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Senast publicerade

Visibility in the Liminality; an architectural investigation of spatial care in women´s shelters
(2026) Moberg, Isabell
Socially vulnerable groups have not been included in urban planning, instead exclusionary measures have been applied to regulate their use of public spaces, as well as having their shelters placed in industrial areas. Recently, however, a shift in approach has begun to emerge in some contexts, with developments of spaces specifically designed for this target group. However, there is a lack of empirical knowledge and appropriate tools to understand and make visible the needs of this group, especially in relation to their shelters and their surrounding environments. The purpose of this Master´s Thesis is to investigate this relationship in the context of one specific type of accommodation: shelters for women experiencing homelessness. It aims to facilitate a better understanding of the considerations, requirements and uses these shelters have in relation to their surroundings, and how this relationship can be strengthened. Through this, it seeks to contribute to the discussion regarding the urban placement of shelters for women experiencing homelessness as well as the women´s access to public space. The research is situated in Gothenburg, Sweden, and draws on a theoretical framework grounded in feminist principles of spatial design. It is based on two case studies of municipal shelters, and adopts a qualitative, participatory approach. The key methods include interviews, participatory mapping, thematic analysis and development of design strategies through sketching. The outcome of the thesis is a set of small-scale design strategies for the semi-public and public spaces surrounding shelters for women experiencing homelessness in Gothenburg, with the purpose to enhance connections between the shelters and their residents and staff with the surrounding neighbourhoods. Overall, this thesis demonstrates one way in which architecture can function as a tool in addressing questions of spatial justice and equity. It proposes a series of design strategies that may support the spatial agency of a marginalized group, while also illustrating how qualitative, phenomenological methods can inform and contribute to architectural design processes.
STORIES FROM SIRIUSGATAN
(2026) Dahlén Jonason, Alexandra
Through plans, sections, perspective drawings, and material specifica tions, architecture can make spatial change appear clear, ordered, and possible to act upon. Yet some of the most decisive forces shaping spatial transformation take place elsewhere: in financial calculations, institutional decisions, legal procedures, negotia tions, unequal relations, and everyday life. These processes often remain outside the frame of conventional ar chitectural representation. This thesis explores architectural graphic storytelling as a method for making such processes readable, through the empirical case of a mu nicipal housing renovation process at Siriusgatan in Bergsjön, Gothenburg. There, a planned renovation of bath rooms and building systems became a contested process in which tech nical maintenance, standard-raising measures, rent increases, affordabil ity, tenant influence, legal authori ty, and the possibility of remaining in place were drawn into the same multi-layered force field. Key words: The study is based on interviews, le gal documents, organisational mate rial, technical renovation documents, media sources, and site observa tions. Through the analysis, empirical material is organised into analytical themes, mapped across space and time, and developed into six key ten sions. These tensions structure an ar chitectural graphic novel that traces the renovation process through ac tors, spaces, decisions, conflicts, and lived consequences. The graphic novel does not aim to provide a complete or neutral ac count of Siriusgatan. Rather, it offers a situated and empirically grounded narrative that explores how storytell ing can support recognition, make unequal positions visible, and cre ate conditions for dialogue. In this way, the thesis positions architectural graphic storytelling not as a final lay er of communication, but as a meth od for knowledge-making in contest ed spatial processes.
Hembygden From Harbour to Home through Local Anchoring and Engagement
(2026) Landtreter, Isabella
The master’s thesis Hembygden explores how architectural methods can contribute to long-term sustainable rural development through local anchoring and participation. Rural municipalities face demographic changes, economic uncertainty, and challenges in attracting new residents. At the same time, social aspects, cultural heritage, and strong place identity constitute important, but often underutilized, resources in planning and design processes. Therefore, this study tests a methodological approach that combines analysis of place identity with participatory design to strengthen local influence, create meaningful residential environments, and enhance rural attractiveness. The study employs a Research by Design methodology through a qualitative case study of the Bergkvara harbour area in Torsås Municipality, Sweden. The case study investigates how these methods can be translated into physical design by interpreting the character and involving local stakeholders. Concepts and strategies are generated and then concretized in a housing-focused design project based on the planning proposal for the harbour area from 2021. This results in a vision for continued dialogue among the municipality, residents, and developers, aiming to generate interest in the site’s development potential. Analysis of place identity combined with participatory design demonstrates how architectural decisions can be supported by well-founded arguments. In this way, the architecture that emerges is recognisable, credible, and locally anchored. By involving multiple target groups, a broader understanding of residents’ thoughts and values is developed. The final design decisions, however, were not co produced, but interpreted and developed by the architect. The process in itself therefore does not guarantee local anchoring, as it depends on the architect’s selections, interpretations, and priorities. Participatory design should instead be understood as a continuous dialogue where perspectives are integrated into the reasoning behind the design, rather than a direct translation of ideas into form. Finally, the thesis emphasises the importance of using architecture as a catalyst for community engagement and strengthened local society. By bridging local knowledge and professional architectural expertise, architectural practice can support locally anchored and resilient rural development. The role of architecture in rural contexts is therefore not only about physical form, it is about strengthening the relationship between people, place, and future.
An Evaluation of the Applicability of Social Life Cycle Assessment in the Aerospace Industry
(2026) Angel, Johannes; Bisseberg, Oscar
This master’s thesis evaluates the applicability and effectiveness of Social Life Assessment (S-LCA) as a method for assessing social sustainability within the aerospace industry. Given the increasing emphasis in recent years on corporate sustainability, the study investigates whether S-LCA can provide meaningful insights into the complex social impacts associated with aerospace products and their global value chains. The research combines a methodological review of S-LCA and its applicability with a case study on a selected aerospace product. The study assesses how S-LCA can be implemented across different life cycle stages, from raw material extraction to usage, a so-called “cradle-to-gate” approach, and identifies social hotspots on organizational as well as on industry level. The findings indicate that S-LCA is, in theory, a valuable tool for identifying social hotspots and, by extension, feasible to use for addressing social sustainability challenges. However, the methodology presents limitations, including data availability and quality challenges, the inherent subjectivity of the assessment, and sensitivity to selected system boundaries. The case study demonstrates that results vary to a great degree depending on made assumptions and what data sources are used, which highlights the need for careful methodological choices. To summarize, the thesis concludes that while S-LCA is a promising approach, its use and effectiveness in the aerospace industry is dependent on methodological development and increased data transparency
Making Climate Data Actionable in Energy Investment Projects
(2026) Lilliedahl, Alfred; Åkerlund, Daniel
Göteborg Energi has established ambitious targets to reduce the climate footprint of its procurement by 90% by 2030. While Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an established methodology for quantifying environmental impact, its practical integration into investment decisions is often constrained by organizational and data quality barriers rather than technical limitations. This thesis investigates how Göteborg Energi’s working approach for climate data can be developed to support both early investment decisions, LCA-based follow-up and declarations in larger investment projects. Using a mixed-methods approach structured around the DMAIC framework, a retrospective pilot LCA was conducted on the biomass-fired combined heat and power plant Rya BKV, delimited to the main supplier Valmet’s scope of delivery. This were combined with semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, process observations, and supplier dialogue. The analysis reveals three categories of barriers. Process-related barriers include late and unclear requirements specification in procurement. Data quality barriers including a strong reliance on generic emission factors due to limited availability of product-specific Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Organizational barriers arise from unclear allocation of responsibilities between project management, procurement, and the environmental function. In response, an improved working method is proposed that separates climate data into two distinct flows: a limited decision-support flow for use in tender evaluation and a comprehensive follow-up flow post-award, utilizing a standardized supplier data template. The method is reinforced by a shared terminology structure for climate data types, explicit allocation of responsibilities, and a four-level fallback process for missing emission factors. The result is a scalable and structured approach that bridges the gap between early climate screening and rigorous LCAbased follow-up, without assuming complete product-specific data availability at all project stages.