Accessible Arctic

Route Development (through Testing and Prototyping) (2024 - ongoing)

A project aimed at developing safe winter routes by enhancing universal design in the Arctic winter cities of Bodø and Tromsø.

  • Produce a System Map: Outline a route that connects key origins and destinations for the target groups.

  • Test and Prototype Solutions: Test and prototype solutions, measuring their effectiveness and operability for the Bodø stakeholders.

  • Create an Action Plan: Detail measures, ideas, and examples involving relevant stakeholders.

Key Goals

Client
The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir)

Location
Bodø / Nordland / Norway
Tromsø / Troms / Norway

Key Fabric+ services

  • Age-friendly spaces and services

  • Innovation in services and systems

In-charge
Ingunn Lindbach

The background

Despite Bodø and Tromsø's strong commitment to universal design, ensuring safe and accessible environments throughout the long winters—characterized by polar nights and harsh weather conditions—remains a persistent challenge. In Arctic climates, universal design often becomes "nullified" during the winter months, a problem even acknowledged by field leaders such as Kommunesektorens organisasjon. This issue significantly affects older adults, individuals with reduced functional abilities, and those with disabilities, increasing their risk of isolation and loneliness, as found in our project, Ageing in the Arctic. Weather conditions heavily influence the willingness to engage in social and physical activities due to perceived safety and accessibility concerns.

  • The project employs the user-centric Double Diamond service design framework, beginning with diagnosing to ensure a thorough understanding of the challenges from the user’s perspective. The process then moves to the exploration phase, where ideas are gathered before defining what will be tested and subsequently implemented based on the results.

    In collaboration with the target group, Fabric+ will define key routes in Bodø and Tromsø to enhance winter accessibility. The project will collect, develop, prototype, and test various ideas, such as products and services, aimed at improving winter accessibility. The initiative operates on the understanding that the most effective measures within sustainable economic frameworks are yet to be discovered; therefore, prototyping and testing are essential for building knowledge and making well-informed decisions on where to focus efforts.

    The seven principles of universal design will serve as the framework for assessing and enhancing accessibility in selected urban spaces and routes within the two cities.