Massimo Santanicchia

The Oresund Region. Toward a New Social Identity Massimo Santanicchia

Essay from the year 2003 in the subject Urban and Regional Planning, printed single-sided, grade: A, Architectural Association School of Architecture, course: Identity and social integration, language: English, abstract: "With the building of the bridge between Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmö, Sweden, water ceased to be a barrier. Sjæland and Skåne are linked. New opportunities are opened. Two countries are brought together in one region. Øresund is born. The youngest generations in both cities will grow up not as two separate peoples, but as citizens of one and the same Region." (From the speech held by both mayors of Malmö Ilmar Reepalu and Copenhagen Jens Kramer Mikkelsen in occasion of the opening of the Øresund fixed link July 1st 2000) How the creation of one Region: "Øresundsregionen" can influence the sense of identity of two nations: Denmark and Sweden? What tools the Danish and Swedish governments are using to achieve integration? Is it necessary to be the same to share the same identity? What does identity mean today?