Functional concrete building united by concrete grid. The second clear mass hall. Both buildings connected by footbridge a joined the central hallway.

This thesis takes its departure in the view of modern society as being characterised by a heavy focus on efficiency and economic growth, and perception that everything is moving faster and faster in line with Hartmut Rosa´s theory of social acceleration. The effects of this can be seen in rising numbers of stress related sicknesses and mental health problems, as well as a heavy pressure on the earths resources to facilitate continued growth. The aim of the thesis is to investigate the challenges and possibilities for individuals in Sweden to slow down and live a simpler life in this context. Previous research suggests that slower lifestyles can be beneficial both for well-being and environmental sustainability reasons, so understanding the preconditions of this to be possible can be an important aspect when trying to plan for a sustainable future. The theoretical framework consists of the model of voluntary simplicity lifestyle by Osikominu and Bocken (2020), the theory of social acceleration by Rosa (2009) and selected writings on Social Change. The thesis is based on a thematic analysis of empiric material from individuals in Sweden who has transitioned to a slower and more simple lifestyle, generally in terms of working less, reducing their consumption and living closer no nature, and also are visible on social media, reaching out to many others as inspiration. The material consists of writings and recordings from the study-persons in the form of blog-posts and podcasts. The study could confirm that many parts of the VSL-model also were applicable and experienced in the Swedish context. Most participants had in common that their previous lifestyle was characterised by stress, pressure, and living according to others expectations, in line with Rosa´s theory of social acceleration. Their new slower and simpler lifestyles were a decision to follow their own path in life and start to value their time more. The challenges that could be recognised was the norm of working full-time, achievement values, living outside the norm, ethical dilemmas regarding consumption and, for those living on the countryside, transport and infrastructure. The possibilities most recognised were concerning their wellbeing, closely related to their possibility of finding time for recovery, as well as living more in contact with the environment. Social life appeared both as a challenge and a possibility.

Det hela började med en väldigt grundläggande tanke om en säker förskola. Trappor är farliga och bör undvikas. För många våningar blir lätt problematiskt. Avgörande för projektet blev det att barnen ska kunna spendera hela dagar på ett och samma våningsplan. Därmed är barnens avdelningar helt placerade på sina respektive envåningsplaner. De omsluter gemensamt samlingsrum och gård. På övre plan finns de yngsta barnens avdelning med direkt tillgång till takterrass. Planlösningen följer en upprepande modulenhet, där rummen är glasade mot söder. På så sätt efterliknas den enkelhet som finns i modernistiska paviljonger, samtidigt som en tydlig framsida definieras. En förlängning av rummen bildar en passage som går genom hela byggnaden, både interiört och exteriört och på bågge våningsplan. Detta skapar ett "mellanrum" i ett försök att överbrygga den annars skarpa gränsen mellan inne och ute. Jag tror att denna utformning med upprepande rumsindelning, samt lätthet och horisontalitet i arkitektoniskt uttryck talar ett språk som klargör för hur förskolan ska brukas. / It all started with a very essential idea for a safe kindergarten. Staircases are dangerous and are better avoided. Too many levels easily become problematic. Crucial through the project was that the children could spend full days on a single storey plan. Consequently the childrens' sections are fully placed on their respective single level plans. These enclose a common room and playgrounds. On the upper level you will find the youngests' section directly accessing roof terraces. The floor plan follows a repetitive module, where rooms facing south are glazed in that direction, resembling the simplicity of modernist pavilions, yet defining a pronounced front. An extension of the rooms towards the playgrounds, a passageway, runs through the whole building, both indoors and outdoors and on both levels, creating a linking "room" in the middle. I believe that this type of layout with repetitive modules and simplicity and horizontality in architectural expression makes it clear how the kindergarten is best operated.

The study is a qualitative study with interviews as a data collection method. A request from different facebook groups contributed to a targeted selection, which resulted in all interviewees having relevance in the subject. As sociology can be defined as scientific studies of society and human life, it is therefore relevant to investigate the phenomenon of downshifting more closely (Giddens & Sutton, 2013). The purpose of the study is to describe and analyze downshifting as a sociological phenomenon from the interviewees' stories.  The questions used to answer the purpose are:  What do the interviewees express that they have chosen to live a simpler life?  What do the interviewees think that a simpler life prepares for?  How can the pursuit of downshifting that the interview participants describe can be understood with the help of Fromm's concept of ownership and being?  How can the interview participants' opportunities to downshift be analyzed from a class perspective?   The results show that the interview participants chose to prioritize things like consumption, work, housing situation and digital downshifting in order to avoid the impression they do not say they need. Instead, they prepare space for social relationships, personal well-being and interests. These things come together by spending less time on one thing, freeing up time on other things. How the interviewees choose to prioritize their time varies where the interests and what the person wants to achieve with their life determines. With Fromm's (2003) theoretical concepts of life form and ownership, it emerges that the interviewees are critical of society and in terms of the importance of class Bourdieu's (1993) theory of cultural, economic, social and symbolic capital is used. / Studien är en kvalitativ studie med intervjuer som datainsamlingsmetod. En förfrågan på olika facebook-grupper bidrog till ett målinriktat urval vilket resulterade i att samtliga intervjupersoner har relevans i ämnet. Eftersom sociologi kan definieras som vetenskapliga studier av samhället samt mänskligt liv är det därför relevant att undersöka fenomenet downshifting närmare (Giddens & Sutton, 2013). Syftet med studien är att utifrån intervjudeltagarnas berättelser beskriva och analysera downshiftning som ett sociologiskt fenomen. De frågeställningar som använts för att besvara syftet är: 1.Vad uttrycker intervjudeltagarna att de valt bort i önskan att leva ett enklare liv? 2.Vad menar intervjudeltagarna att ett enklare liv bereder plats för? 3.Hur kan strävan mot downshiftning som intervjudeltagarna beskriver förstås med hjälp av Fromms begrepp ägandets och varandets livsformer? 4.Hur kan intervjudeltagarnas möjligheter att downshifta analyseras utifrån ett klassperspektiv? I resultatet framgår att intervjudeltagarna valt att prioritera ned saker som konsumtion, arbete, boendesituation samt digital downshifting för att komma undan intryck som de inte säger sig behöva. Istället bereder de plats för sociala relationer, eget välmående och intressen. Dessa saker hör ihop genom att lägga mindre tid på en sak, frigör tid att lägga på andra saker. Hur intervjudeltagarna väljer att prioritera sin tid varierar där intressen och vad personen vill åstadkomma med sitt liv avgör. Med Fromms (2003) teoretiska begrepp ägandets och varandets livsform framkommer att intervjupersonerna ställer sig kritiskt till samhället och vad gäller betydelse av klass används Bourdieus (1993) teori om kulturellt, ekonomiskt, socialt och symboliskt kapital.

This thesis, in support of the Master of Fine Arts exhibition entitled Thematic Manifestations at East Tennessee State University, Carroll Reece Museum, Johnson City, Tennessee, March 2-12, 2004, describes in detail three aesthetic themes that are manifested in the work exhibited. The artist discusses his journey in establishing a “criterion of aesthetic values” whereby his work is conceptually developed. The three themes – The Paradox of Simplicity, The Decorative Power of Nature and The Beauty of the Irregular – are founded on historical and contemporary influences and are further described in practical application of form and process.

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With historic ruins as a project vehicle, this thesis investigates connections to an existing structure through materials and spatial relationships. The proposed intervention, guided by design elements and preservation methods, reflects a sensitive approach and provides a transition between our built heritage and an adapted form of architecture. / Master of Architecture

This thesis offers a constructive account of the doctrine of divine simplicity in Christian theology. In its methodology, the thesis aims to present this divine perfection as an implicate of the scriptural portrayal of God, to draw upon the insights and conceptual resources of Thomas Aquinas and various Reformed orthodox theologians, and to respond to some objections to divine simplicity. The focus on exegetical elaboration of biblical teaching and the use of Thomas and the Reformed orthodox distinguish this work from a number of recent accounts of God in both systematic theology and analytic philosophy. The case for God's simplicity is made by examining God's singularity, aseity, immutability, infinity, and act of creation in Holy Scripture and then tracing the ways in which these descriptions of God imply that he is (negatively) not composed of parts. Rather, he is (positively) actus purus and really identical with his own essence, existence, and attributes, each of which is identical with the whole being of the triune God considered under some aspect. In light of the constructive work, this study then addresses the three most pressing objections to divine simplicity: (1) that it denigrates God's revelation of his many attributes in the economy; (2) that it eliminates God's freedom in creating the world and acting in history; and (3) that it does not cohere with the doctrine of the Trinity.