The shared future of the past : Heritage for place development in Västra Götaland

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this research was to investigate place development and the role of heritage in Västra Götaland, partially through the case of the destination island of Åstol. An overarching area of interest was how regional development and heritage may intertwine. First, the region’s development strategy was analyzed in relation to a regional developer’s understanding of heritage as synonymous with the sustainable reuse of buildings and places. The second analytical chapter dealt with the region’s place development method. Place development is about cross-sectororal collaboration, where heritage is one of many resources that are to be reused innovatively. The last analytical chapter highlighted Åstol. Heritage is an ongoing development goal in Åstol’s strategy plan. Nature has shaped the island’s heritage, the locals and its identity of today. Branding as a calm, historical fishing community is useful for Åstol, as it gives the place both unique and universal characteristics in a Bohuslän west coast environment.