Studio 2 Creative Placemaking | The BELT platform

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Creative Placemaking in Stubbekøbing Harbour

Stubbekøbing, a rural town undergoing significant changes due to the construction of the Fehmarn Tunnel and the planning of Projekt 4850 - a public art center at the harbor site - faces challenges including population decline and decreased service facilities. Thus, impacting not only the town’s residents but also the various actors located in the harbour area. This research, therefore, aimed to integrate the interests and concerns expressed by local actors in the harbor area into the planning processes of Projekt 4850 through concepts of collaborative planning and creative placemaking

Context

The research aims to investigate the potential of a collaborative approach to facilitate creative placemaking in Projekt 4850 and Stubbekøbing Harbour, taking into account its unique values, practices, commons, and civic participation. As the welfare state withdraws, rural communities increasingly depend on private or charitable investment in spatial development. To enable creative placemaking, the planning process should prioritize community well-being and be citizen-informed and community-based. Creative placemaking encompasses several elements (how, goals and risk) that aim to achieve socio-economic growth and revitalise neighbourhoods. However, it faces risks such as gentrification and lack of local community support.

Central Idea

Using parameters of collaborative planning and examining the framework of creative placemaking, Projekt 4850 is assessed as an attempt at a revitalisation initiative towards creative placemaking. Data for the case study was collected through fieldwork and qualitative interviews with local actors and analysed within a planning context. Six actors were identified, placed in the immediate surrounding of the Silo. Furthermore, the municipality of Guldborgsund was deemed as another important actor, due to ownership of the land and administrative power over planning activities on the harbor site.

Strategy

Projekt 4850 presents challenges and potentialities for the future development of the area. Providing the necessary infrastructure for projects that may seem disproportionate to the size of the area poses significant challenges. Large-scale transformations such as the one proposed for the silo site often face scepticism. Concerns about the scale and perceived impact of Projekt 4850 on the local environment and culture can overshadow its potential benefits. Without collaborative practices, the project risks excluding local actors and can unintentionally contribute to gentrification, threatening the existing social pattern of the whole community. Effective communication and partnership-building among actors are essential to address these concerns and incorporate perspectives into the planning process. Additionally, it is essential to demonstrate transparency and adaptability in sharing visions and ideas and incorporating community feedback, even if this process proves time-consuming and costly. To ensure that the project benefits the community as a whole, it is important to prioritize inclusiveness and transparency when navigating the complexities of transforming Stubbekøbing's harbor area.

Results