government’s policy for designed living environment. According to the statutes, AF Bostäder is to work for cultural and friendly relations between the tenants. The Government’s policy covers architecture, form, design, art and cultural legacy.
“We will subsequently focus on three main areas. We will take architecture and history into account when we design our housing areas and pass on stories about our properties’ significance for Lund’s student life. We will create conditions for cultural activities, both for customers and staff. And we will promote inclusiveness, diversity and a sense of community by enabling events that encourage interactions between Swedish traditions, student life in Lund and the international diversity among the students,” says Louise Halén.
Latest update June 24, 2025