FÖRVALTNING AV KULTURHISTORISK MILJÖ UNDER TRE PERIODER En fallstudie av Tjolöholms Slott

Abstract

This study focuses on Tjolöholm Castle, which was built at the turn of the 20th century in Sweden, a time marked by innovation and significant changes in social interaction. The purpose of the study is to examine the management of the property during three different periods of significant change, in order to understand how its function and value are prioritized. The goal is to investigate the broader societal context during these periods, in order to shed light on the underlying driving forces behind these changes and priorities. Based on the materials collected, primarily in the castle’s own archive, three specific time periods that represent significant changes have been selected for in-depth study. To create a comprehensive understanding and context of how and why the management, function, and value of the area have changed, articles, books, and other literature have been gathered and compiled. The results of this compilation are discussed in the fourth chapter of the thesis, where a clear image of a changed perception of cultural heritage is presented. The perceived function and value of Tjolöholm are a reflection of the thoughts and ideologies prevalent in society, and therefore change in line with their evolution. When society was filled with ideas of social and technological advancements, coupled with a fondness for the glorification of the past in national romanticism, a castle with its surrounding environment was created that was informed by both its function and its value. When the administration was taken over by the city of Gothenburg in the 1960s, a time marked by urban redevelopment and the democratization of leisure, the property's function as a gathering place and recreational area was prioritized. In modern times, some aspects of these ideas have persisted in the form of a tourism-focused approach to management. However, the foundation currently managing the property has also placed great emphasis on long-term maintenance and preservation of the cultural-historical environment. In conclusion, the study shows how the correlation between function and value of a given cultural heritage site change shape based on what societal ideals are influencing the management of said site.