Time to dwell: An exploration of a primitive dwelling through elements of nature

Abstract

This thesis explores a primitive dwelling that seeks beyond our contemporary lifestyles, speculating on how it can stimulate a slower pace of living through the interplay between nature and architecture. The thesis has its starting point on a site situated in Boxholm municipality in Östergötland, Sweden. The site, consisting out of four timber houses built in the 1890’s, is characterized by its strong presence of nature, situated in a sloping landscape between open fields and a preserved forest. The site functions as a source of knowledge to give historical insights of past lifestyle patterns and placement of functions. It serves as a starting point for the design explorations. The thesis has developed through an iterative process that intertwines both philosophical and rational perspectives. These focuses on understanding the relationships between the built environment and the natural world, exploring how acts of dwelling takes place in the interactional world between the two and how architecture can enhance the ritualistic activities. Since nature is focal throughout the thesis it is envisioned through the four elements of ‘earth, fire, water and air’ to make it more tangible. The thesis is further based on historical perspectives of dwelling, as well as references of domestic space. Through the theoretical framework, places in the dwelling can be identified through the four natural elements and constitute a foundation from which a design exploration is developed. This is achieved through identification of the natural elements in the context of the site and the spatial necessities based on fundamental acts of dwelling. The exploration results in a design proposal that suggests four spatial configurations designed in relation to each natural element and their associated functions. In addition, the space in-between these physical configurations is explored and valued as key within the dwelling as it allows human movement and interaction with the natural setting of the site. To conclude, the final design proposal composes a dwelling that reflects a balanced co-existence between human, nature, and architecture.