Understanding the Process of Memory Politics in Västra Hamnen’s Redevelopment

Abstract: The research aims to understand and explore the process of memory politics that has underpinned the redevelopment of Vӓstra Hamnen’s built environment, and the extent to which these considerations have actively shaped the urban design of the area, for better or worse, in relation to the values Malmö Stad have sought to express through the area’s narrative shift. The research has endeavoured to achieve the aforementioned aims by way of qualitative semi-structured interviews with participants from three different professional backgrounds, each of whom has been closely involved in the redevelopment process, as well as through site-visits and observational analysis. A conceptual framework inspired by Till and Kuusisto-Arponen’s responsible approach to memory politics (2015), in addition to Atkinson and Cosgrove’s work on urban rhetoric and embodied identities (1998), has been employed throughout. The research ultimately shows how an ever-present, if at times inconsistent, approach towards memory politics has enabled Malmö Stad to balance different opinions (planning-wise) and representations (in the built environment) so as to successfully realise a narrative shift in Vӓstra Hamnen that not only encapsulates the urban design goals at its heart, but retains the character of the sites heritage (both tangible and intangible), as well as the potential for its increased communication throughout the built environment in years to come. Lastly, owing to a distinct lack of any perceived backlash and a wide-spread appreciation for a formerly ‘detached’ area becoming ‘attached’, the fluid process of memory politics underlying Vӓstra Hamnen’s redevelopment can be understood, from the professional perspectives, as responsible and appropriate within the site’s specific context.