Defensive for whom: The valuation of users and uses in public space design in Gothenburg, Sweden

Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2025

Defensive urban design, also known as hostile or exclusionary design, refers to the deliberate or incidental use of design elements to obstruct or exclude certain users from public spaces. This article explores the valuation processes involved in defensive urban design, focusing on Brunnsparken, a city square in Gothenburg, Sweden. Using a valuation studies framework, we investigate how different stakeholders assess and assign value to users and uses during the redesign process. Our study reveals that defensive urban design is not solely about exclusion but represents a spectrum of valuations, involving both positive and negative assessments that shift throughout different stages of urban redevelopment. This complexity shapes the governance of public spaces and challenges the simplistic notion that defensive design exclusively targets marginalized groups. By examining these nuanced processes, we contribute to a broader understanding of the moral and social implications of defensive urban design, highlighting its capacity to simultaneously foster inclusion and exclusion. Our findings underscore the need for thoughtful approaches to public space design that can balance diverse user needs and promote equitable urban environments.