Paper short abstract:

Economic restructuring often leaves old industrial areas as deserted, marginal wastelands, which are often perceived as dangerous and aesthetically disadvantageous. Here we assess alternative uses of and engagements with these environments, and the feelings and emotions they evoke in various users.

Paper long abstract:

Economic restructuring often leaves old industrial areas as deserted, marginal wastelands, which are often perceived as dangerous and aesthetically disadvantageous. On the other hand, they function as landmarks and fascinate as material monuments of the industrial past. During our ‘Smokestack Memories’ project we have mapped various alternative ways of interacting with abandoned industrial sites. These include both official and unofficial, forbidden activities. The official uses of ruined factories contain police, military, and urban survival training, and recreational uses, such as wargames with color-ball guns. The unofficial and trespassing uses include e.g. parkour and urban exploration.

In our presentation, we assess the relationships between the various re-uses and abandoned factory environments, and reflect on the feelings that engagement with the ruined industrial environments evoke in users. Our research methods include participatory observation at the sites with different actors, and netnographic analysis of Instagram images and websites related to different activities. As an example, urban exploration has often been viewed as a way of taking over slivers of space and opposing increased control in modern society. Through the various uses, relationships are built with the places. We approach the re-uses and re-visits to industrial sites through emotions and activities they arouse in the different kinds of users. We seek to understand alternative futures for industrial heritage sites, and consider whether some industrial heritage sites could be preserved and used as decaying and eventually disappearing playgrounds for explorers and history buffs.