The roads and trails on Holmön laid across the landscape as constructed systems.
Multispecies Right-to-Roam: Reimagining trails as mediators for environmental care and cultural access
Master’s Degree Project
2026
Allemansrätten allows for humans to roam and stay in nature. It is founded on the principle of do not disturb and do not destroy, yet the very act of moving through nature leaves behind traces. Trails become worn, soil is eroded, vegetation is trampled on, habitats are disturbed, and ecologies are fragmented. This thesis explores how trails, traditionally understood as human infrastructures, can be reimagined as multispecies naturecultural systems that mediate the interaction between humans and non-human actors.
In Sweden, access to nature is widely understood as a fundamental cultural right. Through Allemansrätten, the right of public access, humans are allowed to move freely across landscapes under the premise of do not disturb, do not destroy. This right has shaped a strong culture of outdoor recreation, where walking, hiking, and temporary inhabitation of natural environments are not only accepted but also encouraged. Trails emerge as one of the most visible spatial expressions of this right, guiding movement through the landscape.
Drawing on theoretical frameworks of multispecies relations, cultural practices of access, and ecological studies, the research examines trail typologies, spatial segments, and strategies for designing with living trees. Traditional techniques, such as the Nordic pilkoja and willow weaving, are considered alongside contemporary architectural projects, to investigate how trees can actively shape movement, experience, and habitats. Using the island of Holmön as a case study, the project proposes a segment-based framework for trails, combined with living tree interventions to support ecological functions and enhance human engagement.
Trails are seen not as neutral corridors but as active participants in the landscape. Intentional design of these can turn trails into infrastructures that enable coexistence, environmental care, and cultural experiences, offering a new model for sustainable access in sensitive natural environments.
Building catalogue for designing with living trees.
c. Threshold – 3. Guided: Living tree structure[betula pubescens] guiding the visitors on the trail into the landscape.
e. Branch – 4. Anchored: Living tree structure[salix caprea] hosting humans and non-humans.
e. Branch – 4. Anchored: Axonometric of living tree structure[salix caprea] at the end of the hiking season.
1:1 Prototype of 4. Anchored structure using basket willow [salix viminalis].
