The temporality of territorial production – the case of Stortorget, Malmö

Abstract

Abstract:In recent years, we have seen the development of a more relational approach to territoriality. This perspective, which focuses on events rather than space, also opens up for an elaboration of temporal aspects of territorial production. In this study, I investigate the central urban square, Stortorget, in Malmö, Sweden, in order to develop a discussion of a time-space territorology. In 1978, Korosec-Serfaty performed a thorough study of the square, observing its everyday activities. The present study compares territorial productions at Malmö's Main Square during 1978 with those of 2013. The results of the study indicate a change of time-space production in which temporary territorial appropriations and tactics tend to become shorter in duration, whereas the number of temporary and large-scale territorial strategies has increased and the role of these become more important. The study also shows how these territorial transformations include changes (in pace, rhythm, temporal salience and scale) that seem to vertically stabilise the territorial structure of the square, and thus decrease both territorial complexity and the possibilities for new publics to evolve.

The Neighbourhood in Pieces: The Fragmentation of Local Public Space in a Swedish Housing Area

“…In this article, we work with a territorial perspective (Malmberg, 1980; Sack, ; Delaney, ) that is on an everyday life level, following particular recent research on territorology and urban studies (Kärrholm, ; ; Brighenti, ; Brighenti and Mattiucci, ; Magnusson, ; Smith and Hall, ). The territorial perspective includes studies of how time spaces are both claimed and produced; that is, how certain activities, groups, rules and people become associated with and expressed through a specific territory.…”

“…Marres, 2005). Fäladstorget might perhaps seem quite small and obscure from an urban or regional perspective, yet it is a stage where strangers potentially meet, and where individuals and groups can be made visible to a local audience (Citroni and Kärrholm, 2017).…”

Beyond rhythmanalysis: towards a territoriology of rhythms and melodies in everyday spatial activities

“…Rather than basing a discussion in dichotomies-i.e., focusing on dominating or dominated rhythm-we need to look at rhythms of different paces and saliences, i.e. gradients of interdependent or at least co-existing (synchronous and synchorous) territorialisations (Kärrholm 2017).…”

Time-space complexity and the opening hours of commerce: a study of four European cities

“…One advantage of defining territory as an act or event is the possibility of opening a more elaborate discussion on a temporal perspective of territoriality. Just as territory "defines space through patterns of relations" (Brighenti, 2010:57), it should be acknowledged that territories also define times and temporalities (Brighenti and Kärrholm 2016;Kärrholm 2017). Territorial production is, in short, expressive and bounded (although these boundaries might sometimes be blurred and hard to identify) entities of a certain extension in time and space.…”