Contemporary stone building: Strategies for sustainable architecture in load bearing stone applied in a Swedish context

Abstract

This thesis deals with architectural design that utilizes massive natural stone as a load bearing material with high architectural presence. The purpose is to put new eyes on an ancient material in the light of modern technology at a time of climate emergency. Stone has many beneficial properties for a building material. In addition to unparallelled longevity and high compression strength it is also proof to fire, water and rot. But most importantly, stone is a natural material that can have substantial benefits to the planet as a sustainable alternative to steel and reinforced concrete. Despite all this, few people know that building in stone is even an alternative. This thesis wants to change that by promoting stone as a structural material with timeless architectural beauty. A material investigation is conducted through literature studies, site visits and practical experiments. References are gathered from pioneering stone buildings and architectural research prototypes that push the boundaries of construction principles and the latest digital production technology. As no contemporary stone buildings yet exist in the nordic countries this thesis positions itself in that knowledge gap. A building design is made, following an existing project brief, in order to find out how stone can be applied as a critical architectural element in the design of a public bath in a Swedish context. The result goes into detail and presents various solutions, elements, constructive principles and aesthetic opportunities that displays how natural stone can be used as a major structural and aesthetic component in contemporary architecture.