Cultural Production in urban environments - An investigation of the possibilities to make space for culture in coexistence with housing

Abstract: The Brundtland report envisioned three sustainable dimensions for development: economic growth, ecological balance, and social inclusion with the aim to incorporate these dimensions into local, national, and global plans for sustainable development. In recent years, discussions about our society’s competitiveness and whether the three dimensions of sustainable development include all aspects of our global society, have resulted in the inclusion of culture as the fourth dimension of sustainable development. One of the aims with culture as a fourth sustainable development pillar is to ensure that culture is taken in consideration in public policies when developing urban environments. Some municipalities in Sweden have therefore developed a cultural strategy plan with the aim to include culture in city development which will contribute to an attractive and social sustainable city. When municipalities mention culture in their vision of urban development, it is often with the intention that culture will contribute to a vibrant city life by increasing activities and meetings through commercial cultural activities. In order for people to consume and experience culture, the culture need to be produced by the creative industry. During the last years discussions about lack of production premises for the creative industry have been highlighted in media. The shortage of production premises is due to increased rents and force of movement due to development projects in urban environments. In order to offer culture for consumption in urban environments, it is important to also make space for cultural production in urban development. This master thesis aims to investigate the possibility to include the cultural production in coexistence with housing in urban environments. The investigation is based on research through literature studies, reference case studies and interviews with people active in urban planning or cultural production. The knowledge is then implemented in a toolbox, possible to use in urban development projects. The thesis also explores how the toolbox can be used by applying it on a test bed in the industrial area of Sofielund, Malmö Sweden.