Building the green city from wood? : Policies, practices, and institutional capabilities in Sweden

Ideas about green cities, good architecture and planning are often shared among professionals working in the field of urban planning and design during conferences, workshops, and meetings. But how is what is considered ‘good’ or ‘best’ in planning and policy decided? And where do we learn about good ideas, places to visit, and projects to be inspired by? Are there any potential risks or challenges inherent to following in the wake of the same ‘inspiring’ reference objects as everyone else—regardless of whether it is a city, a neighbourhood, or a building? This article makes the case for a policy mobilities perspective for understandinghow ideas about the green city are conceptualized, formulated, and mobilized in urban policy. Drawing on a growing body of literature in geography and urban studies, the article argues for the usefulness of adopting a policy mobilities perspective when working with(in) green city policy, also for scholars outside the field of geography. Using the case of multistorey housing in wood in Sweden, the article presents three different perspectives on how ideas about green cities are formulated and mobilized