Tillbaka till Rötterna

This thesis investigates the intersection of environmental urgency, speculative material research, and architectural design. It responds to the shifting industrial and ecological landscape of Skellefteå, a city in northern Sweden historically shaped by forestry and, more recently, the rise and fall of green-tech industries such as Northvolt. Against this backdrop, the project investigates how wood waste—often overlooked byproducts like bark, sawdust, and offcuts—can be reimagined as architectural resources rather than discarded materials. Taking inspiration from both historical forestry practices and contemporary ecological theory, the work adopts a biomimetic and posthumanist lens. It asks: Can we design in ways that reflect and respect ecological systems, rather than dominate them? Drawing from Actor-Network Theory, it explores how materials, organisms, and technologies act as co-creators in spatial design. Through hands-on experimentation with mycelium, natural resin, and bark, the thesis develops new material blends and modular construction methods. These interventions are grounded in low-tech, locally sourced processes and aim to challenge the prevailing narratives of efficiency and progress in industrial architecture. Central to the project is a proposed "wooden material library"—a symbolic and functional structure that celebrates material knowledge, student innovation, and the deep relationship between people, forests, and design. Ultimately, this thesis is not only about developing sustainable materials but also about rethinking our ethical and philosophical relationship to the built environment in the era of the Anthropocene.