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The recent transformation of central squares : On the interrelation between retail, recreation and mobility

Kärrholm, Mattias LU orcid (2026) In Wiley Blackwell Companions to Geography p.19-31
Abstract
In this chapter I trace a series of central and well-connected urban squares in Malmö and Lund, Sweden from the 1960s until today. It investigates how the squares have developed in relation to the practice of shopping and other activities during these decades and concludes with the discussion of a few more recent trends. Starting with the deterioration of the open urban markets, followed by the introduction of car traffic, cars soon dominated the squares until they were increasingly pedestrianized, first for the benefit of retail but soon increasingly for restaurants, events and recreation. During these years, all of the central squares have oscillated between shopping, recreation and transport. Here, I thus try to read the history of... (More)
In this chapter I trace a series of central and well-connected urban squares in Malmö and Lund, Sweden from the 1960s until today. It investigates how the squares have developed in relation to the practice of shopping and other activities during these decades and concludes with the discussion of a few more recent trends. Starting with the deterioration of the open urban markets, followed by the introduction of car traffic, cars soon dominated the squares until they were increasingly pedestrianized, first for the benefit of retail but soon increasingly for restaurants, events and recreation. During these years, all of the central squares have oscillated between shopping, recreation and transport. Here, I thus try to read the history of these squares together in order to sketch a more general picture of their evolution and relation to publicness. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
The Wiley-Blackwell companion to the city, retail, and consumption
series title
Wiley Blackwell Companions to Geography
editor
Paiva, Daniel and Guimaraes, Pedro
pages
19 - 31
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
ISBN
9781394278633
9781394278626
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f4ee4ed6-beda-44e8-b388-ff97453fb741
date added to LUP
2026-01-16 11:37:09
date last changed
2026-02-12 02:52:46
@inbook{f4ee4ed6-beda-44e8-b388-ff97453fb741,
  abstract     = {{In this chapter I trace a series of central and well-connected urban squares in Malmö and Lund, Sweden from the 1960s until today. It investigates how the squares have developed in relation to the practice of shopping and other activities during these decades and concludes with the discussion of a few more recent trends. Starting with the deterioration of the open urban markets, followed by the introduction of car traffic, cars soon dominated the squares until they were increasingly pedestrianized, first for the benefit of retail but soon increasingly for restaurants, events and recreation. During these years, all of the central squares have oscillated between shopping, recreation and transport. Here, I thus try to read the history of these squares together in order to sketch a more general picture of their evolution and relation to publicness.}},
  author       = {{Kärrholm, Mattias}},
  booktitle    = {{The Wiley-Blackwell companion to the city, retail, and consumption}},
  editor       = {{Paiva, Daniel and Guimaraes, Pedro}},
  isbn         = {{9781394278633}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{19--31}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Wiley Blackwell Companions to Geography}},
  title        = {{The recent transformation of central squares : On the interrelation between retail, recreation and mobility}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}