WOOD SUMMIT Småland 26-27th June

As stated earlier the winners of the Architecture of Necessity will be introduced at the Wood Summit.

In short the updated programme, which will be published soon is as follows:


WEDNESDAY 26 JUNE – THE ARCHITECTURE OF NECESSITY

The theme for WOOD SUMMIT SMÅLAND is the architecture of system change. What are the ecological, social and economic challenges we are facing? What is the shape of the sustainable society?

Claes Caldenby, professor of architectural theory and history at Chalmers University of Technology (SWE) THE ARCHITECTURE OF NECESSITY AND THE SYSTEM CHANGE

Per-Olof Östergren, professor of social medicine at Lund University  (SWE) HOW DOES SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT LOOK?

Christer Sanne, social researcher and writer, M.Sc. and Ph.D (SWE) CREATING A SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY REQUIRES POLITICAL COURAGE

Andreas G Gjertsen, Yashar Hanstad, founders of Tyin Tegnestue architects  (NOR) WOOD A DEMOCRATIC MATERIAL

David Jonstad, author, freelance journalist and editor of the climate magazine Effekt, (SWE) THE HUNGRY CITY

Josefin Wangel, PhD in planning and decision analysis and is a researcher at the Division of Environmental Strategies Research at the Royal Institute of Technology (SWE) HOW SUSTAINABLE ARE HAMMARBY SJÖSTAD AND NORRA DJURGÅRDSSTADEN?

PANEL DEBATE: WHAT IS POSSIBLE?

We have never seen so much good will in terms of environmental issues. And yet nothing seems to change. Is it possible to have a genuine change within the existing system

THURSDAY 27 JUNE – THE SHAPE OF THE SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY

THE ARCHITECTURE OF NECESSITY: THE WINNERS

The winners present their projects

PANEL DEBATE: THE BIO-BASED SOCIETY

The concept of the bio-based society is a hot topic, especially seen from a research policy angle. Jan Lagerström (SWE) is research director at the Swedish forest industries. Leif Gustavsson (SWE) is a professor of structural engineering at Linnaeus University in Växjö. Per-Erik Eriksson (SWE) is head of the section Building and Housing at SP Wood Technology.

Jim Taggart, architect from the University of Sheffield, UK  (CAN) TOWARDS A WOODEN ARCHITECTURE. This lecture will be in English.

Sadie Morgan, architect from the Royal College of Arts and one of the founders of the international architectural firm dRMM (GBR) ENGINEERED TIMBER

– ONE OF THE KEY CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS OF THE 21 CENTURY 

This lecture will be in English.

Stefan Behnisch one of Germany's most renowned architects (GER) POSSIBLE STRATEGIES FOR A SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE. This lecture will be in English.

PLEASE DECLARE YOUR INTEREST IN WOOD SUMMIT SMÅLAND NO LATER THAN 7 JUNE

You can use this form (the second page in English) or link for registration.

WOOD 2013 and the Architecture of Necessity are now open

98 selected projects are exhibited

You find the list of exhibited projects here.

The jury has given a certain priority to built projects, considering the well-known “implementation deficit” in sustainable building. The jury also would have liked to see more contributions on upgrading of housing estates from the 1960s and 1970s around the world, a highly pressing issue in the near future. Projects which propose sharing of resources in the form of co-housing would also have been welcome.

The jury-meeting at Virserum Art Museum

The jury held its meeting in Virserum on 26th April.

The members of the jury are:

Claes Caldenby (SWE): professor in architectural theory and history at Chalmers Technical College, chair of the jury.

Sadie Morgan (UK): founding party of dRMM architects and well known guest speaker and frequent jury member.

Katarina Pelin (SWE): environmental director, the city of Malmö

Mohamed El Sioufi (KEN): coordinator, Housing and Slum Upgrading Branch, UN-HABITAT 

TYIN tegnestue architects (NOR): awarded in the Architecture of Necessity in 2010 among other awards. They could not be present in Virserum but took part in the decisions.

The exhibition WOOD 2013 and the Architecture of Necessity opens on May 5th. 100 projects are showcased from 30 countires. The winners and honorary mentionings will be announced at WOOD SUMMIT Småland 26-27th June.

You can find a programme on the blog, and it will be updated next week.

Sweden’s biggest wood products company Setra joins WOOD 2013 as a gold partner.

–Separate worlds become stronger when creating together. 

Sweden’s biggest wood products company Setra joins WOOD 2013 as a gold partner. Olle Berg is their Market and Business Development Director:

Why is Setra supporting WOOD 2013? Good practices should be continued. Few organisations are as capable of communicating the possibilities of wood for a sustainable society as Virserum Art Museum. The Art Museum links sustainability with architecture and the technical challenges of construction. It’s about the development of ideas. Separate worlds become stronger when creating together. We want to take part in that process. 

What is of special importance to Setra? We do not only saw and process timber. We produce glue-laminates and operate two factories for industrial house production via our daughter company Plusshus. Naturally we wish to highlight the possibilities of industrial construction. More homes need to be built and they have to be affordable.

What importance can wood have for architecture? I am not convinced that all architects and developers have grasped the inherent possibilities of wood. It’s a long-term sustainable material in more ways than one. Consider glue-laminates, for example — I believe the exhibition on the world’s premier wood architecture at WOOD 2013 will be a great source of inspiration. Design and construction will also meet during the glue-laminate challenge, where students from across Scandinavia create buildings using this material on and around the Art Museum grounds.

What challenges are we facing? The international financial crisis has hit the wood products industry extremely hard. But it has also forced us to be open to new possibilities. We need to keep developing the industry and our products. Our initiative to join as a gold partner is part of this process. And last but not least, Sweden will have to start building enough homes to house all our citizens, young and old!

For further information, please contact:

Lotta Löwhagen Lundberg, 0046 8 705 03 17 eller 0046 70 654 13 44, lotta.lowhagen.lundberg@setragroup.com

Tyin visits WOOD SUMMIT Småland

–We want to highlight the democratic value of wood

TYIN tegnestue Architects participated in the Architecture of Necessity in 2010. This year they are on the jury and visits Wood Summit Småland 26-27 june. Andreas G Gjertsen, architect and partner TYIN:

What significance do you think that the Architecture of Necessity has for the development of architecture?

We’ve noticed a positive development of what’s important for young architects. The focus has shifted from physical conditions and economy to mankind’s different needs. The Architecture of Necessity brings relevance to this development in a wider spectra of the architectural debate. And this could be the tipping point, whether the development is

just a trend or if it will change the task of architecture in the future.

What aspect of the Architecture of Necessity manifesto is the most immediate to you right now? 

I would say diligent. It’s more and more common to choose wood in building constructions. Especially in Scandinavia. By innovate thinking and experimentation with the use of wood, in both constructions and other building components, the material has gained confidence among architects and builders. Because of the many benefits of wood, it could serve

as a competitive material to the steel and concrete industry. Wood can be used in many different forms and also meet different needs, in everything from constructions to isolation materials. Without causing to much complication, a lot of these products have superior environmental benefits. With enhanced understanding and knowledge of the material, wood could also provide us with functions that so far is stipulated by steel and concrete.

Wood Summit Småland 2013 will focus on the challenges the world is facing and how architecture and wood can contribute to a sustainable world. What question would you like to raise on that subject? 

We want to highlight the democratic value of wood. Most people “understand” wood. Almost everyone can participate in designing with wood and the material is relatively easy to change over time. This will lead to an architecture that can handle constant change and meet new requirements in the future.

Virserum Art Museum is looking for examples of –wood architecture of the future –the world’s premier wood architecture

Over the past year the expression “the bio-based society” has grown in use. The notion that the future has to be frugal with resources and bio-based is not difficult to agree with. But what will it look like? We must create visions and future scenarios beyond the status quo. Our survival will depend upon a paradigm shift. When we create visions of the sustainable society we increase our knowledge, whilst raising questions that we have to begin to address. Once we seek answers, the future will commence. It is product development for a sustainable society. Science, design and communication in one.

The Architecture of Necessity extends deadline!

WOOD 2013 is Northern Europe’s biggest exhibition on wood and sustainability. Entries are currently being accepted for the Architecture of Necessity, an international triennial for sustainable society building. Due to increased demand, the deadline for submitting material has been extended to 22 March 2013.

We need more examples of the world’s premier wood architecture!

Alongside the Architecture of Necessity, the exhibition will present cutting edge wood architecture from across the world. Virserum Art Museum will accept all entries for large and small projects that stand out from the crowd. We are especially interested in a dynamic relationship between construction and design.

We need more examples of the wood architecture of the future – organic high tech and the bio-based society

What form will a wooden house take in forty years’ time, when raw materials are scarce? We aim to present ideas, play, research and ambitious attempts in the field of organic high tech. Wood as an engineering material will get a new meaning in the future, beyond the cut off and pruned fibres. The industrial and scientific epoch that began in the 19th century – the age of mechanics – is now being replaced by a new era where ideas as well as control facilities allow for the organic growth of resources in a way we’ve never experienced before. We are looking for examples of biomimetics, cultured architectural details, houses without metal, bio-based construction and community building, intelligent production processes, buildings cast in fibre, bio-composites, how bio-materials will replace non-renewable resources in all aspects of society, and so on and so forth.

Contacts:

Carolina Jonsson, Assistant producer, carolina@virserumskonsthall.com, 0046 495 315 36

Madelene Karlsson, Project secretary, madelene@virserumskonsthall.com, 0046 495 315 37

AIX Architects new partner: –We must turn cultural differences to our advantage!

AIX Architects already participated in WOOD 2010. Now they have become a partner to help Virserum Art Museum’s work with the Architecture of Necessity. Magnus Silfverhielm is an architect at AIX, a professor at Linnaeus University and a recognised profile:

What is the current state of Swedish architecture?
As architects we have great freedom in terms of the idea phase, but the end result is nevertheless dependent on the contractor and legislation. The construction industry works like a medieval guild. The small homes industry is bleeding. We need a significant readjustment. The choice and development of materials is one area where architects can exercise some influence. Biomass development is advancing fast and may play a big part in the path towards a sustainable architecture.

Can social planning stop segregation? 
We have to turn cultural differences to our advantage. Rococo, renaissance and new modernism have shown how the world is reflected in Swedish design. Our surroundings can generate creativity, but only as long as we allow for it. The home acts as a reflection of society. According to the UN Charter, a home is a social right. In spite of this, homes have become financial instruments. High property prices in urban areas coupled with differentiating local legislature create big obstacles for working architects. All solutions are location-specific. Architects are the obedient tools of contemporary society. We act according to the stipulations of the powers that be.

How can Swedish cities meet the requirements demanded by the Architecture of Necessity? Densification and efficiency must be a priority. Building a bathroom requires the input of eight different occupations over 17 different stages of construction. Were all of this to take place in factory it would entail a quicker, safer and more coordinated process. There is hope for the Swedish small homes industry, but only if change occurs.

Invitation to WOOD SUMMIT SMÅLAND, 26-27 June 2013

The theme for WOOD SUMMIT SMÅLAND 2013 is the systems change of architecture. What are the ecological, social and economic challenges we're facing? How will the sustainable society be shaped?

The summit will be moderated by Claes Caldenby (SWE), professor of architectural theory and history at Chalmers University of Technology. Caldenby is chair of the jury for the Architecture of Necessity. The programme will be conducted partially in English.

26 June: Challenges

The rate of population growth is increasing, especially in urban areas. Improved communication means that more and more people see how life is in the western world, and they seek to attain the same standard of living. Coupled with climate change, the growth in population will result in water shortages, and therefore shortcomings in farming. Raw materials and bio-systems are increasingly being exploited, and the non-renewables will run out.

Speakers for this topic are:

Per-Olof Östergren (SWE) is a professor of social medicine at Lund University and a member of the Malmö Commission.

Christer Sanne (SWE) is an independent researcher and columnist, civil engineer and M.Sc. and Ph.D. associate professor senior advicer KTH and former associate professor of urban planning at KTH. Sanne has worked with traffic and city planning, health care issues and the future of employment, especially with regards to working hours. Most recently he has authored the report How can we live sustainably by 2030 on behalf of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

David Jonstad (SWE) is an author, freelance journalist and editor of Effekt Klimatmagasinet. His latest book is entitled Kollaps – Livet vid civilisationens slut (Collapse – life at the end of civilisation).

Josefine Wangel (SWE) is a PhD in planning and decision analysis, and a researcher at the department for environmental strategic analysis at KTH. Wangle is participating in the recently released book Hållbarhetens villkor (The Terms of Sustainability) with the article How sustainable is Hammarby sjöstad och Norra djurgårdsstaden?

The following will take part in a panel discussion on the possibilities of change:
Karin Svensson Smith (SWE) is a traffic politician and former member of the Swedish parliament for the Swedish Green Party.

Katarina Pelin (SWE) is the director of the environment in Malmö and sits on the jury for the Architecture of Necessity 2013.

Vanja Larberg (SWE) is an investigative architect for Gothenburg city's S2020 sustainability project.

The day will end with a dinner, during which the winners of the Architecture of Necessity will be presented. The WOOD 2013 exhibitions will also be presented.

27 June: Shaping the sustainable society

In most contexts the need for a systems change is highlighted. What does it entail? What technological challenges does it pose? How are values and relations changed? What does it mean for community planning? How do we change the foundations for construction and architecture? What do the notions of the bio-based society mean?

Jim Taggart (CAN) is an architect from the University of Sheffield, UK. Taggart teaches in history and theory within the framework of the architectural sciences programme at British Columbia Institute of Technology. Since 1992 his focus has been on architecture, city planning and sustainable development, and he has produced several works on these topics. Taggart is also the editor for Sustainable Architecture and Building magazine (SABMag).

Sadie Morgan (UK) is an architect at the Royal College of Arts and one of the founders of the international award-winning architectural bureau dRMM. Morgan is a well-established guest speaker and jury member.

Andreas G Gjertsen (NOR) is an architect and lecturer at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's Architectural Design, Form and Colour Studies department. Together with Yashar Hanstad (NOR), Gjertsen founded Tyin Tegnestue that works on projects in places like Sumatra, Uganda and Norway with a focus on involving the local population. Gjertsen and Hanstad has won several international awards, including the Architecture of Necessity 2010, for their work on the Soe Ker Tie House orphanage, among others.

Stefan Behnisch (DE) has studied philosophy and economics followed by architecture at the Universität Karlsruhe. Behnisch is the co-founder of Behnisch Architekten and an established advocate for, and guest speaker on, sustainable construction.

The winners of the Architecture of Necessity will present their projects throughout the day.

The day will finish with a panel debate on the bio-based society with participation from, among others, the following:

Jan Lagerström (SWE), research director at the Swedish Forest Industries Federation.
Leif Gustavsson (SWE), professor of structural engineering at the Linnaeus University.

More participants to be confirmed.

Architectural Association of Kenya supports the triennal

-We owe it to ourselves.

Executive Officer Jacob W. Mwangi and Emma Miloyo, a Kenyan architect, plan to join the presentation of the awarded projects at Wood Summit Smaland, 26 to 27 June 2013.

Why do you choose to support the international work with the Architecture of Necessity triennal? We as the AAK feel the Architecture of Necessity’s vision of practical, sustainable solutions to meet human needs is quite apt and timely. By supporting this initiative and sharing it with our members, the AAK will be working to achieve a more sustainable built environment in our region.

How do we reach a sustainable world by architecture and community planning? Architecture is a very crucial part  in the entire blueprint of achieving a sustainable world. Architecture and planning creates the framework and skeleton on which everyday life runs. If this framework is sustainable, then it has a great impact on the goal of a sustainable world, it is an important first step.

What part of the manifesto Architecture of Necessity is the most immediate to you right now? SUSTAINABLE. If our built environment is sustainable, then the rest i.e. Responsible, Diligent, Just and Open all inevitably fall into place. Sustainability is all encompassing.

What inspires you in your aim for a sustainable future? The fact that we have to preserve our world  for ourselves and for future generations. What if previous generations had not managed resources responsibly, what quality of life would we have? We owe it to ourselves.