Ramona Salo, Medskapandebyrån, Esbjörnsson Arkitektur, Johanna Minde, RISE,
UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, local artists, craftsmen, secondary school pupils
and other community partners.
Visions in the North: Gällivare explored how landscape architecture can contribute to the long-term development of a rapidly changing Sub-Arctic community. Centered on the Vassara River and its surrounding landscapes, the project brought together expertise in landscape architecture, ecology, cultural heritage, art, research and community engagement to investigate how local values can shape future development.
The project was carried out during a period of rapid change driven by the green industrial transition and the continued presence of the mining industry. These developments have generated new opportunities for regional growth while also raising important questions about land use, ecological resilience, cultural heritage and the future character of northern communities. Rather than beginning with predefined design solutions, the project focused on understanding the relationships between landscape, ecology, culture and everyday life. Through site studies, ecological surveys, cultural mapping, workshops and public events, residents, researchers, artists, municipal representatives and landscape architects worked together to identify opportunities rooted in the specific character of place.
A key ambition was to strengthen connections between people and landscape while acknowledging the region's diverse cultural histories and traditions. The project explored how ecological processes, local knowledge, seasonal conditions and cultural narratives can inform both short-term interventions and long-term landscape development. Nature-based solutions, vegetation transplantation, material reuse and participatory methods were tested as part of an ongoing process rather than as isolated design measures.
Instead of only producing a fixed masterplan, the project developed a framework for continued collaboration and learning, demonstrating how landscape architecture can support ecological resilience, cultural continuity and community development over time. The project demonstrated how landscape architecture can serve as a platform for collaboration across disciplines, sectors and local communities when addressing complex landscapes in transition.
In 2026, Visions in the North: Gällivare was selected as one of five finalists for the Norwegian Landscape Architecture Award. The jury highlighted the project's interdisciplinary approach, its integration of ecological, cultural and intangible values, and its ability to create meaningful dialogue between local traditions, nature-based solutions and long-term community development. The jury further described the project as a model for the interaction between ecology, culture and societal development, with methods that have relevance far beyond the Arctic region.
The final report is available here.
