Report: Eds andra kiosk

Dalsland, west of Lake Vänern, has been described as Sweden’s most forgotten region. In the wake of structural change and increasing urban centralization, the area faces the challenge of finding new pathways toward the future.

The project Eds andra kiosk (Ed’s Second Kiosk) was initiated to put theories of place-making and the creation of meeting spaces into exploratory, practical application. The project was carried out as part of ArkDes Open Call 2021, under the theme “Shared Spaces and Interspaces”.
 A 15-square-meter kiosk was built in the locality of Håbol in Dals-Ed Municipality, inspired by a historical kiosk designed by George Zackariasson in 1929. The name—Eds andra kiosk—reflects this historical link.

The project investigated what it takes to create a new public space. Could a simple kiosk serve as a catalyst for local networks? What functions are needed for such a place to be socially sustainable over time? The process itself was also central: participation in design, planning and construction, dialogue with the community, and anchoring new interventions in the local narrative.
The kiosk was placed on private land at a crossroads between Henneviken, Näs, and Tuvan—a natural meeting point in the local geography that already serves as a site for mailboxes and seasonal traffic by cyclists, scouts, motorcyclists, and vintage car enthusiasts.

The project was carried out in collaboration between initiator Erik Normark, Egnahemsfabriken ↗, Dare2Build ↗ and Not Quite ↗.
 Eds andra kiosk was designed not only as a kiosk but also as a small cultural venue and destination. Within the project, it was referred to as a “Kulturkiosk” (Culture Kiosk), with the hope that this modest initiative would inspire others to create small cultural kiosks—generating new forms of micro-public space. 
The project’s findings and experiences from the construction process are presented in a final report.