Impact of High Construction on City Identity : Thematic Analysis of Student Perspectives on Tampere’s Identity and Future Development

Abstract

The world is urbanising faster than ever before with more and more people moving into cities. This creates a large need for space that can accommodate new and old residents. One way to respond to increasing populations is to build cities upwards. This decreases the occupation of space on the ground level and slows down urban sprawl. In many cities, tall construction has been brought to the maximum. The skyline of these cities is dominated by impressive skyscrapers and other tall buildings. The contrast between tall construction and existing urban makeup is often large and can contribute to a city’s identity significantly.

In Finland, Tampere has started to plan and implement tall constructions similar to those found in the world’s major cities. This study focused on the railway station-area of Tampere city center, where several tall skyscrapers are planned. It examined how the transformation of the city center into an area of significant contrasts between new and existing buildings affects the way the city is perceived as a whole. The research material was collected by interviewing a group of students from Tampere university in spring 2023. Three photo sets were used as discussion material. The photo sets included pictures from three different periods of time; before, now and in the future. A thematic analysis was compiled from the research material.

From the interviews, two themes were revealed, both of which hold tension points within. In the first theme, ‘warmth’ and ‘coldness’ stand in dissonance. The second theme addresses the diversity of the urban landscape and, on the other hand, when there is too much of it. Through the themes, it became clear that the participants recognize that Tampere has a unique identity. It is strongly influenced by the sense of community among its residents and a certain warmth that is expressed both in the people and the streetscape, as a result of, for example, the red brick and lighting familiar to Tampere. The study also revealed participants' concerns about the loss of this identity, as new construction in the city center creates strong contrasts within the urban environment. The findings of the study contribute to the understanding of the experiences of one group of residents in a medium-sized Nordic city and to a broader understanding of urban identity.