Don't be a square: a search for a democratic public space

Abstract

The square is a symbolic place for democracy. It is a space where manifestations and speeches are held, but also an everyday arena where people from different classes, backgrounds and cultures meet, interact and observe. Here, societal conflicts and injustices are made visible. The current values of society determine the definition of the good city and thereby also determines who has access to, and agency to impact public space. Our work has shown that the democratic functions of public space are being displaced for the benefit of economic profit. Through an extensive analysis of the historical, societal and political context that frames the design of public space, we have gained an understanding of the forces that shape it. We use the local square Skanstorget as a case study to make visible how the values of society impact the design of public space and the consequences this has for the citizens of Gothenburg. Skanstorget has had a richness of functions and a strong identity as a square in Gothenburg. It was first marked by its military presence, fields, pastureland, and market gardens. When it was later transformed into a square it was used as a commercial site as well as a central space for political movements. In 2018 a competition for developing Skanstorget was advertised, the programme for the design was a dense housing block covering almost the entire square. The process surrounding the transformation of Skanstorget has been filled with conflict, and in many ways it effectively examplifies the issues embedded in the development of public space today. Most people that we talk to about Skanstorget comment: ”but it’s just a parking lot without any use anyway”, referring to a deserted, non-human space in the middle of the city. The connection to its history has been lost and with-it people’s ability to imagine alternatives. As a conclusion to our work, we present an alternative design proposal that includes the values and perspectives that we feel are missing or have been lost, to help the citizens reconnect to history and visualise alternative futures for Skanstorget. The result of our work is a design proposal that is based on the conclusions drawn from our background work and analysis. This proposal aims to open up for a discussion about what Skanstorget could be. We present a senario where elements are added to the square to make it more usable, social, and accessible. We add elements for selfprogramming to make it possible for the citizens to be part of shaping the space. The design propasal also attempts to make history more accessible by using referenses from the past, both in terms of physical elemensts - like the markethall, and through social functions, like the markets and space for expression.