The temporal master plan of Kristinehamn : An analysis of ideas of the local physical planning, the years 1940-43

The purpose of this essay is to study how the local creators of a "master plan" for the swedish city Kristinehamn, the years between 1940 to -43, looked on their planning. It is an analysis of ideas case study. A hypothesis is upheld for the research: that the local physical planning had largely extended ambitions what regards central state control in a way that is similar to planned economy. Questions that are asked include: Was the planning assumed to be a tool for the state to regulate the environment? Can the planning be seen as a mean to control the society in time and space? The essay search for verification of the hypothesis by a theoretical analysis apparatus made upp of ideal types. With four for this purpose formed types of planning, the ideal is compared with the real documents from Kristinehamn. The analysis here made can not verify the hypothesis. Instead of being a hierarchial and vertical form of planning, this reserch shows how the local planners had a more temporal and horizontal view on their effort. This result might even clarify that the intention behind the swedish welfare society, "Folkhemmet", were not as centrally planned as often assumed by critics