Project 1: Contemporary Living Part 1 - The Diversity Cluster

How can architecture meet contemporary demands and future challenges in a living environment? During the first four weeks we will introduce basic components of sustainable design, its main concepts and performative criteria through a series of design workshops and seminars, providing the critical basis needed for design research and practice. With contributions from researchers Marja Lundgren and Anna Maria Orru, other experts as well as practicing architects within the field of sustainable design.

WORKSHOP 1: Climate – Sensual exchange between body and space 

WORKSHOP 2: Closed loops - Lifecycle and Cradle to Cradle thinking 

WORKSHOP 3: Biomimicry – Learn from nature

Departing from an individual analysis related to the idea of climate, each student will follow a particular line of enquiry as a conceptual basis for the work. During the last four weeks the basic components of sustainable design are explored in a manifesto and a conceptual design for a housing project where different individual typologies are to be related to the idea of a diverse Net Zero Cluster. Questions as basic needs and individual desires will be discussed in relation to flexible/general design. We will explore sustainable architecture working with four diverse blocks in the new urban development of Årstafältet, south of Stockholm. The project will be developed in collaboration with the City planning office in Stockholm.

A study trip to the Weissenhofsiedlung in Stuttgart where a Werkbund exibition took place in 1927 will set a context for the work. How were the architectural context and the future challenges at that time? How did the architects meet them with contemporary design?