Introduction to the Placemaking in the Nordics Handbook.
As part of my action-research connected to my public sector PhD at The Oslo School of Architecture and Design, AHO, I have participated in a yearlong co-creation project about attractiveness, safety, identity and value of places.: Placemaking in the Nordics; https://futureplaceleadership.com/placemaking-in-the-nordics/
16 municipalities, regions, property owners, construction companies and associations from the Nordic countries, and the partners Future Place Leadership, https://futureplaceleadership.com/ , Link arkitektur, https://www.linkedin.com/company/link-arkitektur-ab/ and Stiftelsen Tryggare Sverige, https://www.linkedin.com/company/stiftelsen-tryggare-sverige/, have explored and innovated how placemaking principles could be applied to the Nordics.
Arendal, in the South of Norway, has been one of the collaborating cities. I am doing my Public Sector PhD here, and I have been participating together with representatives of the city of Arendal, the city center association, Arendal By, and one representative of the police in the Agder Region. It has been a pleasure to visit other places, to present, discuss, listen to other cities and actors, learn and to be inspired.
Together we have shared experiences, best practice and thoughts on how places can become better for everybody, more attractive for inhabitants and visitors, more inclusive and welcoming, and safer. This has resulted in a book: Placemaking in the Nordics-a guide to co-creating safe and attractive public spaces in the Nordic Region
Placemaking is not easy to define, but we think the words of Fred Kent, one of the co-founders of the Projects for Public Spaces, PPS, ( https://www.pps.org/) has a very good quote on this topic:
«How do you turn a place from somewhere you can’t wait to go through – to somewhere you never want to leave? This is what placemaking is all about.»
I was invited to write about ongoing placemaking projects and approaches in the city center of Arendal, as well as to give input to the book in general, and participate in the proof-reading.
About the book:
The handbook is meant to empower cities, communities and local actors to create more attractive and safer public spaces – to the benefit of citizens, companies, the local economy and tourists. It’s a practical guide with examples for citymakers, economic developers and urban and rural planners in the Nordics – and beyond.
Enjoy the read!:
https://futureplaceleadership.com/toolboxes/placemaking-in-the-nordics/
