’A sense of place’: Platskänsla och platsidentitet i kommunal planering : En teoretiskt explorativ och empiriskt undersökande uppsats om svenska kommuners arbete med platsidentitet och platskänsla

Sammanfattning: This degree project is focusing upon the use and relevancy of the phenomenon of ‘a sense of place’ within Swedish municipal spatial and strategic planning practice. The aim is to investigate if, when and how Swedish municipalities are working with the phenomenon of ’a sense of place’, which includes investigating possible motives and problems towards working with this. Furthermore the aim is also to investigate different theoretical, as well as empirical, understandings of the concept as ‘a sense of place’ is a highly ambiguous concept.Various theoretical understandings and definitions of the concept are acknowledged within the study, however a broader definition is primary used within the empirical investigation, whereas ‘a sense of place’ should be understood as: the particular qualities and atmosphere that makes a place unique, this is embedded within peoples understanding about place, which is affected by the physical environment, human activities and social relations.The empirical investigation is primary based upon qualitative interviews with public officials in seven Swedish municipalities. The study concludes in that ‘a sense of place’ as defined within the study, is highly relevant and present in Swedish municipal planning practice. Furthermore the study concludes in that there are possibilities to gain both economic and social benefits from incorporating a‘a sense of place’ perspective to planning, arguing for a relationship between social sustainability and ‘a sense of place’.