Älvkarleby, landskapskaraktär och gestaltningsförslag : landskapskaraktärsbeskrivning med inspiration av metoden Landscape Character Assessment, med riktlinjer och gestaltningsförslag

Sammanfattning: Älvkarleby, landscape character and design proposal is a Graduated Thesis (30 ECCcredtis), in the subject of landscape planning at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the Department of Rural and Urban Development. This thesis is a study and implement of the method "Landscape Character Assessment" (LCA), developed in England and Scotland as tool to analyse and highlight the landscape in different planning processes. The purpose of LCA is to increase the understanding and strengthen the role of the landscape. The thesis consists of three main parts: landscape characterization, guidelines and a design proposal. The landscape characterization emphasizes the values of the landscape in different types of planning processes, a documentation to base estimations on in any kind of change in the area. Theese estimations have resulted in guidelines that give proposals to the development of the landcape, focusing at the desingproposal. The design proposal is partly based on the landscape characterization and the guidelines, but should be considered a free part of the work. The dominating river landscape in the center of Älvkarleby is the focal point for most activities in the area both historically and at present. As an exmaple of this can be mentioned tourism, scientific research, the water power station, military activities (in the past), fishing and outdoor life. A lot of different interests within this area each make small decisions that can easily result in a fragmented impression of the landscape. In October 2007 Älvkarleby will get a new train station. This will make it easier for people to commute and for tourists to visit. The purpose of the thesis, Älvkarleby landskapskaraktär och gestaltningsförslag, has been to clarify the importance of the landscape for the development of Älvkarleby and to illustrate the landscape characters in the area. The purpose is also to prevent various sorts of changes that fragments the landscape instead of enhance the local landscape characters. As a proposal of a small change I have suggested a design for a new pedestrian- and bicycle path that is partly based on the LCA but partly is to be considered an independent part of the work. The LCA method is developed in England and Scotland for a British landscape. Since the Swedish landscape is rather different it is difficult to adapt the LCA method directly to Sweden. If the method is to be used frequently in future planning processes, a translation to Swedish conditions is needed.