Heritage Compensation in Changing Environments: The Case of the West Link Infrastructure Project, Gothenburg

• Major urban infrastructure projects in old cities often encounter material historical features during planning or execution, presenting several challenges for local heritage management. Using the case of the West Link in Gothenburg, Sweden, this paper discusses compensation as an approach to integrating heritage conservation with new urban development. Compensation, in this understanding, denotes a rethinking of heritage values and qualities, and fosters new development directions. While recognised as an important planning instrument (Grahn Danielson, et al, 2013; Rönn, et al, 2017), compensation more broadly, also includes thinking of heritage in terms of the heritage paradigm (Ashworth, 2011), as a vector in spatial planning (Janssen, et al, 2017), and more. The paper analyses how all these approaches reflect in practice in one specific case. The West Link is a railway line currently under construction in Gothenburg. It burrows through the city’s 17th century fortifications, ancient agricultural properties, and historical parks – all of which are ‘national interests’ with architectural historical value. Since the project is deemed to be a threat to the cultural heritage, the Swedish Transport Administration (STA) – responsible for the project – and the City of Gothenburg are in talks on how best to work with the heritage. Their proposals for adapting it reflect their ideas about its values and qualities. The STA seeks to minimise heritage damage, while the City additionally proposes to ‘strengthen’ its value through new urban design programmes and increased accessibility to hidden sites. The paper situates their proposals and positions within the wider discourse on compensation. It further highlights the potential of cultural heritage to not only coexist with new development, but even become a decisive force in shaping future cities in moments of major transformation. This work forms part of a PhD on heritage planning in changing environments resulting from infrastructure projects.

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Historia och arkeologi -- Arkeologi (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- History and Archaeology -- Archaeology (hsv//eng)

HUMANIORA  -- Historia och arkeologi -- Historia (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- History and Archaeology -- History (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences (hsv//eng)

HUMANIORA  -- Historia och arkeologi (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- History and Archaeology (hsv//eng)

HUMANIORA  -- Konst -- Design (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Arts -- Design (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Husbyggnad (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Building Technologies (hsv//eng)

HUMANIORA  -- Konst -- Arkitektur (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Arts -- Architecture (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

heritage

planning

compensation

infrastructure

West Link

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

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