{"id":30420,"date":"2025-05-12T15:52:04","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T13:52:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkdes.se\/?post_type=project&p=30420"},"modified":"2026-04-16T15:17:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T13:17:18","slug":"visions-in-the-north-step-2","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/arkdes.se\/en\/projects\/visions-in-the-north-step-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Visions in the North step 2"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In Norrbotten and Västerbotten, some of the largest investments ever in green transition, technology and infrastructure are currently underway. The investment places great demands on more housing, attractive living environments and long-term sustainability. How can we create sustainable housing in a short period of time while utilising existing resources and creating good quality living environments in the long term?<\/p>\n

Good living environments are shaped by continuity, multiple perspectives and local knowledge. With this in mind, the work continues with the project Visions in the North step 2<\/em>, an independent part of Visions: in the North<\/em><\/a>, which was carried out in 2022. Behind the initiative is the Council for Vibrant Cities, led by ArkDes, in collaboration with Boden, Gällivare, Kiruna, Luleå, Skellefteå and Umeå.<\/p>\n

Through a call for proposals in spring 2024, the Council for Vibrant Cities selected six interdisciplinary teams of designers, architects, designers and other innovation actors to take on concrete sites in the municipalities. The starting point is to create sustainable living environments. The initiative aims to explore and bring new eyes into the urban design process and find new ways to create long-term management and development strategies.<\/p>\n

The teams’ work on site in the municipalities<\/p>\n

During 2024, the six selected teams surveyed and analysed sites, conditions and needs in designated areas within each municipality. Based on their analyses, they developed concrete proposals for development and management plans in response to local challenges.<\/p>\n

Among the teams’ proposals were ideas for how 550 vacant houses could be brought back into use through a new business model, how an industrial site could be remediated using tens of thousands of green plants, and how public spaces for cultural expression could be designed together with local communities.<\/p>\n

In 2025, three of the teams continued their work within Visions in the North step 2: När horisonter möts<\/em> in Gällivare, Berätta mig vidare<\/em> in Kiruna, and VEX<\/em> in Umeå. In close collaboration with the municipalities, the teams explored how prototypes could be used to develop long-term planning and development strategies. The results ranged from the design of a new learning environment adjacent to a school in the village of Svappavaara, Kiruna, to a manual outlining how municipalities could distribute land to smaller, local actors to support a more locally rooted and dynamic urban development.<\/p>\n

The Council for Living Cities, together with the six teams, compiled lessons learned, reflections and conclusions from the two-year innovation project in a final report.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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Read the final report here:<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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\n .pdf(65mb)\n <\/p>\n \n \n\n\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n Final report Visions in the North step 2\n <\/h2>\n <\/a>\n \n \n

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