Arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE) // Architecture and Civil Engineering (ACE)
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Vi formar framtidens arkitekter och samhällsbyggare. Genom utbildning och forskning inom ingenjörs- och samhällsvetenskap, arkitektur och humaniora, utvecklar vi kunskap och nya lösningar till nytta för ett hållbart samhälle.
Vi arbetar med nya lösningar för det du ser, och för det du inte ser men använder, upplever och är beroende av, i ditt hem och i den byggda miljön du vistas i. Alltifrån undermarkskonstruktioner, avfall, vatten, avlopp och installationer i inomhusmiljön, till transportsystem, infrastruktur och planering och utformning av byggnader och hela städer. Vår ambition är att inspirera och motivera att ta itu med och lösa globala, samhälleliga utmaningar för den byggda miljön på nya och ansvarsfulla sätt.
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We shape the architects and civil engineers of the future. Through education and research in engineering and social science, architecture and humanities, we develop knowledge and solutions for the benefit of a sustainable society.
We work with new solutions for what you see, and what you don't see but experience, use and depend on in your home and in the built environment surrounding you. From underground structures, waste, water, sewage and indoor environment to transport systems, infrastructure and planning & design of buildings and cities. Our ambition is to inspire and motivate the addressing and solving of global, societal challenges for the built environment in new and responsible ways.
Studying at the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at Chalmers
For research and research output, please visit https://research.chalmers.se/en/organization/architecture-and-civil-engineering/
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Browsar Arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE) // Architecture and Civil Engineering (ACE) efter Program "Architecture and planning beyond sustainability (MPDSD), MSc"
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- PostA Nudging Home a home full of strategies facilitating a sustainable lifestyle(2023) Löfgren, Sofia; Ylenfors, Ida; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Braide, AnnaWe stand in front of an urgent global challenge and the climate crisis is a fact. One part of the solution is a transition to a more sustainable lifestyle. Our lifestyles are a result of activities and daily choices in our home, making the home a perfect arena for making a change. The purpose of the thesis is to explore and answer the two research questions: 1. How can nudging strategies be used in residential architecture to support and promote sustainable lifestyles? 2. What would such a nudging home look like? Nudging is an umbrella term for a number of strategies which alters the choice situation to encourage the user to take a certain action, without infringing on their free will. Nudging is used to influence people to do more long-term and sustainable actions, for themselves, our planet and society. One nudging example is to put the vegetarian alternative at the top of the lunch menu, which increases the sale of the dish drastically. Swedes are willing to change their lifestyles to lessen their climate impact. However, there is a gap between intention nd actual behavior. Nudging can bridge this gap and facilitate a change to a more sustainable lifestyle. Through research, case studies, site visits and interviews, nudging strategies have been collected and transformed into an architectural toolbox. The toolbox consists of six strategies divided into different tools and examples of tangible interventions. The toolbox provides examples of interventions for different stakeholders, but the architect’s role has been emphasized. The toolbox is applied and tested in a design project in an emerging part of Västerås. The proposed nudging multi-family housing block puts the bike at the forefront and is organized around the shared spaces and functions. The building is presented in architectural drawings showcasing the nudging interventions. The thesis sheds light on the importance of designing for sustainable lifestyles and contributes to the discussion of what future multi-family housing will look like. Nudging is not the single answer to the challenges we are facing, but can be one important puzzle piece.
- PostA quarry and a zoo: Exposing the distorted view on nature(2023) Trapp, Laurids; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Norell, Daniel; Christensson, PeterThe relationship between humans and nature in the Anthropocene could be described as one of displacement in many ways. Firstly, in the sense that our violence towards the environment is understood, but still neglected and displaced. In this way there is a discrepancy between our image of nature and our actions towards it. At the same time we displace nature in a literal sense with our growing consumption of land. The quarry and the zoo exemplify this in relation to architecture. Both make the often neglected extractive character of architecture tangible. They live on the seizure and appropriation of nature, but are fascinating at the same time. Both make nature to a commodity and put the human in charge of managing nature. Furthermore quarries and zoos are connected in that both displace animals. Quarries by destroying their natural habitats and zoos by holding them captive in a staged version of their natural habitat. In that sense my thesis takes the investigation of a quarry (context) and a zoo (program) as a starting point for a design that questions this paradox correlation between image and reality of nature and how this is embedded in architecture. The role design plays in the exploitation of nature is explored. The quarry is investigated as an example for the dependency of architecture on resource extraction. The scars left by the quarries make this impact clearly visible. The zoo is interesting in that it inherits a history of violence against animals, but inverts Abstract this narrative by transfiguring the connection between humans and animals. The human thereby always remains at the centre of the discussion. How design creates the interaction between humans, animals and the animal enclosure in a zoo is analysed. An emphasis is put on the ways the zoo works with different viewing styles and shapes how we look at animals. Eventually through the clash of context and program a design is developed. The quarry is rehabilitated providing ones again a habitat for flora and fauna. The divers climatic conditions of the quarry allow a variety of species to be introduced. Through a route and buildings a long the route visitors are able to experience the quarry and different views are offered. A place is designed that is neither a zoo nor wild nature, that is neither fully staged nor fully authentic, where humans transition between being part of nature and the man-made, where they are “on the side” of the animal and then spy on it, a place that starts a discussion through such polarities about our paradox relationship with nature and the underlying challenges of nature conservation. In that way humans capability of destroying and saving nature is made tangible and is questioned. The problem of a purely human centred perspective is put forward by revealing our gaze through strategies of caricature. People alternate between being spectator and object. The design follows the idea that we care more about what we are aware of. It engages in that way with the potential of the zoo in making animals visible to promote conservation but also exposes our distorted view on nature.
- PostBEHIND THE WALLS - Exploring how architecture can be a mode of inquiry on questions of intimate partner violence.(2023) Rajabi Gajin, Hoda; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Adelfio, Marco; da Cruz Brandao, EmilioEvery three weeks, a woman is killed by a man in Sweden. In 2021, 38 300 crimes of assault and 8 600 rapes against women and girls were reported which is more than one rape per hour per year. “ In 19 cases of the confirmed cases of lethal violence in 2021, victims and perpetrators were related by a close relationship (partner or ex-partner), which accounted for 17 percent of all cases of lethal violence. In 2020, the corresponding number was 17 cases (14%)” (Brå, n.d., para. 6). There are many different types of men’s violence against women in an intimate partner relationship. Intimate partner violence (IPV) has a variety of meanings for different researchers. For purposes of this thesis, the definition used for IPV will be defined as any type of violence that happens in an intimate partner relationship. The victim and perpetrator have a history of close relationships with each other as a spouse or partner. The question asked in this thesis is: How can ethnographic work and architectural design methods make architecture discipline engage with questions on non-physical violence in intimate partner relationships? In order to answer this question, the theoretical aim has been to understand the psychology of abuse and find behaviors in an intimate partner relationship that causes violence. Its applied purpose has been to explore in which way architectural design can contribute to preventing and intervening in violence. By exploring a design approach that enables speculative visualization that tells narratives of sensitive subjects, the hope is to raise awareness among women and young girls in order to empower them in society. The studies led to the creation of a methodology working with spatial narratives and collecting stories to unveil and contextualize them. This included creative workshops using architectural instruments such as drawings, clay, surveys, etc. to gather personal experiences with intimate partner violence.
- PostBeyond Creative Spaces The cultural centre as a tool for democratic participation in Ulricehamn(2023) Sidenvik, Joel; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Björling, Nils; Helmfridsson, JohnCulture is changing as people get more accustomed to creating and not only consuming, leading to higher expectations of interactivity and participation. The role of the public, cultural institutions are also changing with the meeting place becoming a more important feature to focus on. At the same time, the need for new democratic arenas is increasing. The city of Ulricehamn lacks a good, democratic meeting place, which is typically filled by a cultural, public institution. With the small scale of the city, this gives an opportunity to not only create a place that binds together the people, but different institutions and groups with the aim of making the democratic process more accessible with the cultural centre as a tool. The result of the thesis is both the design of a cultural centre but also a discussion based on this about how architecture can help facilitate the interaction between culture and the democratic process. Abstract The design research explores how to generate low- and high intensity meetings between the inhabitants of Ulricehamn through flexible spaces that house multiple actors in the same venue. The new building integrates with the City Hall and Youth centre to create new connections and means of participating in both culture and the decisions being made about the city. Design strategies are formulated, based on the analysis, theory and learnings from the design proposal. They focus on creating a third place and integration with the cultural landscape of the city as well as selected actors. The opportunity of using culture to interact with the democratic process is discussed and the connection between the City Hall and other actors as an opportunity to create something specific to the context of Ulricehamn. The social aspect of culture is seen as an important part in keeping it relevant in a future changing landscape with the cultural centre being a place that can transcend the term third place.
- PostBioclimatic, site specific architecture: Passive design strategies in a local context(2023) Elisson, Alexandra; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Thuvander, Liane; Helmfridsson, JohnThis thesis investigates how to lower the energy demand of a residential building located in a temperate climate of Kungsbacka, south of Sweden. To get an understanding of the relevance of passive design strategies and the possibilities, literature research is conducted. Relevant topics are explained such as thermal comfort, passive house and bioclimatic design. Furthermore, built examples that can relate to the climate of Kungsbacka are shown as references. The design strategies will in addition to the literature research be evaluated through simulations in IDA ICE which is a simulation software that is used to simulate thermal comfort in a building. The simulations tempt to give an understanding on how to use the passive design strategies in a suitable way according to the local climate. This is important since the relevance of different passive design strategies differ depending on which climate the building will be built in. The results of the simulations shows that due to the conditions of the chosen site Söderbro 10, all except one of the chosen passive design strategies is suitable. The excluded one was thermal inertia which was found to have little impact on the energy demand. This was resimulated and found to be more suitable on wooden floors than concrete. A dense and well insulated building envelope is important, and to use the sun as an energy source. This is possible at Söderbro 10 since the site does not have any buildings that block the solar radiation from the south. An angling of the design proposal towards the street allows for better conditions for solar radiation. The conclusion shows how integrating passive design strategies can reduce the energy consumption by 15%. The work provides a good basis for the understanding of how passive design strategies can be applied in a local context and highlights the importance of deeper study of aspects such as life cycle analysis, economy and values, and settings for simulation.
- PostCONCERN TO CONSER E Investigating how the transformation of the manager’s house at Lyckholms brewery can provide adaptive reuse and cultural value to its context.(2023) Dimitriadou, Christina; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Unterrainer, WalterThe city of Gothenburg is in a constant development and transformation mode. There is a plan by the City Planning Department of the Municipality of Gothenburg for the city to expand by approximately one third by 2035. Most societies, including that of Sweden, have shown an interest in the preservation of historical buildings in order to maintain the value of their inherent history. However, as it is challenging for the appropriate function of a particular building to be found there is continual growth and present day society’s needs are very different from those of the past. On the contrary, what is of great value in postmodern times is the need for authenticity. In the age of digitization, urbanization and replication society needs this value more than ever before. Historical buildings have a history to share, an element worth preserving that extends well into the past and this is incomparable. One of these buildings is the manager’s residence at the Lyckholms brewery. It was constructed in 1891 and is located on the southeast quarter of Gothenburg, between Korsvägen and Mölndal. The history of the Lyckholms brewery is associated with various activities such as trade and commercial operations but plans for a contemporary use have been halted to this day for reasons unknown. The manager’s residence has been used as a conference venue, yet as for various reasons it is difficult to adapt it to this function no suitable application has been found so far. The main focus of this process being the manager’s residence, the aim of this thesis is to establish an independent foundation, a hub for conservators plus an additional workshop in the adjacent space. The method is consolidated with an ex- tensive theory and research into the building and the outdoor area and this is the driving force for the design. The goal is to present a transformation project which preserves the history and design of the building though adding a new structure in the existing surrounding space with a focus on promoting adaptive reuse both as a strategy and a concept.
- PostCONFIGURING IDENTITIES PLACE IDENTITY AND INTERMEDIATE TOWNS(2023) Gopalakrishnan, Akshaya; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Fredriksson, Julia; Didriksson, LouiseOngoing urbanisation trends have resulted in the expansion of cities, with people from diverse backgrounds aiming to reap the benefits. Under such circumstances, intermediate towns have emerged as front runners in the search for a common ground between rurality and urban development. With the potential to provide comfortable living conditions away from the hustle of the city, these regions, due to the proximity of their location form an important interface between the two networks. While there has been immense research on the socio-spatial factors in rural and urban areas, how people identify with intermediate towns and their features is less explored. The research focuses on the role of design in shaping the identity of intermediate towns and underlines important factors to be considered in the process. Hosting both resident and commuter populations, the Swedish town of Sandared was chosen as a case study for the research. The study was conducted by interpreting the term “place identity” from three different perspectives - visual, social, and spatial. A theoretical framework based on these perspectives was then carried forward into the case by guiding the data analysis and design strategy for Sandared’s town center. Data analysis showed a disconnect between the town and the people on various fronts. From a system perspective, the town’s current centre provided very less opportunities for people to interact and included several redundant and unoccupied spaces along with being perceived as decrepit and un-inviting. With the aim of reconnecting the town with its people, the design proposal, through the introduction of inclusive social spaces, provides increased opportunities for interaction. By finding a balance between mobility and livability, the spaces foster the development of place identity by enabling engagement with social, spatial, and visual aspects. When evaluated, the theoretical framework was found to align with the requirements of the case, making it a relevant approach for investigating socio-spatial relations in similar contexts. The research highlights how defining strong socially constructed place identities can result in the sustainable development of intermediate towns by accommodating urbanisation trends while retaining connections to local roots.
- PostConversation with earth: How a Swedish initiated earth school project in the Gambia can contribute to develop earth building in both contexts(2023) Rustas, Simon; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Thuvander, Liane; Hagy, SheaSince time immemorial, humankind has used earth to construct dwellings. In industrialised countries, earth was discarded and replaced by other materials with the arrival of the industrial revolution. However, with the rising awareness of sustainability in the construction sector today, earth building is experiencing a revival as an affordable and sustainable construction method. Earthen materials are still used in large parts of the world, mostly in developing areas in the global south, but as a result of colonial heritage and the global development discourse in the mid-twentieth century, earth architecture is commonly viewed upon as an inevitable preliminary stage of development toward industrial society, rendering the notion of it symbolising temporality and under-development. In other words, stigmas and a lack of adaptation to industrialised processes is hindering use of earth in modern day construction. In 2018, Eivor Björkman Gambia aid, Detail Group AB and EarthLAB studio initiated a project to build a school of rammed earth in Ghana Town, a poor fishing community in The Gambia. The goal is to provide education in the community and promote earth building in Gambian urban development. With point of departure in practical learning and inter-disciplinary collaboration, this thesis explores the Gambian perspective on earth building and the nuances of a western architect doing work in The Gambia. What type of role can an international architect fill in this context? How to assist and elevate rather than compete with local initiatives already in place? And, coming from a country with a cultural disconnect to the material, what can be learnt and brought back from working in a country with traditional ties to it? In a process revolving around mutual benefit, knowledge exchange and equal working relationship, the project is formed in dialogue between two different cultures and across disciplinary boundaries. The result is a method for how an aid work project can contribute to develop earth building in both contexts, and shows how the intention of a western architect to provide help in a developing country can change with conversation. Conversation between people, cultures and contexts: a conversation with Earth.
- PostDensify & greenify: Sustainable urban infill in Thessaloniki Greece(2024) Dimou, Amalia Athanasia; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers University of Technology / Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering (ACE); Thuvander, Liane; Unterrainer, WalterThis thesis aims to explore two conflicting sustainable urban development strategies, urban densification and the creation of urban green spaces. The driving forces of both strategies often have them competing for the scarcely found available spaces within the urban context, and one is often neglected in favour of the other. Looking for ways to bridge the gap between the two, I am utilizing biophilic and biomimetic design approaches to compromise between the two, with a goal of achieving the best possible results for both strategies through one design. The conflict between urban densification and urban green spaces can be relevant in any context. For the thesis’s purpose, a site was selected for the creation of a pilot project, which would showcase ways of combining densification and green spaces. The plot is located in Thessaloniki, Greece, my hometown, a city already densely built. It is an urban gap, currently operating as a parking lot. The plot is utilized for the creation of an infill building, which would take advantage of an underused space within the urban fabric. The final design bridges the gap between urban densification and urban green spaces, by using biophilic and biomimetic strategies into one final infill building and brings new qualities into the area. Through the design of this pilot project and the successful integration of densification and green spaces in one building, it is obvious that these conflicting strategies can be combined with high effectivity and add new qualities to urban spaces, without compromising on either end.
- PostEfficient renewable sufficiency: A dense office transformation for resilient affordable housing(2024) Eriksson, Lina; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Thuvander, Liane; Kjellson, KarinSustainability is discussed within almost every sector today, including architecture. It is widely known that there needs to be a change in how we live and consume resources, and plenty of ongoing efforts reflect this. Renewable energy and increased efficiency to reach net zero carbon or energy are repeatedly mentioned. However, there is rarely talk about change in habits or decreased consumption, even though the first studies on the subject came out over 50 years ago. Human emissions are, despite ongoing efforts, growing rapidly. Even with the technological development and green solutions emerging in many sectors, the improvements are devoured by the growing consumption. Buildings are a huge contributor to this situation, being a large polluter throughout their lifespan. Efficiency and renewables through technology and sustainable resources can only partly meet the need for reduced demand. With rebounds, limits and the need for complete net-zero, sufficiency in consumption is crucial for lowering the impact of the use of goods and services. For buildings, sufficiency means density, flexibility in design, co-use of spaces and appliances, and repurposing old buildings, combined with efficiency in ventilation, conditioning and lighting, all achieved with sustainable materials and renewable energy. This project transforms an office building in Gothenburg to accessible, affordable housing with a low environmental footprint through the implementation of these interventions. This is achieved through case studies, an iterative design process with testing and evaluation, and finally optimising a design regarding construction, efficiency, and renewables. This results in a low-impact co-living solution emphasising sufficiency in shared design, achieved in combination with efficient technology and renewable solutions. The project shows that through adaptive reuse of empty offices, dense affordable housing while maintaining design quality is possible by combining the three concepts. Furthermore, the thesis explores and reflects upon challenges within transformation, and the different ways to implement sufficiency in design.
- PostExperiments imaginaries desires: Searching for a space of resistance(2023) Lundin, Jessica; Palo, Pia; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Billger, Monica; Adelfio, MarcoIn recent decades, the dominant paradigm of top-down, profit driven urban development has been institutionalized and dogmatized by decision makers in cities. It leaves no space for alternative imaginaries, but rather tries to exert full control over the definition of how cities should be developed and used. As a means of resistance, this thesis argues for the need of the disorderly, for ambiguous urban spaces characterized by being messy, rough, and uncontrolled. The thesis is situated in the specific context of Lundbystrand, an ex-industrial area of central Gothenburg that is being transformed into a cluster for tech and automotive industries. Market-driven development has led to demands for an ordered, clean, safe, and tidy urban form that conflict with spontaneous appropriation of space and bottom-up initiatives. In response to this, the thesis challenges the conception of what you can do, and who can interfere in the public realm. It aims to convince of something most do not seem to agree with: that the messy, rough, and uncontrolled are spatial qualities that have positive human and non-human value. This is done through an exploration of the potential values of the disorderly, with a particular focus on ambiguity and the feeling of allowance that it creates. The overarching approach is to embrace the uncertainty and complexity that make up the world, drawing on assemblage thinking and relationscaping. By exploring methods that focus on subjective experiences and recognizes more-than-human ways of thinking, the work investigates the role of micro-scale design experiments in provoking desires and other models of shaping the city. Rather than resulting in a design proposal, the thesis shows how experimental design processes can generate capacity to produce collective and individual imaginaries and actions, initiating a dialogue about whose desires dictate the visions of the future. The outcome is a contribution to an alternative spatial interpretation of Lundbystrand, with three on-site design experiments that transform and are transformed by the shifting assemblages they engage with.
- PostFertile architecture: An architectural practice closer to the circle of nature drawing on eco-places(2024) Barbotin, Adélie; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Thuvander, Liane; Hagy , Shea; Adelfio, MarcoThis research explores an alternative architectural practice within the context of pressing environmental and social challenges exacerbated by capitalist systems. Focused on reimagining the architectural process through the lens of a permaculture philosophy, the study centres on the transformative potential of an immersive study in an eco-place: Chenèvre. Nature, and humans understood as a part of the natural realm, forms the foundation for sustainable ways of life. Thus, the primary objective is to critically reflect on a more fertile practice of architecture. The research adopts a multidimensional methodology encompassing inductive immersion, deductive analyses, and abductive methods. Through direct engagement and immersion within an eco-place, this study explores the interrelations among individuals, the collective, and the specific site – understood not only as physical spaces but also as living beings inhabiting them. It offers insights into alternative living arrangements that challenge traditional norms. Moreover, societal, activist, and architectural literature were reviewed to deconstruct learned architectural norms to make space for a new fertile architectural ethos. Results from the two methods facilitate experimentation with new architectural processes and design methodologies, revealing the potential of immersive studies to reshape architectural practices and foster inclusive design processes that prioritise individual and collective wants and needs, ultimately interconnecting them with the well-being of the site. The research advocates for a paradigm shift towards architecture rooted in deep immersion, emergent alternative narratives, and collaborative design with Nature.By envisioning architecture as a dynamic force for social and environmental change, the study proposes speculative designs through collages to transform architectural practices towards collaboration, informality, and inclusivity. This research underscores the significance of engaging future users and collectives in shaping their own way of dwelling for more responsive and equitable built environments. Finally, it highlights the potential of immersive work, co-designing, and co-working at every stage to advance towards a more fertile practice of architecture.
- PostFertile architecture: An architectural practice closer to the circle of nature drawing on eco-places(2024) Barbotin, Adélie; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Thuvander, Liane; de Carvalho, Samuel Dias; Hagy , SheaIn recent decades, the standardization and homogenization of metropolitan areas have become topics of discourse due to their significant impacts on city identity and contributions to gentrification. Situated in Berlin, Germany, a city once-prized for its heterogeneity and vibrancy, the citie‘s identity is now imperiled by the emergence of parallel societies, spatially and ideologically isolated from one another. Concurrently, the demolition of buildings that have played pivotal roles in shaping the city‘s identity adds another layer of complexity to this urban narrative. Building upon the notion that the built environment serves as a reflection of society, and vice versa, this thesis constitutes a process-oriented, metaphysical exploration of neglected non-normative urban components, which are conisdered as „ugly“. This exploration unfolds as a critical examination of contemporary aesthetic norms and their impact on the urban fabric. Furthermore, the affects of these norms on society are analysed through investigations into the psychogeography of the context. In doing so, it endeavors to deconstruct the prevailing norms and beliefs that contribute to the marginalization of societal minorities. The thesis goes beyond mere academic inquiry. By examining the intersection of architectural aesthetics and society, the research endeavors to be a catalyst for change and a call to action. Spatial experimentations, leveraging the inherent spatial potentials of what may be deemed „antinormative“ or ugly aesthetics, result in a performance design intervention, which seeks to challenge and transform entrenched, implicit belief patterns. By embracing and celebrating architectural diversity in form of ugliness, the intention is to introduce a paradigm shift that not only redefines aesthetic appreciation but also cultivates a more inclusive and heterogeneous societal framework, which embraces the unique narratives of all its inhabitants.
- PostFor People By People - A participatory design project for an urban future in Halmstad(2023) Lindfors, Evelyn; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Tarrasó, Joaquim; Vesterlund, Carl-JohanArchitects are responsible for our built environment, ensuring it’s functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability. The ecological sustainability is increasing in importance due to climate change, but another important factor, that is more difficult to measure and that’s also in dire need of attention, is the social sustainability (Tunström, 2019). People create life in our urban spaces, not city planners or architects. We can only provide for the space, but without people utilizing it, our profession may become purposeless. We are essentially dependent on each other to succeed, but somehow the people’s voice in the matter of urban design seems to be insignificant or forgotten in some cases. The city centre in Halmstad is losing its attractivity due to a shopping mall in the outskirts of the city and from Covid-19 repercussions, simultaneously as the conflict about a former hotel development on Österskans was created between the municipality and the citizens (Halmstad Kommun, 2023). The hotel project was terminated after a public vote in 2022, with no new plan for the area to this day. The purpose for this thesis was to investigate and develop a design method and practice of participatory design, on the chosen site of Österskans in Halmstad, with the leading question: How can a participatory design process be developed, with an aim to create a sustainable and attractive urban environment, together with citizens of Halmstad? The method is an iteration of input, interpretation, and implementation, where the input was gathered form participatory actions such as questionnaires, interviews and workshops. The input were made into a framework of design principles and zoning map which the final design proposal was centred around. The proposal has a holistic approach divided into five categories: flows, greenery, activities, piers, and buildings. The flows and activities are focusing on the human scale, encouraging an increase of liveliness, the greenery promotes biodiversity and human health, the piers connect Österskans to the river, and the building links the cultural buildings together and creates a meetingplace. The thesis is a pilot project, testing a new approach in a smaller scale, for the purpose of finding a way for architects to move forward in the future development of social sustainable environments.
- PostFragments: Exploring waste-based concrete from construction and demolition waste(2023) Tantipisanu, Bongkodpast; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Skorick, Kengo; Lundberg, JonasThe generation of solid waste is an inevitable outcome of societies that have undergone industrialization. Economic growth has been observed to lead to a rise in the production of solid waste, which is typically disposed of in landfills and has been found to pollute the environment with waste materials, thereby affecting the quality of soil, water, and air. The current scenario is witnessing a surge in the extraction of raw materials to cater to the increasing demand. Simultaneously, the shortage of land-filling areas, rapid industrial expansion, and the adoption of a take-make-waste linear economy have resulted in a twofold increase in waste accumulation. Consequently, they have instigated a worldwide reevaluation of strategies pertaining to the rethinking of waste and its management. The thesis explores the potential of utilizing recycled construction and demolition wastes (CDWs) as alternative materials in conjunction with the geopolymer or alkali-activated materials (AAM) technique. This approach enables the CDWs to function as a binder and be mixed with recycled fine and coarse aggregates, thereby eliminating the need for conventional river sand. Additionally, the use of no more than 10% cement allows for room-temperature curing of the materials. The study aims to evaluate the performance of this approach under real-world conditions; therefore, the experimentation involving binders is conducted with the aim of exploring new possibilities for versatility and composition, thereby facilitating the reevaluation of waste materials. This process is also linked to the unique characteristics of the waste sources and connects with the public to gain understandings of ”waste” or secondary materials amidst rapid urban development. Aiming to focus on the experimentation of manipulating waste-based concrete that can undergo transformation over time and its potential for infinite recyclability. The influence of materials on the design of a building and the ways in which architects can utilize them to foster social connections and a sense of community where waste is sorted through waste-based pavilions The present study aims to investigate the ways in which architects can make well-informed decisions regarding the materials they utilize, taking into account the properties and lifecycle impacts of such materials.
- PostFraming Varberg Reinterpreting urban development through place identity(2023) Carlsson, Angelika; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Björling, Nils; Röstlund, IdaThis thesis investigates how urban development can be reinterpreted through place identity and genius loci, with a specific focus on the local context of Varberg and the transformation of the harbour. Varberg municipality is growing because of its attractive geographical location along the Swedish west-coast and assets like closeness to the ocean, bath culture and the small-town feeling. To encounter the population growth the municipally initiated development project Västerport will extend the town to the water and make the private harbour an urban place. It is significant that the place identity of the site is protected, as a risk is that a place in transformation loses its connection to its past and memory to instead become a blank slate where a waterfront polished area can be built. The aim of this thesis is to explore the local identity of the harbour and Varberg to form a suggestion for a transformation that includes the sense of place in its future vision. By bringing up the discourse on universalized architecture and place identity this thesis links the investigation of a local context to contemporary architecture, as well as the synergies between the architectural field and who we design buildings for. Through a study of the past, present and future of Varberg genius loci perspectives guide the methodology of place analysis and the design exploration. By iterative processes the theory, design and place investigation has been ongoing simultaneously to let the research of all parts inform each other. Through the interpretation of the harbour and Varberg’s identities, the process has merged the qualities found and used it for transmitting the sense of place, without copy-pasting and romanticising the past. The thesis results in both a genius loci analysis of Varberg and a design proposal of an urban masterplan of Västerport phase 2. To give a depth in the different dimensions of place the design of the street, volumetric form, urban spaces and building’s exterior have been explored and presented.
- PostHALF EMPTY HOUSES(2023) Kumlien, Lovisa; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Unterrainer, WalterThe single family house is a typology with an invisible vacancy and a great future potential to tackle large societal challenges. 50% of Swedish households live in single family houses and they are to be found all over the country. Many of them are built for a family with children but today the majority of these houses are inhabited by only 1 or 2 persons and a third of all house owners express they have too much space. There is a discrepancy between what we build or dream of and the reality of how we live today. The lack of variations in sizes and ownership models can make it hard to both stay in and move to the area. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the potential of the single family house to develop new housing solutions within the existing as well as summarising knowledge and strategies for how this can be done and how to reach qualities in the design while doing so. The project takes place in the context of the island Åstol where the only option to create more housing is to develop within the existing 180 villas and where the future of the local community is dependent on how they make use of their limited space. The outcome of the thesis is a design proposal of how 3 of these villas can be transformed to support a sustainable development. Through research of relevant reports and references on the subject together with real life examples based on interviews and statistics, the proposals of transformations are presented as a palette of potential showcasing new ways of living - matching the needs of today’s society as well as challenging the norm of how we live today.
- PostInfill Industrial building transformation with timber(2023) Chen, Yuren; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Unterrainer, Walternder the background of globalization and urbanization, Gothenburg grew into one of the largest Nordic cities, accompanied by a housing shortage. People wait for years in rental housing queues or move around frequently because of short-term contracts. The lack of housing makes it easier for people with stable work while disadvantages the mobile population like students and temporary workers. There is an objective need for a temporary-type accommodation model. Meanwhile, the industrial section in Gothenburg has faced a recession and the need for urban transformation like in the Lindholmen area is being prioritized. Hence, transforming disused industrial buildings into new residential buildings to reduce new construction becomes an interesting topic for me. Plåtverkstaden near Lindholmen is chosen as the building to develop my thesis. When thinking about transformation inside buildings, the first material that came into my mind is timber. Timber has many advantages concerning construction. It can be locally sourced, extremely light, fast to assemble, and can be customized easily at the site. It’s low-impact and visually appealing, which matches the sustainable concept of transformation with a second-life metaphorical message. When timber is infilled into an existing building envelope, thermal performance goals can be achieved much easier, which is one of the synergies triggered. Through this thesis, I hope to find out more synergies of transformation with timber. This thesis is about transforming Plåtverkstaden with timber to create a lively community where people can live, work and connect, with a goal of supporting the companies and university in the vicinity with short-term housing and working services, so as to promote Gothenburg’s industry transformation for a sustainable future in the urban context. To meet indoor comfort goals for living and working, comfort analyzing software is used as a design tool. Apart from that, exploration also includes the design of housing units with higher heights, and the potential for indoor gardens, re-using existing building elements, in the industrial building setting. This thesis is aimed to be a reference to show the potential of industrial building transformation and provide solutions for more cases.
- PostKämpegatan 16 Transforming a building in a state of uncertainty(2023) Bruns , Paula Sophia; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Unterrainer, WalterThe population living in cities is estimated to rise significantly in the coming years, which makes the need for developing sustainable and resilient cities more and more urgent. Consequently, the transformation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings becomes increasingly important with regard to sustainable urban development. Buildings make up a significant amount of the built environment. Making use of existing, empty or inefficiently used buildings can provide a strategy to avoid further urban sprawl and the related claiming of more land. It simultaneously contributes to circularity and saving resources. Buildings have been and are presently designed as mono-functional objects, not able to react to changes. Therefore, buildings are at risk of facing redundancy and possibly considerable repeated refurbishment or untimely demolition. Existing buildings are even more so threatened by demolition when geographically located within city centers or otherwise strategically. In addition, these structures are also strongly affected by ongoing development in their surroundings, endangering their existence. Further, demolition in particular concerns buildings which are not protected through local policies and do not fall under specific protection regulations. Through a site and context analysis as well as thorough literature research, appropriate transformation strategies and suitable solutions for the transformation and reuse of a former storage building were developed. The building finds itself in the dichotomy between significant future urban development as well as being located in a building block with several buildings bearing protection markings. However, the former storage building at Kämpegatan 16 does not fall under specific protection regulations. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate potential transformation strategies which contribute to the building’s use in the future and prolonging its life cycle, taking into account the heritage surrounding the building and the impact of future development. With that, the thesis aims at questioning current procedures within urban planning with regard to the existing built environment and its impact on it. The outcome of the thesis is a proposal for the implementation of a mixed-use program onto the former storage building and the structural transformation.
- PostLife after fire: Collective agricultural production for reincorporation communities in the Colombian post-conflict(2023) Estrada D'amato, Laura; Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för arkitektur och samhällsbyggnadsteknik (ACE); Thuvander, Liane; Hagy, SheaFor many decades, Colombia was only perceived by the international community as a dangerous country, facing a cold-blooded war between the state and insurgent groups. With the signature of the Peace Agreement in Havana this image started to shift toward an example of transformation. This negotiation was only the beginning of a complex process that has demanded tremendous efforts from every sector of the society. Today, it is still relevant to re-evaluate what does it take to actually build a long-lasting peace: To repair a broken society after war it is necessary to go beyond cease fire, it is required to holistically understand the reasons that provoked the conflict in the first place, and create conditions to avoid these circumstances to repeat. In Colombia, social inequities and unequal access to land or work opportunities where some of the main reasons that burst the armed conflict. Hence, they are now central points on the peace-building agenda and the focal point to this dissertation. This thesis aimed to contribute to peace from the development of productive infrastructure to ensure economic stability to the demobilized ex-FARC community in Dabeiba, who had been developing collective production initiatives as part of their reincorporation plan. This “peace signers” have established in two separate settlements: one for housing (Llano Grande) and one for productive activities (Taparales), this segregation of uses, represents a mayor logistic complication for the development of their economic activity and consequently, a threat to the peace process, since it is hard to ensure dignified living conditions for the former actors of the conflict. The project is grounded on the historical background of the conflict in Colombia and the peace agreement implementation in Dabeiba and transcends to an empirical, collective knowledge-building through field studies to better understand the site singularities and analyse implicated stakeholders in terms of interests, possibilities and limitations. This research led to the proposal of a development plan for the production infrastructure in Taparales, oriented to improve working conditions for “agroprogreso” association members, increase production quality and efficiency and, ultimately built resilience in the farm by diversifying the income sources and the sustainable use of ecosystem services.
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