Skateboard urbanism An exploration of skateboarding as an integrated part of public space - Epsilon Archive for Student Projects
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Department of Urban and Rural Development
Skateboard urbanism
An exploration of skateboarding as an
integrated part of public space
Fredrik Angner
Master’s thesis • 30 HEC
Landscape Architecture Programme, Ultuna
Division of Landscape Architecture
Uppsala 2017
“Through an everyday practice - neither consciously theorized nor programmed
– skateboarding suggests that pleasure rather than work, use values rather than
exchange values, activity rather than passivity, performing rather than recording,
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
are potential components of the future, as yet unknown city.”
Faculty of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences
Department of Urban and Rural Development, Division of Landscape Architecture
- Iain Borden (2001, p. 173)
Master’s thesis for the Landscape Architecture programme
EX0504 Degree Project in Landscape Architecture, 30 HEC
Level: Advanced A2E
© 2017 Fredrik Angner, e-mail: fredrikangner@gmail.com
Title in English: Skateboard Urbanism: An exploration of skateboarding as an integrated part of public space
Title in Swedish: Skateboard Urbanism: Skateboardåkning som en integrerad del av stadens offentliga platser
Supervisor: Hildegun Nilsson Varhelyi, Department of Urban and Rural Development
Examiner: Susan Paget, Department of Urban and Rural Development
Assistant examiner: Gunilla Lindholm, Department of Urban and Rural Development
Cover image: Illustration by Fredrik Angner
Other photos and illustrations: All photos are taken by the author, unless otherwise noticed with the consent of
the owner. All illustrations are made by the author.
Original format: A4 book
Keywords: Skateboard urbanism, Skateboard infrastructure, skatepark, skateboard
Online publication of this work: http://stud.epsilon.slu.se
Preface Abstract
Skateboarding has been a part of my life since I was The education deepened my interest even more Skateboarding is a practice that happens both in dedicated skateparks and in the public places of the city; two
around 10 years old. It began as child’s play as I and and while I moved to new cities during my studies, very different types of environments. While skateboarding in skateparks rarely poses problems due to their
the kids from the neighbourhood would skate the my skateboard was always the best tool for making purpose-designed nature, skateboarding in the shared spaces of the city has not generally been encouraged and is
parking lot outside our house, just goofing around. friends and discovering the new places I came to. often designed against. However, recent trends in planning for skateboard infrastructure show that many cities
Over the years skateboarding grew from play to are now recognizing skateboarders as a positive part of urban life and seek to integrate skateboarding into urban
passion and in 2003 my friend Robert and I Before writing this thesis I was fortunate enough public space. This trend of integrating skateboarding into the city has been called “Skateboard urbanism”.
decided to enrol at Fryshusets skateboard high school to get the opportunity to work as a skate-architect/
in Stockholm. skatepark designer at Copenhagen-based design The aim of this thesis is to provide deeper understanding of how skateboarding can be integrated into urban
studio Pivotech. During my time in Copenhagen the public space by planning and design. Further it aims to provide insight into important characteristics of popular
After high school I moved to Barcelona to learn idea of writing a master thesis on urban skate-able urban skate spots and what added values theses spaces can generate. To succeed in this, qualitative methodologies
Spanish and skate, as the city is known as the Mecca space grew after conversations with studio manager such as interviews, literature studies, site observations and case studies have been used to provide insight into
for skateboarding with countless skate-able squares, Fabian Narin. different aspects of the topic. The results in this thesis mainly represent the skaters perspective on the matter,
odd skate environments, great weather, culture and which should be kept in mind when reading.
so on. It was in Barcelona I started to get more and Thank you for making this thesis possible:
more interested in urban public space, those places Fabian Narin, Hildegun Nilsson Varhelyi, Sarah The first chapter, “Skateboarding”, investigates skateboarding as a wide concept. Chapter two, “Skateboarding &
and squares that seemed so vibrant and full of life, Meurle, Katta Sterner, Gustav Svanborg Edén, the city”, describes how skateboarders interact with the city and how this differs from skateboarding in dedicated
perfect to skate and generally just great for people. Sandra Ohlsson, Anthony Crawford, Søren Nordal skateparks. In chapter three, “Integrated designs”, important characteristics of urban “skate spots” are outlined and
Enevoldsen, David Gough, Martin Karlsson, Niklas practical examples of these places are analysed. The fourth chapter, “Added value”, describes what added values
After some time I realized I wanted to study Boström, James Thoem, Günes Özdogan, Emma public places with an integrated skate-function can generate. Chapter five, “Skate-friendly cities”, provides insight
landscape architecture, I had been interested in the Fastesson Lindgren, Hannah-Rose Wilson and into how cities work with integrating skateboarding into the public spaces of the city.
subject for years without knowing it existed. everyone I met through skateboarding over the years.
The outcome of the research in the first five chapters was presented in a sixth and final chapter, “Planning
suggestions”. Here my reflections and ideas based on the results outlines aspects and tips for city staffers and
Fredrik Angner landscape architects to consider when planning and designing for integrating skateboarding in the public spaces
of the city.
i ii
Sammanfattning
Sammanfattning Syfte och frågeställningar Metod Olika stilar kräver olika miljöer
Detta är ett examensarbete i landskapsarkitektur som Syftet med detta arbete är att få en fördjupad inblick Frågeställningarna undersöktes genom att dela upp Skateboard innefattar många stilar som kräver olika
syftar till att undersöka hur skateboard kan integreras i hur skateboard kan integreras i stadens offentliga forskningsarbetet i fem kapitel: “Skateboard”, typer av miljöer. Vissa utövas i skateparker medan
in i stadens offentliga platser genom planering och rum genom planering och design. Vidare är syftet att “Skateboard & staden”, “Integrerade designs”, andra stilar utövas i “hittade” miljöer såsom gator
design. Studiens första del består av fem kapitel där undersöka viktiga karaktärer för platser i staden som “Mervärde” och “Skate-vänliga städer”. I dessa kapitel och torg vars funktioner omtolkas för att passa skate.
olika aspekter av ämnet undersöks. Arbetet mynnar blivit populära för skateboardåkare och att få inblick har resultat från olika metoder vävts samman för att
slutligen ut i ett sjätte kapitel där ett antal förslag i vilka mervärden dessa platser kan generera. få fram en bredare bild av ämnets beståndsdelar. De Social kontext
presenteras på hur städer kan angripa frågan. metoder som använts är intervjuer, litteraturstudier, Skateboard är en mycket social aktivitet, där utövare
Huvudfrågeställning: platsobservationer och fallstudier. Resultaten mynnar som inte känner varann enkelt kan bryta isen socialt
Bakgrund sedan ut i ett sjätte kapitel, “Planeringsförslag”, som bara på grund av att de åker skateboard. Många
Skateboardåkning sker idag både i skateparker och på • Hur kan skateboardåkning integreras i stadens ger förslag på hur städer kan arbeta för att integrera känner en frihet och känsla av fulländning när de
stadens offentliga platser, varvid det sistnämnda inte offentliga platser genom planering och design? skateboard i staden genom planering och design. åker skateboard, en sorts urban eskapism. Inom
alltid har blivit uppmuntrat och uppskattat. Faktum skatekulturen döms man efter individuellt uttryck,
är att skateboardåkning i staden ofta motarbetats Underfrågor för att stödja huvudfrågan: Skateboard kreativitet och autencitet. Ens trick och rörelser är
med negativ design genom så kallade “skate stoppers” Skateboard är ett brett ämne som på många sätt är valutan vilket teoretiskt borde innebära att alla olika
och andra typer av förbud. Detta är dock något som • Vilka är nyckelkaraktärerna för offentliga platser i svårt att definiera. Det är både ett globalt fenomen typer av uttryck uppskattas. Dock har skateboardens
håller på att ändras. Ett flertal städer såsom Malmö, staden som passar för skateboardåkning? och en lokal aktivitet. Vissa menar att det helt enkelt subkulturella macho-arv tillsammans med
Köpenhamn och Melbourne arbetar nu aktivt för är bäst att undvika att sätta ett format på patriarkala normer skapat ramar som man måste
att integrera skateboardåkning i stadens offentliga • Vilka mervärden kan offentliga platser i staden som skateboard eftersom att det då reducerar ämnet passa in i för att bli socialt accepterad. Passar man
rum (såsom torg) och ser skateboardåkare som en passar för skateboardåkning generera? från dessa sanna karaktär, nämligen att vara ett fritt inte in så värderas man lågt. Här har kvinnliga och
positiv del av stadslivet. Denna trend har kallats för medium utan definitioner och regler. Skateboard kan homosexuella uttryck historiskt inte varit
“Skateboard urbanism”. därför innebära lite vad som helst beroende på vem uppskattade, även nybörjare har haft svårt att bli
man är; det kan vara en sport, en konst eller en accepterade. Mycket tyder dock på att detta långsamt
livsstil. Skateboardkulturen har även ett starkt håller på att ändras och att framtiden för inkludering
subkulturellt arv men är idag även en del av och jämlikhet inom kulturen ser allt ljusare ut.
mainstreamkulturen.
Skatebara objekt som medvetet integrerats på två av “Skate stoppers”. Valutan inom skateboardkulturen är ens trick och personliga stil. Trots att skatekulturen har ett macho-arv så börjar
iii Värnhemstorget i Malmö. skateboard bli mer nybörjarvänligt och öppet för iv
olika uttryck.
Skateboard & staden Platsobservationer Förslag gällande planering och design Diskussion
I staden är skateboardåkning helt annorlunda Genom platsobservationer på tre populära skate Besvarades frågorna?
än i skateparker. Platser som approprieras av spots; “Warschaur Bänke” i Berlin, “Israels plads” • Lyssna på skateboardåkarna Backstage Backstage Detta är givetvis subjektivt
Backstage menFrontstage
jag villFrontstage
Frontstage argumentera
skateboardåkare omtolkas för att passa skateboard. i Köpenhamn och “Place de la République” i Paris • Hjälp skateboardåkarna starta en organisation för att samtliga ställda frågor har besvarats men att
Detta har sagts vara en kritik av den moderna staden gick det att fastslå att dessa nyckelkaraktärer är av • Beakta alla stilar och färdighetsnivåer dessa inte bör ses som några sanningar utan snarare
och dess livsstil. Objekt med en enstaka funktion stor vikt. Då dessa ändå varierar beroende på plats • Sträva efter inkludering som viktiga aspekter som tåls att tänka på om man
som ett trappräcke blir istället omtolkade till något så bör de ses som indikatorer på vad som är viktigt • Involvera en bred grupp experter och brukare i som landskapsarkitekt eller stadsplannerare ska arbeta
som kan ge upphov till glädje och underhållning. snarare än måsten för att skapa dessa typer av platser. projekt med dessa frågor.
Många beskriver att åka skateboard i staden som ett • Gör både lång- och kortsiktiga mål
resande äventyr där resan mellan platserna är lika Integrerade skateparker • Hitta rätt platser Resultatet och estetik
viktig som de platser man approprierar. Det oväntade Dedikerade skateparker kan också med fördel • Skapa äventyret Då resultaten i detta exjobb visar på att
kan hända och man blir en del av stadens puls och integreras med andra funktioner såsom i • Skapa platser som skyddar från väder skateboardåkare i staden föredrar miljöer som
mångfald av upplevelser. Skateboardåkarnas sätt kombination med dagvattenhanteringssystem. • Var öppensinnad och visionär uppfattas som “hittade” blev en slutsats att design
att använda platser på annat vis än vad som anses • Överväg att integrera dedikerade skateparker för skateboard på offentlig plats bör integreras
lämpligt leder dock ofta till konflikt. Detta beror ofta Mervärde • Aktivera platser med events genom subtil och multifunktionell design. Detta
på höga ljud, materiella skador och missförstånd. Resultat från intervjuerna och litteraturstudier visade • Stanna inom gränserna för de bästa “hittade” förhållningssätt till estetik och design gör att platser
Detta går dock till stor del att lösa genom planering att offentliga platser för skateboard kan generera platserna för skateboard kan bli mer som pannåer för stadslivet snarare än
och design. följande mervärden: • Designa för inkludering en färdiga tavlor där beteende styrs efter platsens
• Föreslå snarare än styr beteende inritade funktioner.
Integrerade designs • Bidra till folkhälsan • Ge platsen karaktär
Resultat från intervjuerna visade på fjorton • Skapa oväntad kontakt i staden • Se till att platsen är åkbar Resultatet i ett bredare perspektiv
nyckelkaraktärer för urbana skate spots, vissa av • Bidra till att skapa sociala värden och integrering • Använd robusta material Jag argumenterar för att sättet som skateboardåkare
dessa blev ihopbuntade då de ansågs höra ihop. • Aktivera platser och tillföra en säkerhetsaspekt • Tillåt användarna att definiera sin egen plats använder och omtolkar staden kan bredda
Karaktärerna var, utan särskild ordning: • Generera identitet • Skate-stoppa inte uppfattningen för hur vi som landskapsarkitekter
• Generera turism ser de platser vi ritar. En bänk kanske kan designas
• Läge i staden - helst centralt • Skapa atmosfär, puls och performativitet för att bjuda in till nya omtolkningar som inte
• Tillgänglighet - platsen ska vara lätt att ta sig till • Bidra till meningsfullare platser nödvändigtvis är kopplade till skate. Jag tror att
• Äventyr - andra skatebara platser ska ligga nära • Bli sociala arenor för ungdomar en mindre styrd och mer föreslående approach till
• Grad av utmaning • Inspirera andra grupper att interagera med det landskapsarkiktektur kan göra de platser vi skapar
• Grad av omtolkningsbarhet - multifunktion offentliga rummet. mer demokratiska och hållbara för framtiden.
• Upplevd autencitet - platsen ska kännas “hittad” • Bli yt- och kostnadseffektiva platser
• Robusta material och släta ytmaterial - åkbarhet • Uppmuntra till medborgarligt engagemang
• Minimalism, storlek och öppenhet
• Variation och dynamik Skatevänliga städer
• Karaktär - platsen ska kännas speciell Tre fallstudier av hur Melbourne, Köpenhamn och
• Attraktioner och tillgång till bekvämligheter Malmö arbetar för att integrera skateboard i stadens
• Kontext - Atmosfär och omgivning offentliga rum och i övrig kommunal planering
• Lugn - det ska gå att undvika att stå i centrum visade att detta ändamål kräver en holistisk approach
• Oförutsägbarhet och stadsliv som innefattar allt från design till events.
Idéskiss över hur skatebara objekt kan
v bakas ihop med planteringskärl för att vi
uppfattas som mer autentiska.
Contents
i Preface
ii Abstract
iii Sammanfattning
Intro 1. Skateboarding 4. Added value 5. Skate-friendly cities
3 Background 15 What is skateboarding? 71 Benefits of skateboarding 81 How do we make skate-friendly cities?
4 Aim 17 Different styles - different spatial needs 72 Added values of urban skate-able place 85 Case study: Skate Melbourne Plan
4 Research questions 19 Social context 75 Civic engagement 87 Case study: Copenhagen
4 Limitations 25 Reflections and ideas 77 Reflections and ideas 89 Case study: Malmö
5 Methodology 93 Reflections and ideas
7 Disposition
8 Terminology
9 Interviewees
2. Skateboarding & the city 3. Integrated designs 6. Planning & design Outro
29 Theory on urban skateboarding 43 what are the key characteristics urban skate spots? 98 Planning suggestions 108 Discussion of results
33 The urban experience 49 Site observation: Warschaur Bänke, Berlin 103 Design suggestions 110 Discussion of methodology
35 DIY (Do-It-Yourself ) 53 Site observation: Israels Plads, Copenhagen 113 Bibliography
37 Conflict & banishment 59 Site observation: Place de la République, Paris
39 Reflections and ideas 65 Integrated skateparks
67 Reflections and ideas
I Appendix - interview sheet
Intro 1 2
Background Aim Limitations
Since skateboarding first grew out of the Apart from the authoritarian attitude stated above, The aim of this thesis is to gain deeper understanding As a consequence of the limited scope of this thesis,
Californian surf culture in the 1950’s it has been skating as an activity is, as Iain Borden states, of what to consider in terms of planning and literature has been studied to the extent of getting
rooted in adapting urban and suburban landscapes; difficult to classify as a truly illegal activity. design when integrating skateboarding into urban an overview of urban skateboarding and how it
turning them into pleasure grounds. While never Furthermore, he believes that skaters are unlikely to public space used by both the general public and can be integrated into urban public place. Hence,
disappearing, skateboarding has taken many turns, stop skating anyway and that banning skateboarding skateboarders. deeper investigations of topics such as the history of
rising and falling in popularity and has over the is likely to add to the already anarchistic spirit of skateboarding, its philosophical, social, technical and
decades established itself as a practice with millions skateboarding, becoming yet “another obstacle to Further the aim is to shed light on important subcultural meanings are outside of the scope of this
of practitioners worldwide. While skaters initially overcome” (2001, pp. 257-258). characteristics of urban skate spots as well as the thesis and have not been deeply investigated. Further,
appropriated found terrains, such as school yards and potential added values that these places can generate the work is limited to investigate skateboarding as
drained backyard pools skateboarding moved to its Instead of seeing urban skateboarders as a problem for cities. integrated in urban places and does not focus on
own purpose-designed arena in the early 1970’s; the or skateboarding as something that only should take skateboarding in dedicated skateparks. This thesis
skatepark. In these environments skaters could place in skateparks, recent trends show indications does not in any way attempt to present a “full
progress without being chased away by security of cities starting to see skateboarders as an integrated Research questions picture” of what skateboarding is.
and angry home owners. It was not until the rise of part of urban life. This trend that has been called
“street skating” in the 1980’s that skateboarders “Skateboard urbanism” (Owens 2014) also referred Moreover, any similarities to Landscape urbanism or
started to appropriate urban environments such as to as “the skate city” and is said to be one of the most Main research question other urban theory has not been investigated due to
plazas again (Borden 2001). common topics of current discussions on the limited time and scope of this format.
skateboarding (Lombard 2016, pp. 21-23). • How can skateboarding be integrated into urban
Since then skateboarding has developed into a public space through planning and design? Geographically this thesis can be seen as universal
practice that takes place both in dedicated skateparks Cities such as Malmö, Copenhagen and Melbourne since skateboarding is a global phenomenon and
and in the shared space of the city, two environments are increasingly open towards integrating Sub-questions to support the main research globalization has made cities worldwide have
of entirely different character (Borden 2001). skateboarding into public space and municipal question somewhat similar urban conditions (impervious
policy. They have recognized skaters as one of surfaces, etc.). However, most of the study is made
While skateboarding in skateparks rarely poses many groups that are part of urban life and see • What are the key characteristics of urban upon interviews of mainly Swedish/Scandinavian
problems for the general public due to their skateboarding as a positive agent in activating unsafe skate-able space? skateboard experts and observations of European
purpose designed nature, skating in public places and left-over space as well as generating vibrancy in places and case studies.
such as streets and squares has generally not been urban place (Lampinen 2016; Clasper 2016; CoM • What added value can urban skate-able space
encouraged. Skaters that prefer skating these types 2016). This way they are addressing a broader issue generate? Regarding observed urban skate spots the study was
of environments often end up in the centre of urban that can be applied to a range of other activities and limited to three sites. These were selected for their
conflict and are commonly rejected from public functions in the quest for sustainable cities; a values as demonstrable examples of urban places
places. In city centres all over the world multifunctional approach to using city space. where the skate-able function is a subtle component
skateboarding is designed against by the in places used by the general public.
implementation of skate stoppers and in other ways Due to my interest in both skateboarding and
prevented due to noise concerns, damage, personal landscape architecture I have wanted to learn more The selection of case studies was limited to three
safety concerns and biases (Borden 2001, pp. 247- about how skateboarding can be integrated into cities and were chosen for their value as demonstrable
260). Banning skateboarding from public places the public spaces of the city through planning and examples of cities officially working with integrating
however, is ultimately a counterproductive and design, how cities work with this and what added skateboarding into urban public space.
unsuccessful strategy for several of reasons. values this approach can generate for cities.
3 4
Methodology
The subject of skateboarding is a peculiar one. While The information from the interviews served as the To get a broader insight and more updated look on The focus of the observations was on what made
it is nothing that has gone unnoticed in the academ- base for this thesis and the interview questions were skateboarding I studied “Skateboarding, subculture, the sites popular urban skate locations. This
ic field it is a difficult and fluid subject to cover. In tightly linked to the research questions. The group sites and shifts” by Kara-Jane Lombard (2016). involved getting a holistic sense of these places,
order to gain a holistic understanding of the subject I of interviewees was selected from relevance and Lombard has put together a collection of texts from which meant spending considerable time on site,
relied on a range of qualitative research methods and availability, in both social and geographical terms. a wide range of scholars devoted to researching ranging between 2-5 hours. Special focus was put on
split the thesis into different chapters, each handling skateboard (including Iain Borden) and thus provides identifying what made the chosen sites favourable
different aspects of skateboarding. Throughout the Skateboarding is a highly male dominated activity a multitude of angles into what skateboarding is, for skating, involving everything from skate-able
five first chapters “Skateboarding”, “Skateboarding (Borden 2001 pp. 139-150), hence more men were what it is becoming and its connection and effects elements to factors such as setting and location.
& the city”, “Integrated designs”, “Added value” and part of the group due to professional relevance (as on culture, everyday life, social processes, and so on After the observations an analysis of the impressions
“Skate-friendly cities” methodologies are intertwined in people actually working with skateboarding) and (Lombard 2016). and results was made to try and pin point the key
and each end in a summarizing reflection where I availability. However, attempts to lift the question of characteristics of the particular site.
lifted thoughts and ideas that came up during the gender was represented both in interview questions Other relevant articles that have been used were
process of writing this thesis. Together these reflec- and the group of interviewees, as the statistical rate found via simple Google searches. Search words Case studies
tions and ideas formed the last chapter, “Planning of women in the group by far exceeds the statistical included: “Skateboard + urbanism”, “Urban In order to understand how cities work strategically
suggestions”, which is a proposal on how cities can quote of total female practitioners, see page 11-14 for + skateboarding”, “Place de la République + with skateboarding as an integrated part of the city
plan and design for integrating skateboarding into presentation of interviewees. skateboard”, Warschaur + Bänke”, “Israels plads three case studies were made. The focus of these
public space. + Skateboard”, “Melbourne + Skateboard”, studies was on how these cities work with integrating
Three of the interviews were conducted via “Copenhagen + Skateboard”, “Malmö + Skateboard”. skateboarding into public spaces and municipal
Personal communication - interviews email. The other nine interviews were recorded policy.
In order to gain deeper insight into how the topic, after approval from the interviewees, translated, Participant observation of three urban skate spots
a set of interviews was conducted. In pursuit of transcribed, summarized and shortened to only To further explore urban public places where both Melbourne was chosen because of the strategical
this specific data, attempts were made to find contain relevant information. The raw data was skaters and the general public dwell, observations document that the City of Melbourne (CoM) is in
interviewees that were both skaters and that had then used as the base of research. By analysing the of three of Europe’s most popular urban skate spots process of developing; the “Skate Melbourne Plan
professional experience of working with these types outcome I tried to find common denominators was made. The chosen sites were three places that I 2017-2027” (2016). This strategical document
of questions. Hence, the interviews represent the in the provided answers. The guiding interview have personal experience of skateboarding at and that (draft) is one of many similar documents. However,
skater perspective on the matter. questions are attached as an appendix. fitted the criteria specified in limitations. These were: while most of these have a strong focus on dedicated
skateboard infrastructure the Melbourne plan
The method of interviewing was semi-structured Literature studies • Warschaur Bänke, Berlin stands out because of its focus on the integration of
and qualitative; meaning that a set of pre-thought To gain insight into research on skateboarding and • Israels plads, Copenhagen skateboarding into shared urban spaces.
out questions were presented to the interviewee in its relation to architecture I studied Iain Bordens • Place de la République, Paris
a given order. The questions were then answered “Skateboarding, space and the city – architecture and Copenhagen and Malmö were chosen because of
openly by the interviewee giving them the body” (2001). Borden is Professor in Architecture The method of observation was a so called total the cities skate-friendly attitudes. Information on
opportunity to elaborate freely on the questions with and Urban culture at Bartlett, College of London, participant observation, where the observer has a Malmö was extracted from an interview with skate
a focus on why and how (Bryman 2008). Due to the and is often cited in the discussion of skateboarding hidden role and acts as anyone that might happen co-ordinator Gustav Svanborg Edén1 and from a
personal nature of the conducted interviews and the and the city. His work is particularly interesting for to be on site. This method is commonly used for video of a Finnish skate seminar where Edén explains
difficulty to provide retractable data the interviews this topic because of its strong focus on architecture qualitative investigations where the researcher the history behind Malmö’s way towards becoming a
are formally referred to as personal communication. and space where many other works on skateboarding becomes part of the natural context and avoid skate destination (Lampinen 2016). Information on
are of sociological character. disturbing the studied subject/field Copenhagen was extracted through reading articles
(Denscombe 1998). found online.
1 interview, Malmö 2016.11.17
5 6
Disposition Terminology
Main Research question Below follows a set of terms used in this thesis that Skate stopper
How can skateboarding be integrated into urban need some clarification in terms of how I have used Design interventions specifically made to prevent
public space through planning and design? them: skateboarding from damaging or disturbing public
and private property such as spikes and other devices
Appropriation to protect urban furniture (Borden 2001, pp. 254-
Interviews Skateboarding Following Lefebvres “Production of space” (1991) I 255).
Elaborates on skateboarding as a wide concept, its erent styles understand and define this term as the introduction
Literature studies
and social context of a new use to a space by a group, other than what Urban skateboarding
the space was originally intended for; basically claim- Skateboarding that happens in the public space of
ing of space. the city and not in dedicated skateparks.
Interviews Skateboarding & the city Line Skate-able place/skate spot
Describes how skaters use and engage with urban A succession of skateboard tricks in a row. Places such as squares, parks and plazas with favoura-
Literature studies environments. ble conditions for skateboarding and were skaters and
Public space non-skaters get to negotiate over the use of space.
Public space is a controversial term, as geographer
David Harvey argues public space is often under Transition
Interviews Integrated designs private ownership and heavily regulated by state. In A word for the quarter-pipe shaped skateboard
Sub-question 1
Site observations Describes important characteristics of urban skate-able space his view the concept of public space has been eroded element (see page 31 for image). The name “transi-
and shows examples of integrated designs. What are the key
Literature studies and does not allow for a diverse and free social life tion” originates from the curved transition between
characteristics of
urban skate-able were all types of events can take place. He argues that the wall and floor that some Californian swimming
space? public space should be a space of negotiation be- pools had when drained. Early skaters searched for
tween its users (CCCB 2016). In this thesis I refer to these drained pools and skated the curved transition
Interviews Added Value Sub-question 2 public space as shared urban spaces that are perceived as a concrete wave (Borden 2001, p 33). Eventually
Describes potential added values that urban as being public and were its users get to negotiate this reinterpretation led to the evolution of transi-
Literature studies skate-able space can generate What added value
can urban over the use of space. tion-based skateboarding styles such as pool and vert
skate-able space skating (Borden 2001, pp. )
generate?
For terminology on more skate objects see page 31.
Interviews
Skate-friendly cities
Literature studies Describes how cities work towards integrating skateboarding
Case studies into urban public space
Planning & design suggestions
Flow chart showing the structure of
7 this thesis. 8Interviewees
Søren Nordal Enevoldsen, Copenhagen Sarah Meurle, Gothenburg
Architect, SNE Architects Photography student
– I have been skateboarding my whole life and – I have skated half my life, starting when I was thir-
got interested in architecture partly because of my teen and since I grew up just outside Malmö I quick-
fascination for the urban landscape that I’ve gained ly became part of the Malmö skate scene. When I
through skateboarding. Now I design active urban was sixteen I started at Bryggeriets skateboard high
and recreational urban spaces often with skate-related school and after that I have been moving around to
architecture. There are a lot of different reasons as different locations around the world, skating and
to why I skate depending on my age and stages in doing other stuff on the side. I got sponsored at an
life. Today I feel that skating is a way more intimate early age and have generally spent a whole lot of time
and personal thing that clears my mind and gives me on my skateboard.
these poetic “zen-moments”.
Photo courtesy of SNE architects ©
Sandra Olsson, Malmö Gustav Svanborg Edén, Malmö
Building engineer, Pivotech Skateboard Co-ordinator, City of Malmö
– I have skated for about 10 years and work with – I have skated since ‘87. I am educated in various
skatepark design at Pivotech. I started skating a lot subjects such as philosophy, economy, media, etc.
more when I moved to Malmö in 2009. Being a part and have lived with skateboarding for the most part
of Tösabidarna (female skate organisation) led to of my life, it has been my biggest cultural asset. I
skateboarding basically taking up all my free time, started working for Bryggeriets skateboard high
weekends etc. Skateboarding has always been a very school which then later led to me working for the
good combination of a fun social thing I do with City of Malmö. My role here is originally event-ori-
my friends and for myself as a physical and mental ented but has been re-developed into a role that
challenge. involves events, activation and urban development.
Photo courtesy of Pivotech ©
Martin Karlsson, Stockholm Anthony Crawford, Stockholm
Teacher, Fryshuset skateboard high school Board member, Stockholm skateboard collective
– I started skating 1988 during the second wave of – Born and raised in England, London – Waltham-
skateboarding, or third from a worldwide perspec- stow to be specific. I started skating around 1995 and
tive. Second in Sweden. And then I never stopped, have basically been skating since then. I remember
I still skate a lot. At the moment I work as a skate- going in to London and seeing skaters at PlayStation
board teacher at Fryshusets skateboard high school skatepark, just standing there gawking and just got
but since 1988 I have not just been skating, I have stuck into it. To be honest, all my life before I started
also made skateboard magazines, been running skate- skateboarding, I really didn’t feel like I had an identi-
board companies, designed skateparks and a little bit ty and when I got into skateboarding it was like; this
of everything that involves skateboarding. is what I want to do, this is fun.
9 10Günes Özdogan, Uppsala David Gough, Gothenburg
Professional Skateboarder Landscape architect, Mareld Landskap
– I have been skating for about twenty years. I – Throughout my life I skated through school,
started out skating here in Uppsala and have actually college and university. After moving to London
kept at it nonstop since then. I’ve been sponsored for work took overhand and I didn’t start again until I
about ten years now and ride for Adidas skateboard- moved to Sweden. When I came here I went down
ing (amongst others), on their international team, to the local skatepark and started meeting people,
and skateboarding has taken me to places all over the so skateboarding really has a huge social value. I
globe. So I am going to continue to do that. got more and more involved in the skate scene and
started sitting in boards, designing skateparks, etc.
Skateboarding is a part of my life and will continue
to be.
Niklas Boström, Stockholm Katharina Sterner, Gothenburg
Chairman, Stockholm skateboard collective Association secretary, Swedish Skateboard Association
– I´ve skated since 1996, mostly street. I am – I started skating 1996 so I have been on the
chairman of Stockholm skateboard collective, which skateboard for 20 years now. During those 20 years
is an organization that works for a skate-adapted I have had periods of not skating since society says
Stockholm. I am educated in sports science and that it’s best to be a guy if you are going to skate and
sports education with an expertise within sports then grow up after you are 15. But when I actually
organization and management. This has been a grew up I realized that growing up means making
major asset in talking with politicians, architects and your own decisions and then I started skating again.
the city and in starting a skateboard organization. I Now I work as association secretary for the Swedish
know how to apply for funding and other important skateboard association, something I really wouldn’t
organizational aspects. have believed 20 years ago.
Emma Fastesson Lindgren, Stockholm James Thoem, Copenhagen
Board member, Swedish skateboard association Urban planner, Copenhagenize
– I’m currently a student at Stockholm business – I’ve been skateboarding for well over half my
school and have been skating since I was eleven, life, and for me it’s mostly a social thing. I have
which is about 10 years ago now. I am also a board no particular direct relationship or interest in the
member of the Swedish skateboard association and professional side of skateboarding, no ambitions of
compete in skateboarding on elite level. I skate sponsorship, no interest in an ‘industry’ job. Though
simply because its fun. that is not to say it hasn’t influenced my current line
of work as an urban planner. The countless hours
spent scouring the alleyways, drainage ditches, and
industrial parks, undoubtedly helped shape my
interest in understanding urban landscapes.
Photo courtesy of Emma Fastesson Lindgren ©
11 12Skateboarding
This chapter elaborates on skateboarding as a
wide concept, such as its different styles and
its social context based on interviews and
literature studies.
13 14What is skateboarding?
Skateboarding: A fluid & dynamic field Skateboarding is what you want it to be
It might seem like an easy task to define what A common debate is if skateboarding is a sport or a
skateboarding is, in one way it is; it is simply play lifestyle. According to Edén1 it as better to look at
with a wooden deck on four wheels. However skateboarding as an interface through which you as a
there seems to be more complexity to it. As Gustav skater face the world, meaning that it affects all parts
Svanborg Edén1 (Skateboard co-ordinator at Malmö of your life. He argues that in skateboarding you
city) explains, skate has many dimensions: “skate is can be physically aggressive or relaxed depending on
very diverse. In every circumstance it is presented, what you want, that it is a physical way of expression
skateboarding is always reduced from its true that at the same time is closely tied to aesthetics,
character”. culture and film: “skateboarding has a wide and rich
cultural capital”.
Looking to the academic field scholars such as
Borden (2001) and Lombard (2016) have tried to Considered this way skateboarding can open the
define the meanings of skateboarding. Even here it door to a wide range of interests and become what
would seem like skateboarding holds a multitude of you want it to be; a sport, a lifestyle or a free medium
meanings and as it turns out it is quite complex to for expression depending on what you feel.
point out exactly what skateboarding is.
Mainstream culture / underground subculture
“…skateboarding is a fluid, dynamic field, a One thing is certain however, while skateboarding
global phenomenon whose participants have has a strong subcultural heritage and certain
strong connections to local scenes, a rebellious anarchistic tendencies (Borden 2001) it has now
activity and commercialized form.” turned into also being a part of mainstream culture
as Chairman of Stockholm Skate Collective,
- Kara-Jane Lombard (2016, p. 38) Nicklas Boström2 explains: “skateboarding is part
of mainstream commercialization now”. A trend
As this quote suggests, it is quite problematic that most interviewees think will continue to
to define exactly what skateboarding is because grow, as Enevoldsen3 says regarding the future of Further, skateboard media has undergone a massive Regardless of what skateboarding is turning into
it is dynamic, ever changing and in many ways skateboarding: “my guess is that it will be everything shift from being communicated via the occasional Thoem6 reflects what most interviewees feel: “I’m
contradictory. There are simply different sides to the it is today, just on steroids”. video and magazine to “being sprayed out all over quite certain that no matter what, skateboarding will
story as architect Søren Nordal Enevoldsen2 states: the internet through social media”, as skateboard continue to be fun, whether in the streets or at the
“skating is so many things; it’s the act itself, it’s the A proof of this development is the recent teacher Martin Karlsson4 puts it. Urban planner skatepark, or somewhere in between”.
industry, the clothing, style, trends, competitions and announcement that skateboarding will be a part of James Thoem5 explains that as a result of this, the
media, it’s the skate spots and skateparks and so on”. the Olympic games in Tokyo 2020, something that skate industry and associated media can now find a
has led to mixed feelings in the skateboard world stronghold virtually anywhere, whereas before it used
(Thrasher 2016; Transworld 2016). to come from a centralised source, most often in
southern California.
1 interview, Malmö 2016.11.17
1 interview, Malmö 2016.11.17 2 Interview, Stockholm 2016.11.16 4 Interview, Stockholm 2016.10.24
2 Interview, email 2016.11.30 3 Interview, email 2016.11.30 5 Interview, email 2017.01.24 6 Interview, email 2017.01.24
15 16Different styles, different spatial needs
Skateboarding involves a variety of different Freestyle & Cruising
styles that have developed over the many stages In Freestyle most moves are executed whilst standing
of skateboarding, each adopting different types of still, such as doing handstands (Borden 2001, pp. 17,
environments (Borden 2001). 65).
According to Enevoldsen1 this is commonly Cruising is a collective term for surf-related styles
misunderstood by municipalities and city planners, (downhill, slalom, longboarding) and generally take
“it is almost impossible to explain to them that place on sidewalks and down hills and does not
skateboarding is not just one thing but many things need any particular obstacles or special purpose built
depending on styles”. infrastructure (CoM 2016, p. 9).
Street skating needs urban skate-able Park skating needs skateparks with both
Following Borden (2001) skate-able space can be Transition based skating places such as public squares, plazas “street” and “transition” elements.
and other urban environments that
subdivided into two superior categories, found and These styles are based on the quarter-pipe element, can be reinterpreted for skating.
constructed space. Skateparks and other purpose originally used like a concrete wave by pool skaters
built skateboard infrastructure is in the category in drained backyard swimming pools. Later vert
of “constructed space” while “found space” is not skating, a type of skating in huge U-shaped wooden
designed for the purpose of skateboarding but is ramps, developed out of pool skating. “Vert” is short
reinterpreted to fit skating (p. 2). for vertical and alludes to the vertical upper part of
the ramp, above the quarter-pipe. All these styles are
Examples of typical found terrains are (Borden 2001 based on doing tricks on or above the lip/coping,
pp. 173-184): which is the upper edge of the pool/ramp (Borden
2001, pp. 57-88).
• Shared urban places such as squares and plazas
• Streets and alleys Street skating
• Parking lots This style was developed by combining transition- Pool skating needs concrete bowls/pools Vert skating requires huge wooden
• Indoor spaces such as garages skating and freestyle moves and applying them onto half-pipes.
objects of the city. The base trick is the flatground
Examples of constructed spaces are (Borden 2001, ollie which enables the skater to jump together with
pp. 57-88): the board and onto objects (Borden 2001, pp. 176-
182). This is by far the most common style in urban
• Concrete skateparks skating.
• Prefabricated skateparks
• Skate bowls Park skating
• Half-pipes and ramps Park skating is a style specifically adapted for
• Indoor skateparks different types of purpose built skateparks (CoM
2016, p.9) and can be described as a flow-based Freestyle requires flat surfaces Crusing is generally used a mode of
merge between street and transition skating. transportation and requires smooth
ground materials.
1 Interview, email 2016.11.30
Simplified examples of styles and their
17 spatial requirements. 18Social context
Identity Alone but together: Sessions
That skateboarding has identity shaping elements is Further, skateboarding is a social practice and rarely
no secret. Skateboarding has even been compared happens alone. If you go skateboarding alone,
to Romanticism with skaters having their own dress chances are that you will make a friend or bump into
codes, language and expressions and so on (Borden one at the skate spot or skatepark.
2001, p. 138).
The group activity that takes place at a skate spot or
Board member of Stockholm Skate Collective, skatepark is called a “session” and can be described as
Anthony Crawford1 reflects what many of the an individual group practice, a sort of an “informal
interviewees feel: “to be honest, all my life before I competition” (Borden 2001, p. 124). In the
started skateboarding, I really didn’t feel like I had interviews it becomes apparent that there are high
an identity and when I got into skateboarding it was social values to sessions, and that through sessions at
like; this is what I want to do, this is fun”. Karlsson2 a spot or a skatepark you can approach other skaters
even feels that he is so attached to skateboarding that and break the ice socially. Like Edén1 explained
he would have a hard time seeing who he would be if earlier, skateboarding can be seen as an interface, a
it was not skateboarding. type of lens through which you look at the world.
This way, if you are a skater yourself and you bump
Freedom & individualism into another skater, you know you will have things in
To Landscape architect David Gough3 skateboarding common.
is more a form of escapism where he feels like he can
switch everything off and do what he wants: “it’s just Local activity, Global connectivity
freedom in a form that I haven’t found in anything Professional skateboarder Günes Özdogan2 explains
else”. Skateboarder and photographer Sarah Meurle4 that since skateboarding is a global culture and
felt that the freedom of skateboarding worked better shared instantly through media you are bound to
for her than stressing over football practice multiple have mutual points of interest with other skaters.
Session at Charlotte Ammundsens plads, Copenhagen.
times a week: “the freedom of skating worked out This way skateboarding can bridge gaps between
very good for me. I could practice my own tricks different demographics, across ages and backgrounds.
and I had a small group of friends to ride with”. The Further, this makes it easy to take the initial steps
individual freedom of skateboarding is also what of bonding and is thus a great way to integrate in
attracted Boström5 to skating after having played communities where you do not have many other
a lot of hockey and participated in other sports: friends and acquaintances. Crawford3 is one of
“skateboarding is far more ephemeral and social; I many that have had first-hand experience of this,
decide when to skate, how to skate and who to skate moving from London to Stockholm, “Coming here
with”. skateboarding really helped me find friends; most of
1 Interview, Stockholm 2016.10.20 my friends are skateboarders”.
2 Interview, Stockholm 2016.10.24
3 Interview, Gothenburg 2016.10.28 1 interview, Malmö 2016.11.17
4 Interview, Gothenburg 2016.10.28 2 Interview, Uppsala 2016.10.20
5 Interview, Stockholm 2016.11.16 3 interview, Stockholm 2016.10.20
Session at Place de la République, Paris. Friendship at Place de la République, Paris.
19 20A safety net for outcasts This should theoretically give room to all kinds of
Many interviewees mentioned that skateboarding expressions making skateboarding indifferent to race,
can serve as a safety net for people that have started gender and social backgrounds. However, you have
off on the wrong path in life. Edén1 explains that to fit the criteria.
there are a lot of great things about organized sport
but there is a large crowd of people that do not fit Judgement
that profile and seek other activities to engage in. In Edén4 explains that the skateboard industry emerged
his view a portion of these people are quite strong in a time when skateboarding was closely related to
individuals that do not want to be confined by punk and driven by male teenage ideals. He explains
anything and do things their own way. He thinks that this testosterone fuelled and subversive legacy
that skateboarding can provide a good alternative for has created a frame from which all skaters are being
this group since these people are in a category that judged to some extent, by others within the skate
can end up being very expensive for cities if they community.
follow the wrong path. Association secretary at the
Swedish Skateboard Association Katharina Sterner2 Enevoldsen5 experienced this when he started getting
also thinks that skateboarding catches a certain into the skate scene as he felt a need to prove himself
group of people that does not feel like they belong to the older and cooler local skaters, in order to gain
elsewhere in society and explains that skateboarding acceptance. Even though Enevoldsen is now forty
gives these people a sense of belonging. years old he explains that this feeling still comes
lingering at times: “I still to this day get that insecure
Currency feeling sometimes, where I feel that I get judged by
Individual expression, creativity and authenticity my surroundings and have to perform in order to be
are highly valued qualities within skateboarding accepted”. He explains that skate media constantly
and praised within the skateboard industry (Beal & feeds you ideas that professional skaters are these
Weidman 2003). Further, Borden (2001) explains heroes and that it is the best thing in the world to be
that the currency within skateboarding is your sponsored, generating a type of ideal for skaters.
moves and how you gracefully you can communicate – Don’t get me wrong, I love skateboarding and a lot Front stage & Backstage observed such as when in public place (front stage)
them (pp.114-135, 262). According to Edén3 the of the media, but there’s also a negative side to the Meurle6 accurately explains a feeling most skaters than when alone or closed off with people you know
value of this currency is higher if you do a move on whole ego focus/sponsor-thing that I believe side- often have: ”sometimes it’s nice to feel that you don’t better (backstage) such as being at home with family
something that has not been skated before or if the tracks a lot of teenagers. It’s not just the media’s fault; have the eyes of a lot of other skaters on you”. Here, (Goffman 1959). Front stage behaviour is to larger
trick is made in a new way, with better “style”. Here we as skaters also do it to ourselves locally. Building engineer Sandra Olsson7 is on the same degree dictated by following norms (Goffman 1959),
he points out that aesthetics come in to play in more note: “I hate to skate when I feel self-conscious”. such as Karlsson8 expresses: “at busy places you just
ways than just the act of skating: “the setting and end up doing the same things as you already know,
filming is important to communicate authenticity This brings Erving Goffmans theories of “Front there is not really any space for trying something new
and make the viewer inspired”. stage” and “Backstage” behaviour to mind. Where and progressing”.
people tend to behave differently while being
1 Interview, Stockholm 2016.11.16
4 interview, Malmö 2016.11.17 6 Interview, Gothenburg 2016.10.27
2 Interview, Gothenburg 2016.10.27
5 Interview, email 2016.11.30 7 interview, Malmö 2016.11.17 8 Interview, Stockholm 2016.10.24
3 interview, Malmö 2016.11.17
Above: Skateboard move being documented at
21 Place de la République, Paris. 22Skateboarding, gender issues & homophobia This legacy becomes apparent when skateboard
It is no secret that skateboarding is an activity legend Brian Anderson lands an article in New
predominantly practiced by men (Borden 2001, York Times for coming out officially as gay in 2016
p.144). Edén1 explains that this partially has to do after being one of the most influential street skaters
with how communication within the skate industry since the early 1990’s (Dougherty 2016). This really
being directed solely towards boys. should not be something that was even relevant
– Decades of having teenage guys as only target and while there is no doubt skateboarding still has
group has led to expressions in skateboard culture miles to walk (Welsh 2016; Papalardo 2017) this is
being deterrent to women. however an indicator that the social climate is slowly
starting to warm up.
Meurle2 thinks it has to do with more than just the
skate industry: “I feel like our whole culture and Skateboarding is getting more inclusive
society is split into norms on how men and women “Talking about female skateboarding, I think that
are expected to act and do so it’s not surprising that is going to increase a lot”, says Sterner4 and thinks
it is the same with skateboarding”. Boström3 is on this already existing trend will continue to grow.
the same track and explains that there are many other Boström5 is also optimistic and explains that we are
activities with similar male dominated hierarchical generally going towards such tendencies now that old
structures where it has been about being the most norm codes are being de-cyphered which opens up
aggressive and radical. He explains that norms grow the possibility to do what you want, not what you
out of these cultures that take time to change: “how should. In fact most interviewees look brightly at the
long has female football been accepted for instance?” future for inclusion within skateboarding, both when
it comes to gender and sexual orientation. Regarding
There are other values and traits that quite female participation, Edén6 has seen strong growth
contradictory have been excluded in skateboard and asserts: “it’s only a matter of time before female
history, homosexuality for instance. Looking at the skating explodes”.
social structure of skateboarding this however is quite Skate culture is becoming more tolerant to beginners. Kids skating at Place de la République, Paris.
ironic (Borden 2001, p. 147). As perceived by Karlsson skateboarding has also
7
become internally more accepting: “before there were
“Skaters thus spend much time looking at only a few things that were cool but that frame has
photographs of other young men, emulating expanded enormously”. Here, Sterner8 points out
other young men, and displaying themselves to that there is also more room for beginners: “before
young men. Skateboarding could thus easily be you basically had to be good from the beginning
construed as a homosexual gesture, and perhaps since there was no room for beginners”.
as a result of this possibility many skaters seem
to react in a number of different ways. First
there is homophobia.”
4 Interview, Gothenburg 2016.10.27
-Iain Borden (2001, p. 147) 5 Interview, Stockholm 2016.11.16
1 Interview, Malmö 2016.11.17 6 Interview, Malmö 2016.11.17
2 Interview, Gothenburg 2016.10.27 7 Interview, Stockholm 2016.10.24
3 Interview, Stockholm 2016.11.16 8 Interview, Gothenburg 2016.10.27 Katharina Sterner and Sarah Meurle are two of Swedens most The vast majority of skaters are still young men.
23 prominent skaters. Boys being boys at Place de la République, Paris. 24You can also read
