This work is a study in how the design process is affected by the goal of creating refurbishable and circular design. The work has resulted in three pieces of furniture made with the possibility of renovation. This was done with the help of guidelines that could be put into place after accumulated knowledge of circular design, interviews with three companies in the Swedish furniture industry and craftsmen in carpentry, wallpaper and furniture preservation.We as designers have a responsibility for what comes out in the world and how it affects the environment, people and the future we will live in. We train ourselves to educate others with our design.

The project is about time and hierarchy, it’s a time vortex and a privileged paradise. The project is based on the ruin of abbey Jumièges, Normandy, France. The abbey has kept being destroyed and rebuilt during the past millennium and the architectural style is always changing through the time. Hierarchy was created within this privileged paradise. The hotel has swallowed the entire ruin and all the history, strategies, like mixing & misusing of programs and collisions with history are applied to it. I’m always interested in the introversion of architecture, a desire of being narcissism and vulnerable and the meaning of hierarchy. This project can be read as a terminal of privilege, and model of aggressive arrogant but reasonable attitude towards the history. It makes me contemplating the relations between negativism and hedonism and society.

Something is happening to our cultural heritage. The longer time gose by, the faster the clock of preservation of the future of cultural buildings is ticking. Just like any old building, there comes a time when renovation is a must. Renovation is seen as something positive, but what happens when you mix the concept of renovation with words like cultural heritage? For all lod buildings specifically, and even som for an historic, suddenly it can become unacceptable. In ths study, the renovation and modernization of cultural heritage will be put to the test. Is change together with modernization something negative or is it the new way to go, not only to preserve cultural heritage and its historical impact on society but also preservation ot for future generations? This study has its focus on Fredrikskyrkan in the city of Karlskrona. This church went through a dramatic renovation and modernization between 2016-2018 and is now a multifunctional church where not only chourch activities are held. The reason why this particular church has been used in this study is because the altar and pews were chosen to be removed and large dramatic changes made people in general disagree with the new look. Through the course of the study, we will delve into how the modernization was motivated and how it has affected Fredrikskyrkan as a cultural heritage object, based on interview, data material, submitted texts from newspapers together with previous research focusing on, modernization and church cultural heritage Together with theories such as collective memories and the meaning of authenticity, the study will try to answer the question: What the motives were for the renovation and whether modernization and restoration can be linked to notions of preservation and modernization. The conclution shows that a balance that must exist between cultural heritage and new thinking of modernization. In connection with the renovation of Fredrikskyrkan, the concept of authenticity and collective memories was put to the test.

This research is inserted in the topic of timber buildings. Many construction systems are available for building using timber, with the two main systems in residential ambit being Cross Laminated Timber and Light Timber Frame. Both systems reckon on the presence of shear walls to bear the effects of horizontal loads like seismic events or wind. This thesis deals with timber shear walls, and is divided into two parts: the first part is related to the ultimate and serviceability limit states rules to be included in upcoming versions of the building codes, while the second part presents a novel use of CLT walls as seismic renovation for existing buildings, as part of a European project. The first part of the thesis, which is presented in three papers, is closely related to the process of producing new building codes, and aims at an easier integration between research and codification. The initial focus is the behaviour of Cross Laminated Timber subjected to in-plane loading. Eurocode 5 currently lacks a part concerning this product and the discussion is still ongoing regarding the methods for stresses evaluation and on the strength values to adopt for safety verifications. The first paper tackles this problem by analysing different calculation methods currently available for the evaluation of the in-plane shear stresses, a common notation is introduced in order to have a meaningful comparison between methods proposed by different authors. All methods are then applied to a real case of existing experimental data regarding a four point bending test of CLT beams. Stiffness and strength of CLT are essential parameters for the definition of models to be adopted in codes regarding timber buildings, in particular for the calculation of shear walls. Another very common timber construction system is called Light Timber Frame: an assembly comprising a timber frame and an external sheathing layer mechanically joined to the frame. Consequently LTF walls are considered, the study is directed towards shear wall models for the evaluation of deformations. The second paper focuses on the evaluation of the displacement at the top of LTF walls subjected to horizontal loads. This is a key aspect for designers, since the limitation of deformations ensures that the building retains a satisfactory performance at serviceability limit states. The displacement is due to many different contributions, with the sheathing-to-framing deformation being one of the major ones. The paper presents a comparison between two of the proposed methods to calculate the sheathing-to-framing deformation of LTF shear walls. The influence of the nail slip contribution on the overall displacement of the top of the wall is studied also with parametric analyses, by varying both mechanical properties and geometrical dimensions. Comparison with existing experimental data is also provided. The study on shear walls regards also their lateral capacity, as well as the comparison between LTF and CLT walls of equal aspect ratio and similar restraining. In the third paper, existing cyclic test data on LTF and CLT walls were used to study the different displacement contributions and estimate the influence of the hold-down on the lateral response of the walls. A simplified capacity model is proposed for the walls, based solely on the hold-down forces. The second part of the thesis deals with the use of CLT shear walls as a mean for the retrofit of existing buildings. The need for sustainable renovation solutions and improvement of the performance of existing buildings is at the base of the European project e-Safe. The project presents a multidisciplinary approach on building renovation, from mechanical, energetic, technological and architectural point of view. In this thesis the focus is on the seismic retrofit system called e-CLT: a CLT panel is attached to the outside of existing buildings with a novel connector that acts as a friction dissipation device, thus offering additional energy dissipation in case of strong earthquakes. The fourth paper presents the first experimental campaign on this novel friction connector. Different geometries for the connector are studied and optimised, before being tested under cyclic protocol. The connector is tested on a steel setup, in order to isolate the friction behaviour and study the stability of the hysteresis loops. The results permitted to acquire new information useful for further developments on the system. The fifth paper presents a subsequent experimental campaign on the friction connector. The shape is changed and improved in light of the previous results. The setup is improved and includes also a screw connection between friction connector and CLT panel. The goal is to study the influence of the timber connection on the friction dissipative performance. An analytical model is proposed, fitted on the experimental data.

The project is an investigation in how architecture can support the sense of home and the spatial understanding in care homes for people with dementia.Many of the existing care homes from the mid-20th century need to be renovated and often have a more institutional design. In the project a typical care home from the 1970s, with long corridors, a complex layout and environments with little variety is being renovated to became more suitable for people with dementia. The building’s flexible structure of columns and beams is used as a great asset as it can open for different apartment types and a varied environment. The focus in the project has been to transform the building from being institutional to homely. During the 1970s care homes were usually built with a rational structure with a focus on individual apartments, but often with a lack of social spaces. The interventions in the building have been to open up the building and to create a more easily layout with more social areas. To enhance the feeling of accessibility in the building, and to better include the building in its surrounding context, the middle part of the building has been opened to the public.

The project is an investigation in how architecture can support the sense of home and the spatial understanding in care homes for people with dementia.Many of the existing care homes from the mid-20th century need to be renovated and often have a more institutional design. In the project a typical care home from the 1970s, with long corridors, a complex layout and environments with little variety is being renovated to became more suitable for people with dementia. The building’s flexible structure of columns and beams is used as a great asset as it can open for different apartment types and a varied environment. The focus in the project has been to transform the building from being institutional to homely. During the 1970s care homes were usually built with a rational structure with a focus on individual apartments, but often with a lack of social spaces. The interventions in the building have been to open up the building and to create a more easily layout with more social areas. To enhance the feeling of accessibility in the building, and to better include the building in its surrounding context, the middle part of the building has been opened to the public.

The project aims to reshape the relation between industry and living in the obsolete harbour area in Suvilahti, Helsinki by creating a complex community that combines the residential area and public activities with industry and production. In this way, the whole community will be able to act like a micro city with all kinds of functions and be self-sufficient in a way. Helsinki has a long coastline and many good harbours on which the industrial development of the last century was largely dependent. However, since the industrial restructuring of inner Helsinki, the factories are no longer housed in these harbour industrial areas and replaced to suburb of Helsinki County. Located in the eastern Helsinki, Suvilahti used to power the city with the early power plant and the first-built gas plant. Later in 1970s, Hanassari power plant, the biggest one in Helsinki, was built. It was once the main energy production area in Helsinki, but now the factories have closed and are looking for new uses. The logistic area is left with large empty space and large industrial constructions need to be reproposed. In my proposal, I see the challenges in four aspects. Firstly, I propose a more liable community with more infrastructure and get the new residents involved. Secondly, the landscape will be reconnected and the polluted environment restored. Thirdly, cultural activities will be maintained and more facilities will be built. Lastly, in order to revitalize industry, certain types of industriy will be reintroduced into the buildings and experienced workers will be rehired.

The project aims to reshape the relation between industry and living in the obsolete harbour area in Suvilahti, Helsinki by creating a complex community that combines the residential area and public activities with industry and production. In this way, the whole community will be able to act like a micro city with all kinds of functions and be self-sufficient in a way.Helsinki has a long coastline and many good harbours on which the industrial development of the last century was largely dependent. However, since the industrial restructuring of inner Helsinki, the factories are no longer housed in these harbour industrial areas and replaced to suburb of Helsinki County. Located in the eastern Helsinki, Suvilahti used to power the city with the early power plant and the first-built gas plant. Later in 1970s, Hanassari power plant, the biggest one in Helsinki, was built. It was once the main energy production area in Helsinki, but now the factories have closed and are looking for new uses. The logistic area is left with large empty space and large industrial constructions need to be reproposed. In my proposal, I see the challenges in four aspects. Firstly, I propose a more liable community with more infrastructure and get the new residents involved. Secondly, the landscape will be reconnected and the polluted environment restored. Thirdly, cultural activities will be maintained and more facilities will be built. Lastly, in order to revitalize industry, certain types of industriy will be reintroduced into the buildings and experienced workers will be rehired.

Stockholm is experiencing the fast urban expansion with major development projects including housing, transportation and public spaces in and out of the city in which existing blocks are involved at different levels. The project Urbancraft’s proposal to transform Kvarteret Sländan in northern Vasastaden in Stockholm is an an explorative and experimental work that look at a range of different approaches which are inspired from the game world where more interactions happen and people are more engaged in its environment but are of different characters. The aim of the project is to explore and test the approaches from game world and answer the question of how to create a vibrant neighbourhood in a traditional European district, but at the same time an imaginary vision of it: mixed, historic and most importantly interactive and responsive to the local contexts for amenity such as seasonal difference of sunlight and the diversity of needs. The key point of the concept is translating game design methods into urban design and architecture language regarding to physical world and digital game world. The design phase focuses on three units of the traditional blocks: buildings, networks and courtyards which have a significant impact in Vasastaden’s appearance. The shapes of buildings are modified through strictly applied rules for both daylight and direct sunlight, while making these possible to change periodically. Networks as connections into the site break the barriers and create new public and semi-public spaces both at roof level and ground level. As a result, rooftops and courtyards will be redefined and more responsive for different users and needs with the thinking of game world.

Starting from an analysis of the character of the city of Turin (Italy), the project intervenes in the historical urban context with ta proposal for a multimedia library and archive space in a plot left vacant after WW2 bombings. The project includes the reuse of an existing building, formerly a theatre but currently in a state of ruin after the war destructions, as well as the creation of a new wing and public spaces. Its aim is to develop an architectural language that can be an interpretation of the city’s features, sitting halfway between contemporaneity and tradition. The main sources of inspiration are baroque architecture, porticoed public spaces, formal front facades in contrast with more messy and autonomous internal courtyards. The resulting building mixes these influences in a complex combining archive spaces for the nearby Museum of Cinema, offices connected to it, a public library and consultation spaces, multifunctional and lecture rooms, and an independent café with indoor and outdoor seating.