As one of the 12 cities, Helsingborg has actively participated in the Cities in Placemaking programme over the past two years, refining its approach to public space and community engagement. Interestingly, Helsingborg was not only part of the programme but had already been engaged in placemaking and international knowledge exchange before the programme’s launch and the city’s early efforts helped lay the groundwork for the Cities in Placemaking programme itself, positioning Helsingborg as a key contributor to its evolution.
The story of placemaking’s evolution
While placemaking in the city has a long history and was even acknowledged in the city’s first Action Plan (2018-2023), the new 2024-2030 Action Plan takes a more proactive approach—shifting from simply recognising placemaking to actively making public spaces come alive. This evolution reflects Helsingborg’s commitment to embedding placemaking as a core principle of urban development, rather than treating it as an isolated initiative .
Through hands-on projects—and occasionally donning dinosaur costumes for community events—Helsingborg has gained valuable insights into trust-building, co-creation, and long-term commitment, while acknowledging that not every project has been equally successful. This is important to highlight—Helsingborg is unafraid to share its failures. In fact, the city’s long-standing tradition of awarding “mistakes of the year” underscores its commitment to learning from setbacks and fostering a culture of transparency.
A key lesson from this city’s journey is that there are no shortcuts—effective placemaking demands sustained effort and deep community relationships. Being present, engaging consistently, and fostering trust are essential to success. Helsingborg exemplifies this by continuously recognising the vital role of local heroes, who serve as bridges between communities and municipal initiatives.
Why Helsingborg’s Placemaking Approach Is Working
Helsingborg’s success in placemaking can be attributed to four key factors:
- A dedicated team of professionals driving placemaking efforts.
- A clear mandate ensuring placemaking is recognised as a strategic priority within the city.
- A dedicated budget, allowing for sustained investment in placemaking initiatives.
- A conceptualised framework that provides structure and direction for placemaking activities, ensuring coherence across projects.
These factors have enabled Helsingborg to not only implement projects but also establish placemaking as a long-term, systemic practice within the city’s governance and urban development strategies. While these points may seem bureaucratic or conceptual, they are key drivers in fostering confidence, creativity, and a sense of ownership in the city’s placemaking efforts.
But what about this lamp?
A standout example of Helsingborg’s placemaking efforts is Bumling, a five-metre-tall giant lamp that serves as more than just public lighting. This Swedish design classic from Atelje Lyktan has been transformed into a symbol of safety and community connection. Equipped with a bench, regular and disco lighting, and Bluetooth speakers, the lamp has become a meeting place that attracts both children and adults and creates a place on its own.
In its current location, Bumling has sparked conversations, encouraged co-creation, and strengthened neighbourhood pride. In a few months, the lamp will be moved to another neighbourhood, continuing its role as a travelling symbol of engagement and dialogue.
One of the city’s major initiatives is the Tunnel Strategy, which emphasizes safety and community-driven design. Tunnels and underpasses—often overlooked and seen as unsafe—have been reimagined as vibrant spaces for social interaction, art, and enhanced lighting. By centering community voices in the design process, Helsingborg is transforming these spaces from areas of neglect to hubs of activity, turning daily commutes into an exciting journey that highlights the city’s legacy.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
Helsingborg’s placemaking journey has not been without its challenges. A key realisation has been the need to shift from short-term interventions to long-term quality through its management and maintenance. One major question remains: How can the maintenance department be better included in placemaking efforts? The department often struggles with lack of resources to maintain the constantly increasing needs, making place management a recurring challenge and the lack of ownership of projects creates risk of failure of places. One of the realisations is that establishing routines for maintenance and upkeep is crucial to ensuring placemaking efforts remain impactful over time.
The city has also recognised the importance of ‘in-between’ places – the overlooked backstreets, small squares, and neglected urban corners that form the fabric of everyday life. Many of these spaces are run-down and resemble a patchwork of interventions rather than cohesive urban environments. Helsingborg is now committed to ensuring a fair and equitable standard for all public spaces, recognising that it cannot afford to ignore these in-between places if it wants to create a truly liveable city.
Moving Forward: Strengthening Placemaking as a Systemic Practice
Looking ahead, Helsingborg aims to:
- Use storytelling and success stories to communicate the value of placemaking.
- Refine routines for place management, ensuring long-term impact.
- Increase local presence and support for local heroes, recognising their role in sustaining community-driven change.
- Simplify the ‘Fair Share’ tool to ensure that resources are distributed equitably and effectively.
As Helsingborg continues to evolve its placemaking strategy, one thing is clear: bringing public space to life is not a one-time effort but an ongoing commitment to people, place, and community.
Author: Marta Popiolek
Credits:
- Moa Sundberg
- Cecilia Fredriksson
- Josette Dahlin
- Christina Wideland
- Andrée Olsson Lilja
- Martin Hadmyr
