Råby-Rekarne invites the rural communities of Eskilstuna to celebrate the important stages of life with the proposal of a new People's House. Råby-Rekarne is just one example of how the rural communities in the countryside of Eskilstuna seem to have formed around their local church as a gathering point throughout history. The 12th century church which Råby-Rekarne is build around has lost some of its unifying force as members are depleting and perhaps the use of churches are becoming less relevant today. This might call for a new outlook on how churches in small rural communities are going to be used. This proposal is an exploration of the issue and a recognition that People's Houses might be a successor to churches in terms of unifying and gathering people, especially in smaller communities. However, the proposal should not be viewed as a replacement to the church but rather an attempt at preserving social qualities that may be lost if churches are phased out due to depleted membership numbers or low capacity for larger gatherings. The main purpose is to find a way to share responsibilities with existing local establishments such as churches in order to preserve the foundation of local networks and thereby supporting natural growth in small communities. The People's House can be used either for entire ceremonies or for the gatherings that follow ceremonies performed by the church, such as wedding dinners, parties or coffee after funerals. / Folkets hus bjuder in hela Eskilstunas landsbygd till att fira livet från födseln till de sista ögonblicken. Mindre orter som Råby-Rekarne tycks ha uppstått kring sina kyrkor, här har den glesa befolkningen samlats och blivit grannar. Råby-Rekarne kyrka har funnits sedan 1100-talet och bebyggelsen runtomkring har återuppstått kring kyrkan flera gånger under dess livstid. Idag har kyrkan förlorat en del av sin samlande kraft och vi behöver en ny plats för gemenskap på landsbygden, samtidigt har kyrkan för många en betydelsefull roll i livets stora ögonblick. Kanske är det en roll som kyrkan kan dela med Folkets Hus om vi tillsammans kan bygga en plats som är till för livets alla steg, ett centrum för liv med plats för kultur, ceremoni, utbildning och firande. Kanske kan vi återuppliva kyrkans samlingskraft genom att också ta hand om det som sker efter ceremonin. På längre sikt kan projektet bidra till att Råby-Rekarne kan fortsätta vara en historiskt värdefull plats att bo på. Kyrkans roll som platsskapande, samlande och kulturbevarande riskerar att förloras om medlemsantalen fortsätter att sjunka. I stället får Råby-Rekarne en chans att bli centrum för de viktiga händelserna i livet, genom att arbeta tillsammans med och inte ta över kyrkans uppgifter öppnas verksamheten för fler. Folkets hus blir ett tillskott som förhoppningsvis kan leda till att viktiga historiska värden bevaras men även utnyttjas av en större målgrupp.

The thesis takes the form of a residential house, exploring different ways of separating a space while answering different needs for solitude. It experimented with a diversity of architectural devices designed to demarcate functional units in the house with respect to their varying demands for solitude. Individual spaces are examined based on where they fall on the spectrum: from the most secluded to the most inclusive. Efforts are made to refrain from resorting to full size walls when not necessary. The actual means of separation used for a certain space is usually a balance between the desire for seclusion and the urge to evade walls. The form of the house unfolds from the order of an overarching cruciform structure, dividing the space into four quadrants, which are further bisected by a horizontal plane producing a total of eight cubic spaces. Each space is shaped with different dimensions suitable to their respective functions assigned, but all fit into a spatial matrix of two-foot spacing points. A featuring cross is brought out and made visible on the roof, plan and each of the four facades. / Master of Architecture

Scholars and political candidates have frequently viewed online political participation as a weaker and less meaningful form of political involvement than traditional, offline activities. This thesis presents an overview of the literature on political participation and the Internet in order to understand the origins of this view and why participation on social media may be uniquely meaningful in comparison with other Internet-based activities. Examination of social media using Resource Theory and Social Identity Theory justify this unique status by highlighting and rationalizing social media's exceptional capacity to build and maintain weak-tie networks while also generating an intimacy between constituents and candidates. Social Identity Theory also provides an argument for the potential of social media for reaching and mobilizing first-time participants through its capacity to passively reach and attract constituents for non-political, personal and identity-serving reasons. This thesis then shows how social media-enable first-time participants may be more inclined to continue and expanding their participation over time, thereby substantially affecting participation trends in the United States. Using case studies composed of qualitative data collected on candidate views of the Internet and social media in U.S. House campaigns, this thesis examines the state of Web campaigning in 2010 in comparison to the theoretically "archetypal" Web campaign in order to provide indications of whether the prescribed theoretical activities deliver meaningful citizen engagement and valuable returns to campaigns. / Master of Arts

No description available.

Studien fokuserar på att skapa större förståelse kring hur fastighetsföretag organiserar sintekniska förvaltning och hur de använder externa leverantörer för att tillhandahålla olikatjänster istället för att hålla dem in-house. Vi undersöker även hur urvalsprocessen ser ut vidval av extern leverantör och hur tjänstekvalitet upprätthålls mot kunder, när arbetet ligger iextern aktörs händer. För att nå fram till ett resultat har vi utformat en intervjuguide baseradpå vår teoretiska referensram. I den teoretiska referensramen tar vi upp olika teorier omkärnkompetens, transaktionskostnader, relationer och agentteorin. Utöver teorierna består denteoretiska referensramen av avsnitt om outsourcing historiskt, outsourcingprocessen,kontraktskrivning och kvalitetsdimensioner. Intervjuerna består av fem respondenter från fyraolika fastighetsföretag i olika storlekar och fokusområden. Studien är genomförd medkvalitativ metod och intervjuerna är semistrukturerade. Intervjuerna gav oss empirisktmaterial, som vi sedan analyserade utifrån vår teoretiska referensram för att nå en slutsats.Vad vi kom fram till var att urvalsprocessen vid val av extern leverantör inte var likaomfattande som vi trott. Istället föredrog respondenterna att samarbeta med aktörer deetablerat relationer med, mycket på grund av den förutsägbarhet det ger och minskadetransaktionskostnader. Vilka tekniska förvaltningstjänster som inte behålls in-house ochistället outsourcades var för det mesta hantverksarbeten likt VVS, snickeri och måleri. Medanmer serviceinriktade och dag till dag sysslor behålls in-house. För att säkerställa att externaaktörer levererade god tjänstekvalitet övervakas och utvärderas arbetet både under och eftergenomförandet. Om kvaliteten inte uppfyllde det överenskomna, testades gärna nya aktörerpå marknaden som sållades fram genom ett noggrant due diligence arbete. / The study focuses on creating greater understanding around how real estate companiesorganize their technical management, and how they use external suppliers to provide differentservices instead of keeping them in-house. We also examine what the selection process lookslike when choosing an external supplier and how service quality is maintained towardscustomers, when the work is in the hands of an external actor. In order to reach a result, wehave designed an interview guide based on our theoretical frame of reference. In thetheoretical frame of reference, we address various theories on core competence, transactioncosts, relationships and the agent theory. In addition to the theories, the theoretical frame ofreference consists of sections on outsourcing historically, the outsourcing process, contractwriting and quality dimensions. The interviews consist of five representatives from fourdifferent real estate companies of different sizes and focus areas. The study is conductedusing a qualitative method and the interviews are semi-structured. The interviews provided uswith empirical material, which we then connected with our theoretical frame of reference toreach a conclusion. What we found was that the selection process when choosing an externalsupplier was not as extensive as we thought. Instead, respondents preferred to collaboratewith actors they had established relationships with, largely because of the predictability itprovides and reduced transaction costs. The technical management services that were not keptin-house and instead were outsourced were mostly craft work such as plumbing, carpentryand painting. While more service-oriented and day-to-day tasks are kept in-house. To ensurethat external actors delivered good service quality, the work is monitored and evaluated bothduring and after implementation. If the quality did not meet the agreed upon, new players onthe market who were sifted through careful due diligence work.

In 1941, German architect Konrad Wachsmann (1901–1980) emigrated to the U.S. to escape the Second World War. Erstwhile a trained cabinetmaker, the chief architect of one of the largest prefabricated construction companies in Europe, and a private practitioner, Wachsmann brought a particular line of prefabricated timber construction knowledge to the U.S., which he utilized in the development of military technologies as well as for the development of an ambitious prefabricated kit-of-parts house known as the Packaged House (1941-47), developed in collaboration with Walter Gropius (1883–1969). Later, he transferred to academia and developed an algorithmic teaching system, which he employed in his teaching posts in the U.S. and his state-sponsored workshops around the world. With two novel architectural research institutes, which he supported with military and government commissions that became the subject of design inquiry at these programs, Wachsmann envisioned a transformation of architectural education within the university system and the larger order of society. Through Wachsmann's post-emigration oeuvre, covering his projects, collaborations, and pedagogy, this dissertation delves into the post-war transatlantic exchange of architectural and intellectual capital and the influence of production technologies and cybernetics on architectural imagination and theory. / Doctor of Philosophy / In 1941, German architect Konrad Wachsmann emigrated to the United States, seeking refuge from the turmoil of the Second World War. With a background as a trained cabinetmaker, the chief architect for a major European prefabricated timber construction company and an architect who practiced on his own, Wachsmann brought with him a wealth of knowledge in prefabricated timber construction. His expertise found diverse applications in the U.S., ranging from military technologies to the development of an ambitious prefabricated housing system called the Packaged House (1941-47), created in collaboration with renowned architect Walter Gropius. Transitioning to academia, Wachsmann pioneered an algorithmic teaching system that choreographed the movement of students, information, and tasks within the studio. He employed this system in in his teaching posts in the U.S. and his state-sponsored workshops around the world. He envisioned a transformation of architectural education within universities and society at large, exemplified by two innovative architectural research institutes he founded. These institutions were financially supported by military and government commissions, which became the subject of design exploration. This dissertation examines Wachsmann's post-emigration body of work, encompassing his projects, collaborations, and pedagogical approach. It delves into the profound influence of production technologies and cybernetics on architectural imagination and theory, shedding light on the dynamic transatlantic exchange that shaped the architectural landscape in the post-war era.

Industrialized house building of multi-storey residential buildings is not only gaining practical importance in Sweden but is also emphasized as a way for companies to address the demands for lower and more predictable production costs, shorter delivery times and higher product quality. However, to be competitive on the market, IHB companies need to protect and capitalize their specific investments into platforms and organizations. The engagement inplatforms and industrialized way of working, it is not just about the complexity of integration but it is also about having a capability over time to handle this market variation (i.e. dynamic capabilities). Industrialized house building has mainly been investigated from an operational view, leaving a gap in the characterization from a strategical (dynamic) view. Purpose of this research is to increase understanding about industrialized house building, from a dynamic capability view, described the characteristics of industrialized house building through exploring and describing the evolution and development of and industrialized house building company. An in-depth, longitudinal case study approach was adopted to get and deeper understanding of the development of dynamic capabilities in an industrialized house building company. The unit of analysis was the long-term interaction between house-market development, the case company’s business development, and external collaboration activities between the years 1993 and 2018. The findings from the case study were then analyzed against a theoretical framework based on dynamic capabilities. Industrialized house building can be characterized by a set of dynamic capabilities constructs that are evolved and developed in order to cope with the changing conditions derived from both internal and external factors, entailed in entrepreneurship and long-term thinking. The findings indicate that the organization's focus may vary between different kinds of dynamic capabilities over-time. In addition, findings indicate that development of dynamic capabilities supporting collaboration and building trust to the market was of importance at the beginning of their journey. These dynamic capabilities evolved in close relations with external partners, due to external market pressure. This study also indicates that path dependency affects the development of dynamic capability, through collaboration, trust, and learning – which influence how the company behaves and through their investments in a platform constraining future actions.

This thesis delves into the connection between childhood memories and how they shape our appreciation of architectural spaces as we grow older. While our inherent bond with nature and trees remains strong, modern cities and crowded neighborhoods have gradually overshadowed the charming image of gardens next to homes. This study aims to revive the concept of the garden within urban living, not merely as peripheral adornments, but as the heart of a home. By bringing people and their natural surroundings closer, this thesis seeks to redefine architecture's role beyond mere protection. Imagine a home coexisting with a forest or an orchard, offering not only shelter but sustenance. Collaborating with this coexisting green space, architecture comes to life through smart design and eco-friendly solutions, also addressing urban challenges like noise, pollution, and heat. The result of this scholarly exploration births a paradigmatic design precedent, and as an innovative building design where trees and homes are intertwined, creating a seamless unity that provides both refuge and nurture for residents, manifesting an embodiment of perpetual interconnectedness between the two. / Master of Architecture / Ever thought about how our memories of childhood play a role in the way we feel about the places we live as adults? We all have a natural connection to nature and trees, but in today's bustling cities and crowded neighborhoods, the idea of gardens alongside homes is no longer possible. This study aims to bring back the charm of gardens in our urban lives, not just as a side feature, but as the heart of our homes. Envision a scenario where our dwellings and nature become inseparable companions. This research wants to make architecture more than just walls – it wants homes to be like cozy forests or fruitful orchards where being at home is like having a picnic under a tree. By teaming up with a coresiding forest, the proposed architectural building doesn't only serve as a vessel to our childhood, but it also helps us deal with problems like noise, dirt, and city heat. The result from this thesis is an architectural model, a residential building type where trees and houses are like a perfect pair, creating spaces that wrap us in comfort and give us something back.

No description available.

At the outset of my studies, my goal was to look at women's role in the United States Federal Government. The study was to span from the inception of the United States Government to the present. The purpose of the study was to highlight the large gender gap in the United States Government. However, I soon found there to be an overwhelming amount of material to discuss. Realizing the limited amount of space I had to fit my findings, I narrowed the topic to women's role in the United States House of Representatives. Even with this narrowed scope, the gender gap in representation is obvious, and highlights the fact that America, even in the 21st Century, is not truly equal. The reason I mention the gender gap in the United States House of Representatives is not simply to dwell on the fact that one exists, but to discuss how and why it has remained a structural characteristic of the legislative body that is intended to be the closest to the people. In order to find answers to the questions aforementioned, it is necessary to discuss the evolution of ideals, principles, and beliefs possessed by the American population from 1776 to today. Even if there are no definitive answers to the questions posed above, it is my hope that the discussion will highlight the pivotal role of women in all stages of the United States' existence, and underline the importance of women's participation in the United States House of Representatives.