KTH Alum of the Year 2026 create architecture aimed at strengthening society
They are the founders of one of Sweden’s most influential architectural practices and the creators behind award-winning, internationally recognized buildings. Through their work, they create striking Swedish architecture that stands out while simultaneously interacting harmoniously with its surroundings.
Architects Bolle Tham and Martin Videgård have been awarded KTH Alum of the Year 2026.
The firm ThamVidegård Arkitekter was founded in Stockholm in 1999 by Bolle Tham and Martin Videgård. Today, their practice has grown into a team of twenty employees who help bring the architects’ visions to life.
In addition to several ongoing projects for major public buildings, the office is currently engaged in extensive work involving international competitions, housing projects, and product design.
“The two of us collaborate closely on every project, and we have done so since the beginning 26 years ago. We work at every scale, we do not divide the work between us, but develop our architecture together,” says Martin Videgård.
How has the development of AI affected your way of working in recent years?
“Above all, we see that AI enables more time for creativity by taking over time-consuming tasks. It gives us more time to reflect and make judgments during the design process. However, the immeasurable values in architecture connected to emotions and experiences can never be digitized,” says Martin Videgård.
The architectural duo notes that their firm was founded at the same time computers began replacing much of the previously tactile architectural work done with pen and paper.
“Of course, ink drawings were a more sensitive working method than the screen, but it was also time-consuming. I have a positive view on technological development,” says Martin Videgård.
What advice would you give to creators and students who want to succeed in relation to AI?
“I believe in a synergy between digital tools and personal analysis and intuition. With enough experience and knowledge, you can collaborate with AI rather than be controlled. The challenge for the new generation of architects and students will be how they can gain the opportunity to build experience when many simpler tasks can be handled by AI,” says Bolle Tham.
“It is important to experience things, observe, and read. To learn instead of just searching for quick answers on ChatGPT. You need to know history and understand how others have thought to create your own overall perspective. Only then you can continue developing your own ideas,” says Martin Videgård.
He adds that he does not see the use of quickly accessible digital information as cheating, if one maintains a critical perspective toward sources.
“Society is constantly evolving. When we grew up, we had access to collected knowledge through encyclopedias. AI has absorbed all of that and more. Architecture is a collective body of knowledge accumulated over millennia. As an architect, it is important to have one foot in history and the other in the future,” he says.
In addition to ThamVidegård’s ongoing building projects in Sweden — including the new faculty Konstnärliga; the Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts in central Gothenburg and the new Mass Building for the military academy at Karlberg Castle — the firm recently completed an invited international competition for a new opera house in Düsseldorf. Ongoing right now is also the finalizing of a competition for a new City Hall in Brno, Czech Republic.
“One difference between our Swedish and international projects is that building in Sweden is much more expensive. Studies show that construction costs per square meter can be twice as high in Sweden as the EU average, for example compared to Belgium. It is difficult to understand why there is such a large difference between two otherwise economically comparable countries, but the result is that there is less room for quality in Sweden,” says Bolle Tham.
“We believe that a distinct distribution of responsibility and increased collaboration and understanding among everyone involved in the industry would result in a faster and higher-quality building process in Sweden. We want to contribute to that building culture. Today, it is sometimes unclear who is responsible for what, and we would like architects to have a stronger position with a clearer mandate,” says Martin Videgård.
“There must be trust and confidence in the architect; otherwise, even a clear vision risks ending up as a compromise forced through by different stakeholders and committees, where no one takes responsibility for the overall design. We want to create good architecture, and regardless of time and place, that comes down to spatial proportions, light, materiality, attention to detail, and functionality — that is our focus,” says Bolle Tham.
What is the path toward change?
“We need to create greater understanding of architecture’s role in society. Perhaps architecture could become part of Swedish primary school education. By highlighting good examples, in the media and through awards such as ‘Building of the Year,’ we can increase public knowledge and interest,” says Martin Videgård.
“The physical environments created through good architecture affect people and create a sense of belonging. That strengthens society.”
Text: Katarina Ahlfort
Photo: Kristian Bengtsson