Extending Loftgångshus - A Study of Deck Access Housing in Sweden

This thesis explores how the typology of loftgångshus can be extended, both in concept and in practice. While often caught between utopian ideals and stereotypical defamation, this project moves beyond visions and stigma to study how the typology functions in action. Combining theoretical research with design investigation, the thesis reconsiders the spatial and social potential of the loftgång, identifying scale, threshold, and resident ownership as key factors in the quality of shared access space. These themes are tested through a design proposal in Hjulsta, Stockholm, addressing contemporary housing challenges in Million Program suburbs. By extending an existing loftgångshus at Edingekroken 15, a new experimental strategy for densification is proposed—one that allows new and old spaces to coexist within the same property. Income from added apartments can help fund renovations of the existing building, offering a model of co-financing that benefits current residents. The proposal treats loftgångshus as a social, economic, and structural system. Though situated in Hjulsta, the strategies explored are applicable across Stockholm. Rather than repeating past mistakes or discarding the typology, this project proposes building on its existing logic—by extending the understanding, lifetime, and space of loftgångshus.