Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design – Sweden
Sigfridshäll is a radical departure for contemporary architecture. Photo: Spridd
Innovation through diversity As its name suggests, the architectural firm Spridd – meaning ‘scattered’ in Swedish – was created to seek out diverse and sometimes unusual perspectives on architecture. Through fresh thinking and collaborations, Spridd aims to find innovative solutions to today’s myriad of architectural and social challenges. By Liz Longden
“There are many social and environmental challenges related to how we live,” explains Ola Broms Wessel. Together with Klas Ruin, he is the co-founder of Stockholm-based architecture firm Spridd. “What we work with is changing perceptions, involving more people and seeking out new perspectives to see how we can solve these questions.” One such major challenge is how to build sustainably. The demand for housing is increasing with the global population, yet the construction industry is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions. How to build affordable, high-quality homes with minimal environmental im86 | Issue 117 | October 2018
pact is one question with which Spridd has worked extensively. One approach is to look at new materials and building techniques, and last year, Spridd unveiled their Wooden Box House at the Vallastaden 2017 housing expo in Linköping. Six stories high, with generous balconies stretching all the way around, the residential building is built almost entirely of wood and is one of the most visually striking among the expo’s many innovations. Wood is generally accepted as one of the most sustainable building materials, yet it also poses plenty of challenges. “And that’s also why we wanted to do that project,” says Broms
Wessel, “to test out new technical solutions and show the architectural potential in large-scale wooden structures”. Spridd’s commitment to sustainability is not limited to its choice of building material. “We also try to think about how to involve future residents in the building process, because sustainability requires more people to engage with the efficiency of their home, and to better understand how their building works.” Collaboration with residents was a cornerstone of Spridd’s work in Fittja, Stockholm. Working with The Million Programme project, which is focused on the sustainable and affordable renovation of the extensive housing stock built in Sweden in the 1960s and 1970s, Spridd carried out a pilot renovation project, titled ‘The Fittja People’s Palace’, in 2013. Residents took an active consultative role throughout the renovation project,