Developing NODESsustainable tourism in Bengtsfors DESIGNING SPACES FOR SYMBIOSIS BETWEEN LOCALS, VISITORS AND NATURE Nodes 1 NODES Developing sustainable tourism in Bengtsfors ABSTRACT The project Nodes is about finding a strategy on how to obtain sustainable tourism in Bengtsfors, by contributing AUTHORS: to positive changes without exploiting ANGELIKA CARLSSON existing local qualities. AMITIS FOULADI LISA JANSSON We have developed two nodes on an identified main path of activities following the canal and draisine rail, exemplifying how stops along the way can contribute CHALMERS MASTER PROGRAMME MPDSD to symbiosis between locals, visitors and STUDIO: PLANNING AND DESIGN FOR nature. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPEMENT IN A LOCAL CONTEXT 2 Nodes Nodes 3 BENGTSFORS TABLE OF CONTENT AN INTRODUCTION TO BENGTSFORS ABSTRACT 3 Flow diagram 29 TABLE OF CONTENT 4 Site strategy 30 Timeline 32 BENGTSFORS 5 Design strategy 34 Bengtsfors is a municipality consisting of An introduction to Bengtsfors 5 Building typology 36 Design 37 mostly rural areas and a few small towns and settlements, and has a long industrial history. VISION 6 Design / process sketches 38 Canals and railways for industrial transport; Aim 6 Case study 39 remains from the past hundred years’ Method 7 Interviews 40 industrialization; are present throughout the landscape. BACKGROUND 8 BIODIVERSITY HUB 43 Tourism in Bengtsfors 8 Why biodiversity? 45 During the past few decades, Bengtsfors has Seasonality of activities 9 Biodiversity in Bengtsfors 46 experienced a lower influx of new inhabitants, Tourist path 10 Biodiversity and man 48 all while more people are moving out, which The draisine track 11 Strategies for biodiversity 49 Bengtsfors location has led to a decreasing, ageing population. Traces 12 Natural transitions 50 in Dalsland As production moved away from the Future development along trace 13 Challenges and new perspectives 51 municipality, job opportunities and tax Opportunity for future development 14 Concept 52 incomes were lost and people started to SWOT analysis 15 Economic Model 53 Location 54 emigrate to bigger cities. The beautiful nature Västra Götaland and landscape of Dalsland with its lakes, hills SUSTAINABLE TOURISM 16 The node 55 and valleys have instead become a place Sustainable tourism and Bengtsfors 16 The Longhouse 56 BENGTSFORS for people to visit, and tourism has become Sustainable tourism / Allemansrätten 17 Materials 60 a growing source of income in Bengtsfors, Visitors and locals in symbiosis 17 creating jobs and having a great potential to Directions for sustainable tourism 18 CONCLUSION, REFLECTION AND REFERENCES 61 aid Bengtsfors economically. VÄRME 21 Conclusion and reflection 62 Why Gustavsfors? 24 Reference list 64 Why a sauna? 25 Concept 26 THANKS TO 65 Gustavsfors 28 4 Nodes Nodes 5 VISION VISION AIM METHOD Our aim has been to, with Allemansrätten Our method for this project has been to research The reason we chose to have a common concept in mind, find a strategy on how to obtain and then decide on what sustainable tourism with a couple of rather smaller nodes, instead sustainable tourism in Bengtsfors without is for us. The research has been conducted by of one bigger building, was firstly for economic exploiting or impacting existing local qualities in interviewing people working actively with the reasons, as the nodes can easily be repurposed if a negative way, but rather contributing to positive subject, finding examples of communities in not often used. changes. rural areas who have worked towards achieving sustainable tourism, and by interviewing local Secondly, we wanted the project to benefit Since tourism is a big part of the municipal actors to find out their future aspiration and people all over the municipality, and since the source of income, and seeing how the trend needs. two suggested nodes are placed in different “staycation”- traveling and exploring areas in areas of Bengtsfors, the project becomes more your periphery - is growing, an opportunity arises It has also been important to identify the reason accessible. to develop this new tourism towards people behind why people decide to visit a place, and to not only experiencing a place, but learning then strengthen and protect what makes a place Thirdly, since enjoying the outdoors and nature about sustainability and actively contributing desirable. is such a big part of spending time in Bengtsfors, to the development of economic, social and we did not want to challenge this tradition and environmental sustainability. To allow for a more resilient, sustainable tourism so, people can visit different nodes as resting VISION in the municipality, a part of our method has stops whilst hiking, travelling on the draisine Having future developments of housing on the been to strengthen the identity of a path around track, or canoe paddling. shoreline protection areas in mind is important the draisine track and Dalslands canal, and to be able to plan for spaces that will preserve adding new nodes along it. With the aim of the identity and soul of the area. With growing focusing on other seasons, inflow of visitors can privatisation, developments of public spaces are be spread out during other seasons. important to be included in the vision. As to not take on a huge planning project, we There is a need to spread out the existing have chosen two nodes to show examples on concentrated inflow of visitors during the summer how rather small scale interventions can have a to different seasons for a more resilient tourism, large positive impact on the community, nature by promoting other activities and adding nodes. and tourism, without competing with existing activities. 6 Nodes Nodes 7 BACKGROUND BACKGROUND TOURISM IN BENGTSFORS SEASONALITY OF ACTIVITIES JULY A UG People come from all over to Bengtsfors Visitors primarily come from late spring to early NE U U ST to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, autumn, with July and the first half of August J canoeing and cycling up the draisine track being peak season, during which the Dalsland S E P while enjoying the beautiful scenery, with canal locks in Bengtsfors are open for six weeks. T E Y M especially many Germans, Dutch, and other Most tourist attractions are closed during a large A B M Swedes travelling here. part of the year and can therefore not benefit E R the inhabitants during colder months. Indoor Areas around Lennartsfors, Kroksfors and activities for visitors and residents are few, O C Gustavsfors are starting to experience with the candy factory and the straw museum T L some exploitation from tourism, as they are being the only key players. As an employee I O R B P getting crowded by canoers as the number of within Bengtsfors’ tourist sector put it; “There’s E A R camp spots are not enough, leaving tourists not bloody much to do in Bengtsfors in bad disappointed. weather”. N O V H E There is a need to find activities to attract not C M R A only more tourists, but also other target groups, B E M R outside of the summer season, since most can D not be expected to visit more than once a year. E Y C R E A BACKGROUND F M U O D R C O B B US ERI E E P R F J A Y R N A U DVVJ rail Accomodation Hiking and biking Restaurants & cafes Canoe & kayak Museums Locks & canal open 8 Nodes Nodes 9 BACKGROUND BACKGROUND TOURIST PATH THE DRAISINE TRACK Playing a major role in Bengtsfors’ tourist The track and its draisines are owned by The hiking tracks, Dalsland canal and the industry, the draisine track is a unique and the municipality through a company, Dal draisine track follow common paths and form popular way for visitors to experience the Västra Värmlands Järnväg (DVVJ), and daily a tourist trail of sorts, from Bengtsfors in the municipality, and is sometimes even used operations and maintenance are thereby south, going north through Kråkviken and by residents. The old industrial train tracks funded by taxes. During peak season, all of Gustavsfors and further on up to Årjäng. between Bengtsfors and Årjäng have been the 51 single-, as well as the 12 tandem bikes, repurposed to serve as a way to travel through are typically in use every day. During spring the landscape while enjoying nature. and autumn, the weather usually dictates how many people decide to use the track, with Draisines move slower than ordinary bikes. about 10-15 draisines a day being rented, The track takes about 5 - 6 hours to travel according to DVVJ. Legend in each direction, as the draisines, with Accomodation Bengtsfors being the only point where you can rent draisines. The majority make the Canoe departure points trip in a day, and many take a break, with Kråkviken being a favoured stop to rest and Lakes and canal have some fika. Most users only cycle the Draisine railway (DVVJ) draisine one way, south to north, and travel back to Bengtfors through other modes of Train railway (DVVJ) transportation, with packages combining Hiking paths draisine and canoe renting being popular. Families with children represent a large part of New nodes the draisine renters, and just like many tourist attractions in Bengtsfors, the draisines are used by many Germans, Dutch and Swedes. 10 Nodes Nodes 11 BACKGROUND BACKGROUND TRACES FUTURE DEVELOPMENT ALONG TRACE EXISTING MOVEMENT WITH EXISTING PATHS RECREATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MOVEMENT BY FOOT We imagine that more nodes will be added and developed along the trace in the future. Which will enhance the identity and contribute to a more resilient tourism in the municipality, and at the same time benefit the local economy, community and inhabitants. VÄRME BIODIVERSITY HUB Potential nodes Draisine rail (DVVJ) Lakes and canal Hiking trails Railcar (DVVJ) 12 Nodes Nodes 13 BACKGROUND BACKGROUND OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT SWOT ANALYSIS According to DVVJ and representatives from the municipality, there is both room for improvement and potential for the draisine Strenghts Opportunities track.