Welcome to Rebecca Staats' final PhD seminar.
There is a plethora of literature dedicated to developing, regenerating and “making” places. Whilst there is much between this literature that is shared, differing foci on the roles of professional and lay actors, practices and goals often lead to challenges in implementing desired place futures. At the same time, these efforts to make or shape place futures in particular ways often miss the importance of everyday practices crucial for maintaining the physical and cultural aspects of a place.
This thesis explores the potential of the concept of care as a conceptual foundation for drawing together knowledge about place futures. Drawing from two empirical case studies in Sweden and the UK, in addition to literature spanning (among other areas) placemaking, heritage studies and care, the research identifies core properties of the care concept that act as integrating themes for bridging and extending diverse scholarly knowledge traditions and practices. Furthermore, through paying attention to the relations between actors and the material environment, the thesis seeks to highlight the complexity of actors, values and practices at play, and points to the importance of cultural heritage in shaping the conditions for place futures.
Loes Veldpaus, Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Urban Planning, Newcastle University, has a background in architectural and urban design (BSc and MSc), urban planning, and heritage studies (PhD). In her research she explores people’s understanding of urban landscapes and the ways they are cared for, about, and with. Centering on re-use and re-design, and the political and socio-ethical nature of building(s), she has often collaborated with heritage professionals.