VIRTUAL: Prague Heritages

Abstract

Best practice criteria for adaptive reuses of rural industrial heritage sites vary both between and within nations, and a ‘one size fits all’ approach is not appropriate, since the practice is applied in domains governed by different policies and social norms. The aim of this paper was to explore the key issues in understanding the material, immaterial and managerial characteristics of effective placemaking processes of industrial heritage sites in Sweden and provide a clear basis for discussion within the public planning and redevelopment sector, internationally. A case study approach was adopted, based on a mixed-method examination of placemaking ambitions, collaboration strategies and activities employed, which encompassed an analysis of published reports and a range of semi-structured interviews conducted with key stakeholders. This was synthesized with insights gained from research into various aspects of heritage-led development, adaptive reuse, and collaborative approaches to sustainability governance. Three cases in West Sweden were analysed, all former industrial sites in rural settings, transformed into spaces with new functions and meanings, governed by local stakeholders with ambitions to revitalise the local communities. Findings show the importance of storytelling, instrumental to create attractiveness, and how it includes both material features, such as historic structures, spatial elements, and construction techniques, and immaterial features, such as knowledge and skills connected to previous manufacturing processes. Most important is the key role of a managerial approach that effectively connects the place-specific story to new long-term uses whilst navigating the ever-shifting collaborative process characterized by varying stakeholder commitment, funding, and private-public partnerships.