Compensatory planning in action
In the quest for gender-sensitive urban design, compensatory planning offers a bold approach: prioritizing the needs of a historically excluded group, even if it requires temporarily excluding others. But can exclusion foster true inclusion? Malmö’s Rosens Röda Matta offers a compelling case study. After conducting thorough research, it became undeniable that public spaces and leisure facilities in many urban areas are far from inclusive. The disparity in access and usage, particularly between boys and girls, revealed glaring inequalities. In Rosengård, Malmö, for instance, youth centers had long struggled with imbalanced attendance statistics. Girls made up only 10-20% of visitors, a stark underrepresentation that highlighted systemic issues.
Interviews with local schoolchildren painted an even clearer picture of this divide. Boys often named semi-public spaces close to their homes—like staircases, courtyards, or local squares—as their favorite spots. In contrast, girls pointed to private spaces, like their own homes or those of their friends, or neutral locations in the city center, far from their immediate neighborhoods. This finding raised serious questions about the accessibility and safety of public spaces near girls' homes. Why did so many young women feel disconnected from their local urban environments? The answer lay in how these spaces were designed—or, more accurately, how they failed to account for the needs and experiences of girls.
The imbalance extended to organized activities as well. Of the 19 sports teams in Rosengård in 2011, only two were for girls. Even casual observations of public spaces revealed the dominance of men and boys in urban environments—whether at mall cafés, public parks, or multipurpose sports fields. These disparities reflected a broader power dynamic, where access to public space was not equally distributed.
A space designed by and for girls
In 2010, Malmö set out to address a pervasive issue in urban public spaces and sports facilities: their disproportionate use by boys and men. Recognizing the barriers that girls faced in accessing these areas, the city turned its focus to Rosengård, a diverse immigrant neighborhood, and reimagined a parking lot as a dedicated space for young women and girls.
The approach was groundbreaking. From the outset, a group of local girls became active collaborators, providing input on what they wanted from the space. This radical inclusion came with an intentional exclusion: boys and men were not involved in the process or the space’s primary usage. The project leader explained this approach succinctly:
“We excluded to include. It was a deliberate choice to prioritize young women and ensure their needs and voices shaped the space.”
By centering the girls’ perspectives, the resulting park reflected their aspirations. It featured climbing walls, a performance stage for classes and impromptu shows, gymnastics bars, and smaller activity areas designed to prevent domination by any single group. The exclusion wasn’t arbitrary—it was a conscious strategy to ensure that young women felt both safe and seen.
From Space to Empowerment
Rosens Röda Matta opened in 2013, quickly becoming a hub for dance, performance, and other creative activities. However, the impact of the project extended far beyond its physical boundaries. For many participants, the experience of being consulted, heard, and empowered in the planning process was transformative. After the space was completed, the young women formed Engaged in Malmö, a permanent advocacy group that encourages other girls and women to participate in shaping their urban environments.
The project highlighted an important truth: designing inclusive spaces is as much about empowering marginalized groups to influence their cities as it is about the spaces themselves.
“...they failed to account for the needs and experiences of girls.”
A New Framework for Urban Inclusion
The compensatory planning approach used in Malmö exemplifies how urban design can challenge existing power structures in public spaces. To better understand these dynamics, researchers Ida Sandström, Stina Ericsson, and Per-Olof Hedvall developed a conceptual model in their study Gendered Sustainability: Are Public Spaces Designed for Girls Good for Everyone?. The model examines power dynamics and access within public spaces through two axes:
● Excluded/Included (Horizontal Axis): Examines the degree of access groups have to public spaces. ● Ordinate/Subordinate (Vertical Axis): Reflects the power dynamics in public spaces, ranging from dominance to subordination.
The model is divided into four quadrants: 1. Included & Ordinate: Groups that enjoy both access and influence in public spaces, often setting the norms and rules. 2. Excluded & Ordinate: Groups excluded from specific spaces but with broader societal power. 3. Included & Subordinate: Groups granted access to public spaces but with limited power or influence. 4. Excluded & Subordinate: Groups facing systemic exclusion and marginalization in public spaces.
Malmö’s approach specifically addressed the Excluded & Subordinate quadrant by creating an intentional shift toward inclusion and empowerment for young women.
Sparking a wider debate
The success of this initiative resonated far beyond Rosengård. The girls’ efforts sparked a larger debate about gender equality in public spaces. Media coverage amplified their voices, turning a local project into a national conversation about participation, influence, and inclusion in urban planning. The question of who cities are designed for became a focal point, forcing policymakers and planners to confront uncomfortable truths about exclusionary practices.
While participatory processes like this are often celebrated in theory, the real challenge lies in their consistent implementation. It’s easy to draft policy documents and action plans, but fostering genuine, equal participation requires a fundamental shift in mindset. If cities are serious about creating inclusive public spaces, they must commit to embedding this participatory, gender-sensitive approach into every stage of urban planning.
The experience of Rosens Röda Matta offers a compelling case study for how deliberate action—rooted in listening to marginalized voices—can begin to rebalance the scales of urban inequality. It also underscores an important truth: creating equitable cities isn’t just about designing spaces; it’s about empowering people to shape their environments and, in doing so, reshape the city itself.
Lessons from Rosens Röda Matta
The success of this initiative demonstrates the potential of compensatory planning to rectify historical exclusions. Yet, the project also sparked broader discussions about the trade-offs of exclusionary approaches in public design.
Critics argue that focusing solely on one group could inadvertently reinforce segregation, while supporters contend that such measures are necessary steps toward equity. The ultimate question remains: Can we design public spaces that promote both inclusion and equity without unintentionally creating new exclusions?
Nourhan Bassam Author The Gendered City >>