Wood Magazine - Issue 2, 2015

»Sweden could become a leading wood nation«

Trä meets

Vistet, Treehotel, Arctic Bath and Sapmi Lodge are some of the buildings that architect Bertil Harström is best known for. He is a structural engineer who tired of Sweden’s Million housing project, trained to become an interior architect and now spreads the word about how to construct buildings in solid wood using modern technology.

Where did the idea for Arctic Bath, a floating open-air bathhouse, come from?
During the opening party for Treehotel, I sat next to one of the leading lights of Harads. In true northern Swedish fashion, he said: “Bertil, we should have included a floating sauna.” I put the idea past designer Johan Kauppi and after several visits to open-air bathhouses, we realised that we wanted to combine the northern Swedish and Finnish sauna tradition with the open-air bathhouse tradition. Arctic Bath is a floating, ring-shaped bathhouse made entirely in wood, in the middle of the Luleälven river. It is set to open sometime in 2015.

Treehotel is still proving an attraction. Why is that?
It’s five years since it opened, but there is still plenty of interest and occupancy remains high. Seventy percent of visitors are tourists from all over the world. I think the attraction lies in the bold idea, but also in our clear values, that we should live in harmony with nature. I often design conceptual buildings, partly out of my respect for the traditional role of the architect.

You want to improve Sweden’s skills in building in wood. How?
I’ve been exploring the incredible knowledge Sweden had about building in wood back in the 18th century. My vision is that we should learn to refine the raw material in a modern way. There is currently a drive to get Folkhem to build student housing in solid wood. That would be entirely in line with today’s requirements for sustainable building.

You want to develop northern Sweden through design. What do you mean by that?
There is great potential for wood processing in the building industry. It doesn’t have to be on a large scale – with modern production methods it can be built up around smaller niche industries. Modern wood processing is an ideal area for industrial robots, as Glulam of Sweden in Ljungaverk has shown. By designing wooden products, in this case buildings, we can create the conditions for efficient production based on repetition. As soon as we realise that whole houses can be built in solid wood, we have the conditions for Sweden to once again become a leading wood nation.

»Sweden could become a leading wood nation«

Bertil Harström

Personalities that trä has met

»The world really has to achieve something major this year.«

»If you have an idea, it’s important to be involved with all the details«

»It’s important to be involved in regular housing development.«

“We must use every type of resource in the most effective way possible.”

»Doesn’t it feel like we’re in a wood revolution?«

»Important to encourage an interest in architecture.«

»We have to play our part in creating great architecture«

»BIM is going to break through with today’s young people. They are our future.«

“I’m always working on the best mix of materials”

There’s far too little capacity in the market when it comes to CLT

A new way to save energy

Structure and form or form and structure? That is the question

“We’re constantly striving to come up with new engineering ideas”

“Wood was more exciting than working with concrete.”

»In order to design wooden buildings, you have to be interested in trees.«

»We’re constantly looking for the best combination of form and structure«

»Tall buildings can be built faster and more economically«

We want to help build a cleaner & more attractive city

»We want to reconnect with the material’s history«

»Knowledge is turning more people onto wood«

»Within three years, we’ll be constructing 16-storey buildings in wood«

“Work more closely with the forest industry”

»The material is the machine!«

“We’re going to see more examples of attractive facades”

»Show respect for and challenge the setting.«

»Wood is a democratic material.«

»I choose wood where it is exposed to our human senses.«

»Good architecture ensures better care for older people.«

»We architects have to learn to embrace toxin-free & eco-friendly designs.«

»Architectural, eco-friendly and good value housing.«

»Sweden could become a leading wood nation«

Bertil Harström

Personalities that trä has met

»The world really has to achieve something major this year.«

»If you have an idea, it’s important to be involved with all the details«

»It’s important to be involved in regular housing development.«

“We must use every type of resource in the most effective way possible.”

»Doesn’t it feel like we’re in a wood revolution?«

»Important to encourage an interest in architecture.«

»We have to play our part in creating great architecture«

»BIM is going to break through with today’s young people. They are our future.«

“I’m always working on the best mix of materials”

There’s far too little capacity in the market when it comes to CLT

A new way to save energy

Structure and form or form and structure? That is the question

“We’re constantly striving to come up with new engineering ideas”

“Wood was more exciting than working with concrete.”

»In order to design wooden buildings, you have to be interested in trees.«

»We’re constantly looking for the best combination of form and structure«

»Tall buildings can be built faster and more economically«

We want to help build a cleaner & more attractive city

»We want to reconnect with the material’s history«

»Knowledge is turning more people onto wood«

»Within three years, we’ll be constructing 16-storey buildings in wood«

“Work more closely with the forest industry”

»The material is the machine!«

“We’re going to see more examples of attractive facades”

»Show respect for and challenge the setting.«

»Wood is a democratic material.«

»I choose wood where it is exposed to our human senses.«

»Good architecture ensures better care for older people.«

»We architects have to learn to embrace toxin-free & eco-friendly designs.«

»Architectural, eco-friendly and good value housing.«

English heading

»Sweden could become a leading wood nation«

»We want to reconnect with the material’s history«

»Within three years, we’ll be constructing 16-storey buildings in wood«