Winter City

The Livable Winter Cities Association was formed in 1982 by a group of people from across North America and once had chapters in Minneapolis, Ottawa, and Anchorage.

As a non-profit managed by a dedicated but small group of volunteers, the Livable Winter Cities Association, in the end, struggled to maintain its mission.

The Association mission is revived now through the efforts of the Winter Cites Institute, whose members include municipalities, community leaders and design professionals from around the world.

It outlines the historical roots of Edmonton, claiming "northern cities in the west were built almost entirely in the twentieth century by private and public builders working on their properties, to answer their own needs".

The mission of the Winter Cities Institute is to provide information, resources, policy, academic articles and design opportunities for those who desire to make northern communities more livable and sustainable.

The Institute’s next phase focuses on fostering deeper collaboration with planners, architects, and designers to embed winter considerations into every aspect of urban development.

Winter is often perceived as a negative force that generates inconvenience and added cost, in part due to cities and buildings planned and constructed as if they were in a southern, warmer location.

The goal is to create livability, reduce human discomfort, promote energy efficiency and the economic sustainability of northern places.

The full list of resulting studies, documents and articles can be found here [5] Major projects connected to this research include the moving of the Arctic City, Kiruna.

For urban areas, taller buildings should be located on the north side of streets to avoid shadow casting over sidewalks and outdoor spaces.

Feature lighting is a great way to create an inviting atmosphere in the dim months, providing visual interest, landmarks, and a sense of safety.