From Commuting Route to Meeting Place – The Test on Trädgårdsgatan

During Society Expo 2026, Trädgårdsgatan in downtown Skellefteå was temporarily transformed. Greenery, seating areas, and spaces for activities, culture, and relaxation took over the street. Now, a before-and-after assessment shows a clear change in how the space was experienced—and at the same time provides insights to guide the future development of Skellefteå.

How do we create places where people want to stay, meet, and feel safe? That was one of the questions behind the pilot project on Trädgårdsgatan in the summer of 2026. During Society Expo, parts of the street space were transformed through a temporary prototype consisting of the Culture Garden, the Activity Garden, and the Sun Garden. Here, new opportunities were created to sit down, socialize, be active, or simply take a break in the middle of the city. The aim was to investigate how relatively simple changes to the urban environment can contribute to a more attractive and socially sustainable gathering place.

Clear Changes Before and After

To follow up on the test, people’s experiences of Trädgårdsgatan were surveyed both before and after the prototype was installed. A total of 739 survey responses were collected—314 before the change and 425 during the test period.

The results show significant differences:

• The perception of Trädgårdsgatan increased from 4.1 to 9.1 out of 10.
• The desire to stop and spend time there increased from 2.5 to 8.5.
• The perceived sense of safety increased from 6.3 to 8.8.

Before the test, the street was often described as gray, anonymous, and primarily a place people passed through. During the test period, however, words like “green,” “lively,” “cozy,” and “inviting” were frequently used. More people described the area as a place for meeting others and spending time.

One of the respondents summarized the change as follows:

“When it’s so nice there, you’re drawn to not only walk by but also sit down for a while. A break from the daily grind.”

A test that provides insights for the future

The results, therefore, go beyond simply describing what Trädgårdsgatan looked like during one summer. The test provides insights into the qualities people value in their shared urban environment.

In the second survey, a clear majority responded that they wanted to keep the additions, particularly greenery, seating areas, pergolas, hammocks, and activities. Many also called for more greenery, more places to sit, and more life and activity.

The very opportunity to test, learn, and develop together has been central to Society Expo 2026. One of the initiative’s identified societal challenges was how we can collectively create spaces that promote inclusion, safety, and trust for both new and existing residents of Skellefteå.

Trädgårdsgatan demonstrates what this can mean in practice: an idea is tested in the real world, people get to experience it and share their opinions, and the results serve as a foundation for the next step.

Meet people. Shape the future.