The Residential Architecture of the Swedish Architect Gustaf Linden: An Urban Vision of Worker’s Housing Between Tradition and Modernity in the 1920s

This article examines and contextualizes the Swedish architect Gustaf Linden's domestic architecture of the 1920s through the lens of contemporary planning and housing discourse. In addition to developing the first general city plan for Link & ouml;ping in 1923, Linden sought to create affordable, good housing for the working class, who was affected by overcrowding and inferior dwellings. The two residential areas Linden designed in Link & ouml;ping were influenced by international planning ideals, the urban garden movement and the stylistic principles of Nordic Classicism. Although Gustaf Linden is mentioned in several surveys of urban planning and architectural history, his specific contributions to domestic architecture have received limited attention. His thorough planning of residential architecture surrounded by green spaces, shows a social-esthetic ideal that was partially lost when the pace of development increased. Furthermore, Linden's view on architecture may offer valuable insights for contemporary discussions on urban planning and sustainable housing.