VÄGLÖST LAND A mountain station in a roadless land

Abstract

The Swedish mountains of Jämtland have a strong historical value as a recreational area for outdoor life. The mountains offer a unique biological diversity, nature and cultural values that attract an increased number of people to the area for outdoor life and to spend their time off in a sustainable way. This is today also important as a source of business and employment in the area. An increased number of accommodation options are a prerequisite to enhance the accessibility to the area. At the same time, exploitation must be carried out in a cautious way to fully respect and consider the unique environment with sensitive nature and local traditions. This thesis investigates the concept and design of a mountain station as a development of an existing cabin. Focus is on maintaining and developing the essence of the local cultural values while respecting the conditions of the site. The cabins “Gåsenstugorna”, by the foot of the mountain “Gåsen”, is situated in a barren and secluded high mountain landscape and is one of Sweden’s highest located mountain cabins. It works as a hub between the three popular mountain stations of “Jämtlandstriangeln” in the west and mountain cabins in the nature reserve of Vålådalen. A development and expansion of “Gåsenstugorna” enables more people to experience the mountain environment, while at the same time it relieves the currently overloaded mountain stations and trails in the area. In order to understand how traditional techniques can be translated into a modern reinterpretation, traditional and contemporary references have been studied to form a framework for design. The identity and conditions of the place have been formulated to deepen the understanding of the site. As a result, a design proposal for the development of a mountain station in Jämtland has been formed. The results incorporate cultural values of the area and showcases how building traditions can be translated into contemporary and contextual architecture . The project has raised questions about which local traditions of architecture can contribute to present design concepts and how place identity can be further developed and strengthened by architecture, which are discussed in the study.