1. A dozen reasons to
live in or visit
Sävedalen

2. 1. Environment
Patches of forest scattered throughout the residential areas

3. 2. Excellent cycling
and running paths
And the associated infrastructure –
underpasses to avoid intersections, lights
along the path and good signage

4. 3. The trash burning station
“Burning the garbage in the incinerators generates 20 percent of Sweden’s district heating,
a system of distributing heat by pumping heated water into pipes through residential and
commercial buildings. It also provides electricity for a quarter of a million homes.”
http://www.pri.org/stories/2012-06-26/sweden-imports-waste-european-neighbors-fuel-waste-energy-program

5. 4. The nearby large forests
Large forests are to the south and north of the suburb. Within 10 mins cycle ride
are berries for picking, cliffs for climbing, and lakes for swimming and fishing in.

6. 5. Beautiful streets
Cars are seldom parked on the street, there are no power lines spoiling
the view and it’s very green

7. 6. Quiet streets
Slow speeds mean people walk and play
on the streets: True public space.

8. 7. Accessibility - no dead ends for
pedestrians

9. 8. Openness between houses
People are ok with seeing into each other’s yards, whether it be from the street or the
neighbour’s house. This means no one has those horrible little windows that let light in
but are up high and give no view to protect someone else’s private space. Everyone has
big windows and the suburb feels spacious and green.

10. 8b. Openness between houses and
forest patches
Imagine this path (top left) or view from the forest (top
right) if there was a 1.5m high fence around the
neighbouring backyards. Openness makes the wild places
feel safer, and enables the deer to move around into
backyards.

11. 9. Schools have paths to them and
aren’t fenced in
This school has fenced in the basketball
court but the school itself and the pond
opposite it are not fenced

12. 10. People take care of their gardens

13. 11. The icecream factory and cafe

14. 12. The main street’s emphasis on PT
and bikes (and lack of large outdoor ads on the streets or buses)
A few years ago the street was narrowed from two lanes for traffic in each direction, to
one. This has allowed for a wide bike path that continues into the city, and bus stops.

15. Sometimes it just all comes together
Eating at the icecream cafe on the main
street, with the bus passing by and the
trash burning station in the background!

16. Sävedalen: Come visit some time!