Riches of the coast : exploring the design of a recreational path in an arctic landscape as a tool for conscious land use and in the shaping of people’s connection to nature

Sammanfattning

This master's thesis is a conceptual design project that explores how landscape architecture can support more conscious land use in Arctic coastal landscapes with existing industrial use through recreational design. The study focuses on Andøya in Norway, where increasing industrial development and tourism are putting pressure on ecologically sensitive yet sometimes forgotten coastal landscapes. Utilising a research-by-design approach, the project combines theoretical frameworks, ecological and spatial analyses, and an iterative design process, culminating in a conceptual design proposal. The thesis investigates how a continuous coastal recreational trail can be used as a tool for conscious land use and in the shaping of people’s connection to nature The design proposal introduces a conceptual masterplan for a recreational network that concentrates human movement along carefully chosen paths, aiming to minimise ecological disturbance while facilitating experiential qualities and awareness. Ecologically based design approaches are applied to decrease the effect zone between built and natural landscapes. The project demonstrates how recreational infrastructure can serve as a landscape architectural clean frame for creating cultural context and direct pro-biodervisty focus to a forgotten landscape.