Linn Lichtermann
Community Manager, Ebbepark, Linköping, Sweden
 

Linn Lichtermann is a passionate advocate for people, connection, and collaboration. As Community Manager for Ebbepark—a forward-thinking urban district in Linköping, Sweden—she is leading efforts to build an inclusive, value-driven community where residents, businesses, and visitors thrive together. Ebbepark is more than a neighborhood; it’s a living lab for sustainable, smart, and socially grounded place development, shaped by the values Dare, Care, Share.

With a background in regional affairs at Saab and as the host of the podcast Framtidens arbetsliv ("The Future of Work Life"), Linn brings deep curiosity and insight into how people live, work, and flourish together. Her work focuses on place development, community building, and promoting mental health and well-being—ensuring that the human perspective is always at the heart of urban transformation.
 

In her talk, "Value-Based Place Development – Turning Vision into Action: The Ebbepark Case," Linn will share how a clear vision rooted in real human values has been translated into architecture, culture, and everyday life at Ebbepark. With creativity and a collaborative mindset, she shows how cities can evolve to meet both today’s and tomorrow’s needs—while putting people first.
 

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS - Linn Lichtermann about PLACExNordic

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What are you most looking forward to at PLACEx?

 

"Spending two days with other place development enthusiasts is truly a gift! I'm looking forward to stepping out of my bubble, listening to how others tackle similar challenges, and getting new perspectives to bring back home." 
 

What is the key topic of your talk?
 

"My talk is about value-based place development – a practical, hands-on method for gradually bringing the vision for a place to life through a set of shared values. These values are expressed both in the physical environment and in how the place is activated. It’s an approach that helps preserve the essence of a place while ensuring that its identity continues to evolve coherently over time. I’ll share stories from Ebbepark, a neighbourhood in Linköping shaped by the values Dare, Care, and Share – and how those words have helped turn vision into action, creating a place that invites people to co-create."
 

What are you most eager to discuss with the audience related to your talk?
 

"I’m curious to hear how others work with values in practice. It’s easy to put words on a wall – but how do we truly bring them to life and make them matter? How do we balance a long-term vision with the real, and sometimes messy, everyday work of place development? I’d love to hear both what works and what doesn’t."

From your job/organisation's point of view, what do you see as the most interesting industry developments or trends here in 2025 when we talk about place attractiveness?

"One trend I find especially interesting is the shift from place branding to place belonging – a direction that aligns closely with the value-based place development method. I believe people have always been drawn to places where they feel seen, involved, and able to contribute – and now the industry is truly starting to acknowledge that. I’m excited to see a growing focus on places that feel authentic and meaningful in everyday life."

 
For the remainder of 2025, what do you see as the biggest challenge(s) for your place to be attractive to your main target audience?
 

"One challenge is keeping the spirit of co-creation alive as the place grows. In the early phases, it’s easier to experiment and engage people directly, but as buildings fill up and things settle, it takes more intention to stay open and adaptive. We want Ebbepark to remain a place that feels alive and unfinished in the best possible way – not just a completed product, but a place you can still help shape."

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