{"id":7536,"date":"2021-12-02T12:08:30","date_gmt":"2021-12-02T11:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/b13sfdy.myrdbx.io\/?p=7536"},"modified":"2022-01-20T12:05:46","modified_gmt":"2022-01-20T11:05:46","slug":"the-playbook-for-the-post-covid-city-interview-with-jenny-grettve","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/b13sfdy.myrdbx.io\/blog\/the-playbook-for-the-post-covid-city-interview-with-jenny-grettve\/","title":{"rendered":"The Playbook for the Post-Covid City \u2013 Interview with Jenny Grettve"},"content":{"rendered":"
Jenny Grettve<\/strong> is an architect, writer, artist and designer. With a broad background and years of experience in the architecture, design and fashion industries, she works as a creative consultant with a focus on conceptual work, rapid problem solving, interdisciplinary projects and productions. Jenny is part of the multi-disciplinary design team at Dark Matter Labs<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0Her areas of focus include spatial transformation, social integration, temporary urban projects, writing, architecture, art and modular structures, object design and exhibitions for the private and public sectors. We talked to Jenny Grettve about how to make cities more resilient to catastrophes, why we should collaborate and experiment more, and why this requires an economy of generosity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The interview with Jenny Grettve took place on 16.09.2020<\/strong>. At the beginning of the pandemic, Sweden took a special path and introduced fewer and less drastic Covid measures \u2013 there were no compulsory masks and only mild restrictions in the restaurant trade. At the time of the interview, the number of new infections remained at a low level despite increased testing. However, Sweden was designated as a risk area as early as November 2020.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Urban Change Academy: How has the COVID <\/span><\/b>pandemic<\/span><\/b> influenced<\/span><\/b> your<\/span><\/b> life<\/span><\/b> in Malm\u00f6 in <\/span><\/b>general<\/span><\/b>, <\/span><\/b>personally<\/span><\/b> but also <\/span><\/b>professionally<\/span><\/b>?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Jenny <\/span><\/i>Grettve<\/span><\/i>:<\/span> I’m in Sweden, so it hasn’t changed. My life is the same.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It hasn’t changed at <\/span><\/b>all?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n No, not really. I mean, we live more or less as we did before. And for me, personally, I had a little office, but we were only six people and that never closed, so it hasn’t changed at all. But I have changed the way I’m thinking about things, because I’m writing a book right now about retail spaces in cities and how those could be better used in the future. With COVID the uncertainties have grown, because you suddenly have all of these thoughts, „What happens if borders close completely?“. We won’t get any food from anywhere else, if we need to provide everything in cities, how do we do that? Where do we put things? So, in that book that I had, that was kind of mostly about, maybe more about the economy kind of shifted into, „Okay, how do we produce food inside, like in buildings? Or how can we quickly create 50 hospitals in a small city, in old stores, for example?“. So, those kinds of ideas were born, I think, when this hit the world.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We would like to understand more about what’s happening in the cities around COVID, and where you might see shifts, big or small, things that are changing or going into whatever direction. We’re really interested in these observations also when looking into other countries.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n I was just reading this morning that there’s this kind of green wave. People want to produce their own food and are starting to set up their own gardens, farm and also buying houses in the countryside or even moving. A lot of young people are now moving to the countryside. I think we have this huge green wave, because you won’t travel anymore. For a while, at least. <\/span>So<\/span> I think there’s this huge shift in what we appreciate, which I think is fantastic, it was kind of needed. But when I talk to my friends in Australia or in the States, their lives have crashed. A lot of my friends don’t have work. They’re really mentally not well. So, it’s a weird feeling, being in Sweden at the moment.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I remember a New York Times article. In the economy section, there were a lot of very critical voices. And I think also in the German media, some articles were pretty negative. How did you perceive this kind of criticism?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n It was so scary, because you feel like you’re in this kind of experiment. I felt like I was a little test rabbit. And the rest of the world is doing something else. You just go, „Should we just get a tent and go into the forest and be safe for a while?“.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n So<\/span><\/b> it put you under some kind of stress?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Of course, yes. Sweden is a strong democratic society where there’s a lot of trust in the government. <\/span>So<\/span> if the government says that this is correct, most people are going to trust them. I had a discussion with a friend the other day about that, he’s American and he said, „You know, in the States you’re born and from day one, they teach you not to trust the government or the system. I mean, don’t because it’s just full of corruption and crazy kinds of things, they want you to believe things that are maybe not correct, so don’t trust anything“. But the way I’m born is like, „Trust them“, that’s the only way to make this work. This contrast is kind of interesting, isn\u2019t it?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You’re born in a certain culture and have more trust in the state. How do you see that kind of trust? What builds this trust in the Swedish government?<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n I actually gave him an example when we talked about this, because a while ago in Sweden, one minister, in a high post, she got fired because she happened to buy a chocolate bar with the business credit card of the party. I mean, that’s the level. If you happen to buy a chocolate bar with money that isn’t yours, you’re fired, you’re kicked, it doesn’t work. <\/span>So<\/span> I mean, the message is „You can trust us, we’re on track of things“. I’m guessing, but I think corruption, for example, is non-existent in Sweden. Or it must be done in a very<\/span>,<\/span> very clever way.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n