So, those of you planning to go to Sweden:

Visiting BoKlok sounds interesting. I know nothing about their process of prefabrication or how well developed it is, but I guess you guys have an idea. There are some nice things to see in Malmö too, so stopping by down there is probably a nice idea. Just over the bridge, in Denmark, there's a couple of projects by BIG that could be worth a visit. In Malmö there's a fairly new residential waterfront development on former industrial land called Västra Hamnen (with a residential tower by Calatrava which might be interesting too). And if anyone of you wants to meet up with Edvin and Anna, who were in Berkeley 2007-2008, they live in Malmö.

I did some research on "monteringsfärdigt", and it seems like the current or next big thing in building construction in Sweden nowadays is "volymelement". These are box-like units that are prefabricated in a factory with plumbing, tiles, wallpaper and everything, transported to the site on trucks (setting their limits in size), and then easily stacked and joined together into a finished building. The process is from what I can understand cheaper than normal construction, but demands a lot of planning and cooperation. Is this what you are looking into...?

I found a report from "Boverket" ("The National Board of Housing, Building and Planning - Boverket - is the central government authority for town and country planning, management of land and water resources, building and housing.") which describes the state of the Swedish construction industry in this aspect as of 2005. It might be useful to you guys, and I can help you with translation when I know more specifically what you're looking for. It seems like the big dragons among Swedish construction companys (Skanska, NCC, Peab, JM etc.) have been slow starters in all this, and some smaller companies have done more interesting stuff, earlier.

I found an old (2003) issue of "Arkitekten" (the monthly journal of the Swedish equivalent of the AIA) with articles on some projects using "volymelement". One of them was about a couple of young architects in Stockholm teaming up with a smaller construction company to build some rowhouses in a small town an hour away from Stockholm. The project was initiated by the architects themselves and the degree of prefabrication is said to have been 98%. That project might be interesting to you, and if so, I could try to get in touch with them about it.

If you let me know more specifically what you are researching, what info you need, and what your plans are for the moment, I'll be happy to help you out.




I looked up some accomodation options for you as well. I live in central Stockholm and could host one ore two of you for a few nights if needed, but this is a good place to start:


Matches on hostelworld.com

Best Hostel Old Town Skeppsbron:
Great location on the old town waterfront, next to Tarantino's favorite bar in Stockholm. Not my favorite bar...

2kronor Hostel - Old Town:
Old town waterfront too.

Archipelago Hostel Old Town:
5 min from old town center

Rygerfjord Hostel:
On a boat. Seems nice. A little more off from old town, 10 min

The Red Boat Mälaren:
On a boat. Seems ok. Close to the bridge between the old town and the southern island.

Långholmens Vandrarhem STF/HI:
Voted best hostel in Sweden. Popular. slightly off. Former prison!)

STF/IYHF af Chapman:
Classic. Spectacular accomodation on a sailing ship on Skeppsholmen. The island used to belong to the navy, but now a museum of modern art (by Moneo) and the Royal University College of Fine Arts.

STF/IYHF Skeppsholmen:
Next to af Chapman.

Castanea Old Town Hostel:
Nice location and all.


Not on Hostelworld:

Gustaf af Klint:
Close to the bridge between the old town and the southern island. http://www.gustafafklint.se/




And of course there are some general architectural must-sees in Stockholm, including the Woodland Cemetary (Skogskyrkogården) by Gunnar Asplund and Sigurd Lewerentz, the Stockholm Public Library (Stadsbiblioteket) by Asplund, the City Hall (Stadshuset) by Ragnar Östberg. Guided tours in English should not be a problem at all.

So, let me know as soon as you can how many are coming, when, and what you need me for..!


best,


/Björn (your man on site, translator, and guide to Stockholm nightlife)



P.S. Laurie, I found nothing on Arkitectus. Could you give a link? D.S.