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Coexistence between preservation and regeneration

Arthur Sahlqvist, Moa LU (2025) ASBM01 20251
Department of Architecture and Built Environment
Abstract
Industrial redevelopment has become an increasingly pressing urban challenge as cities expand and central industrial areas are drawn into the evolving urban fabric. While regeneration projects often succeed in giving former industrial sites new roles, the preservation of the industrial legacy is frequently reduced due to the conflicting demands between industrial and central urban functions. What is often preserved is primarily the architectural shell where these businesses operated, detaching redevelopment from the social and cultural dimensions of production. This thesis examines Ringön, a central industrial and business district in Gothenburg, Sweden, to explore how existing urban design principles can integrate preservation,... (More)
Industrial redevelopment has become an increasingly pressing urban challenge as cities expand and central industrial areas are drawn into the evolving urban fabric. While regeneration projects often succeed in giving former industrial sites new roles, the preservation of the industrial legacy is frequently reduced due to the conflicting demands between industrial and central urban functions. What is often preserved is primarily the architectural shell where these businesses operated, detaching redevelopment from the social and cultural dimensions of production. This thesis examines Ringön, a central industrial and business district in Gothenburg, Sweden, to explore how existing urban design principles can integrate preservation, transformation, and new development in a context-responsive approach.

The research investigates the cycles and patterns of industrial redevelopment, as well as commonly used planning approaches such as zoning and mixed-use development, highlighting both their benefits and limitations. Zoning has allowed industrial functions to persist in central areas by separating conflicting uses, yet this separation becomes less sustainable as city centers demand integration. Mixed-use development encourages diversity but often generates tension between established and new uses, frequently leading to displacement. These challenges are particularly evident in Ringön, where the operational needs of local businesses conflict with Gothenburg’s ambitions to densify the urban core and reconnect the city to the waterfront.

In response, the project proposes a conceptual design that employs mindful zoning divisions based on the existing urban framework and functions, with gradual phasing as a crucial factor for adaptation and coexistence. Principles of mixed-use development are applied as connecting links to the broader context, while a new zoning plan introduces transitional “bridging zones” to mediate between existing and new development. The design strategies, Anchor, Connect, and Enhance, aim to preserve Ringön’s cultural and productive identity while creating opportunities for new forms of public life. Ultimately, the project envisions a resilient urban future grounded in the coexistence between preservation and regeneration. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Arthur Sahlqvist, Moa LU
supervisor
organization
course
ASBM01 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Preservation, Regeneration, Industrial redevelopment, context-responsive urban design
language
English
id
9214643
date added to LUP
2025-10-30 08:47:13
date last changed
2025-10-30 08:47:13
@misc{9214643,
  abstract     = {{Industrial redevelopment has become an increasingly pressing urban challenge as cities expand and central industrial areas are drawn into the evolving urban fabric. While regeneration projects often succeed in giving former industrial sites new roles, the preservation of the industrial legacy is frequently reduced due to the conflicting demands between industrial and central urban functions. What is often preserved is primarily the architectural shell where these businesses operated, detaching redevelopment from the social and cultural dimensions of production. This thesis examines Ringön, a central industrial and business district in Gothenburg, Sweden, to explore how existing urban design principles can integrate preservation, transformation, and new development in a context-responsive approach.

The research investigates the cycles and patterns of industrial redevelopment, as well as commonly used planning approaches such as zoning and mixed-use development, highlighting both their benefits and limitations. Zoning has allowed industrial functions to persist in central areas by separating conflicting uses, yet this separation becomes less sustainable as city centers demand integration. Mixed-use development encourages diversity but often generates tension between established and new uses, frequently leading to displacement. These challenges are particularly evident in Ringön, where the operational needs of local businesses conflict with Gothenburg’s ambitions to densify the urban core and reconnect the city to the waterfront.

In response, the project proposes a conceptual design that employs mindful zoning divisions based on the existing urban framework and functions, with gradual phasing as a crucial factor for adaptation and coexistence. Principles of mixed-use development are applied as connecting links to the broader context, while a new zoning plan introduces transitional “bridging zones” to mediate between existing and new development. The design strategies, Anchor, Connect, and Enhance, aim to preserve Ringön’s cultural and productive identity while creating opportunities for new forms of public life. Ultimately, the project envisions a resilient urban future grounded in the coexistence between preservation and regeneration.}},
  author       = {{Arthur Sahlqvist, Moa}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Coexistence between preservation and regeneration}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}