Arkitekthögskolan nyheter EN

Arkitekthögskolan nyheter ENhttps://www.umu.se/A RSS feed provided by Umeå Universityen-usSun, 26 Jul 2026 20:04:09 +0200https://www.umu.se/en/news/alejandro-haiek-coll-at-the-umea-school-of-architecture-receives-collaboration-award_12177677/Alejandro Haiek Coll at the Umeå School of Architecture receives collaboration awardAlejandro Haiek Coll, Associate Professor at the Umeå School of Architecture, has been awarded the Faculty of Science and Technology’s collaboration award 2026. He receives the award for his work in creating new forms of collaboration between academia, the public sector, cultural institutions and local communities.Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:05:40 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/4f03e4e238284dbeb3bc418b3b2a09e3/alejandro_haiek_at_civitella_resindecy_umbria_itally3.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/4f03e4e238284dbeb3bc418b3b2a09e3/alejandro_haiek_at_civitella_resindecy_umbria_itally3.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/4f03e4e238284dbeb3bc418b3b2a09e3/alejandro_haiek_at_civitella_resindecy_umbria_itally3.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/4f03e4e238284dbeb3bc418b3b2a09e3/alejandro_haiek_at_civitella_resindecy_umbria_itally3.jpg?mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/4f03e4e238284dbeb3bc418b3b2a09e3/alejandro_haiek_at_civitella_resindecy_umbria_itally3.jpg?mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/4f03e4e238284dbeb3bc418b3b2a09e3/alejandro_haiek_at_civitella_resindecy_umbria_itally3.jpg?mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Alejandro Haiek Coll.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Marco Giugliarelli</span></div></div><p>In Alejandro Haiek Coll’s projects, architecture, research and civic engagement come together in everything from public installations to international exhibitions. Through his work, he has developed new forms of knowledge dissemination and sustainable meeting places.</p><p>“I am very grateful for this award. It recognises an ethos that has been at the core of the research, pedagogical and artistic practices I have been developing, particularly over the past decade at Umeå University. It also acknowledges the students, colleagues, municipalities, institutions, and other partners who have participated in these shared experiments across disciplinary boundaries and in close dialogue with society,” says Alejandro Haiek Coll.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Shown at international exhibitions</h2><p>Among the projects highlighted are <em>Winter Garden Structures</em>, where architecture, informatics and UX Lab researchers collaborated to create interactive climate-related installations at the Arts Campus. Other examples include the VR installation <em>Liminal Phantoms</em>, presented at the Triennale di Milano, and <em>Future Garden</em>, which was presented at the Chicago Architecture Biennial 2025–2026 and brought together artistic research, molecular biology and questions of environmental justice in the Amazon.</p><p>He leads the research environment Laboratory of Intersectional Ecologies and the MA Design Studio 12, focusing this year on developing ideas of self-sufficiency and autonomy in the insular territories of Norrbyskär and Holmön in the Umeå Archipelago.</p><p>“I understand design as a form of mediation, capable of connecting people, places, evidence, materials, technologies and collective imagination. Collaboration is about creating the conditions where different forms of knowledge can become public conversations and spaces for creative exchange,” says Alejandro Haiek Coll.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Projects with the municipality</h2><p>He has led several long-term collaborative projects in Umeå, including <em>Pallet Parliament</em> and <em>Meadow Parklet</em>, in collaboration with the municipality and local actors. The projects have resulted in a pollinator garden, public environments and civic forums that function as spaces for learning, culture and hospitality.</p><p>“The aim is to test how research can become public, how pedagogy can engage real territorial questions, and how design can support social, ecological and cultural systemic transformation,” says Alejandro Haiek Coll.</p><p>The award citation particularly highlights his ability to create long-term collaborations and to make research and education relevant and accessible to a broader public – both nationally and internationally.</p><p>The collaboration award is presented every two years in connection with the University’s Annual Celebration in October.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="235c2219-c261-4f55-8246-baff9eb47251" data-contentname="Previous recipients">{}</div>https://www.umu.se/en/news/alejandro-haiek-coll-at-the-umea-school-of-architecture-receives-collaboration-award_12177677/https://www.umu.se/en/news/umea-school-of-architecture-takes-over-as-host-of-the-architecture-academy_12160638/Umeå School of Architecture takes over as host of the Architecture AcademyAt the end of January, Umeå School of Architecture assumed responsibility as host of Arkitekturakademin ("The Architecture Academy") in connection with the platform’s annual meeting in Umeå.Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:34:22 +0100<p>Arkitekturakademin (translated: The Architecture Academy) is a national collaboration platform where Sweden’s architecture schools work together on education, research, and outreach. The network includes Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Lund University, SLU Landscape, and Umeå University. Together, the schools share the responsibility to develope architecture as an academic field in Sweden.</p><p>Collaboration between the schools of architecture has been ongoing for a long time and covers key issues in education and research, as well as the annual architecture admission test (Arkitektprovet). An important milestone was Formas’ investment in architectural research and doctoral education in 2011. Following the adoption of Sweden’s architecture policy <em>Gestaltad livsmiljö</em>, the Architecture Academy established a strategic committee in 2019 to strengthen and coordinate the collaboration. In 2024, further steps were taken to formalise the cooperation.</p><p>The role of host/coordinator for the Architecture Academy rotates among the participating institutions and usually runs for two-year periods. During 2024–2025, Chalmers has served as host, with a focus on building the platform’s basic structures and networks.</p><p>On 21 January, the Architecture Academy held its annual meeting at Umeå School of Architecture (UMA), Umeå University. At the meeting, the hosting responsibility was formally handed over from Chalmers to UMA.</p><p>Ebba Högström, Professor at UMA, serves as Head of Operations for the</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/53c0f2116e554db2bba68161878ead88/hogstrom_ebba-2318_240423_sjn2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/53c0f2116e554db2bba68161878ead88/hogstrom_ebba-2318_240423_sjn2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/53c0f2116e554db2bba68161878ead88/hogstrom_ebba-2318_240423_sjn2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/53c0f2116e554db2bba68161878ead88/hogstrom_ebba-2318_240423_sjn2.jpg?mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/53c0f2116e554db2bba68161878ead88/hogstrom_ebba-2318_240423_sjn2.jpg?mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/53c0f2116e554db2bba68161878ead88/hogstrom_ebba-2318_240423_sjn2.jpg?mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Ebba Högström, Professor at Umeå School of Architecture at Umeå University and Head of Operations for Arkitekturakademin for 2026–2027.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Simon Öhman Jonsson</span></div></div><p>Architecture Academy during Umeå University’s hosting period.</p><p>– It is both an exciting and important task for UMA to serve as host of the Architecture Academy over the next two years. It is very valuable to have a shared arena for collaboration between the schools of architecture, and Chalmers has laid a strong foundation for us to build on. Not least when it comes to how architecture as an academic field can contribute to societal development. I look forward to continuing this work together, says Ebba Högström.</p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/umea-school-of-architecture-takes-over-as-host-of-the-architecture-academy_12160638/https://www.umu.se/en/news/building-with-ice_12144231/Building with ice: Umeå researchers explore low-tech Arctic architectureCan ice become a sustainable building material for the future? Researchers at Umeå School of Architecture are exploring exactly that. By combining advanced digital design tools with simple, reusable materials, they are developing new ways of shaping ice into strong, temporary structures – with potential use both in Arctic architecture and in emergency situations.Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:35:02 +0200<p class="quote-center">Our approach combines parametric design with simple construction methods, showing that sustainability and innovation can go hand in hand</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Sustainable formwork for Arctic conditions</h2><p>For centuries, people living in cold climates have used ice and snow to create shelters and temporary constructions. Inspired by this tradition, the Umeå team set out to investigate how such methods could be reimagined for today’s needs. Their work, supported by UmArts’ Small Visionary Projects program, focuses on a modular formwork system built from wood and textile. Instead of pouring concrete, the moulds are filled with fibre-reinforced ice, known as Pykrete, which is both strong and surprisingly versatile.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Testing ideas in practice</h2><p>In January 2025, the researchers built and assembled their prototypes just outside Umeå School of Architecture. Wooden frames, reinforced with custom textile membranes, became the flexible moulds that shaped the ice. The process proved that the system can be built with simple tools and adapted to different designs. But nature was not entirely cooperative: mild winter weather made large-scale experiments difficult.</p><p>“The weather in Umeå gave us challenges, but also valuable insights into how this technique can be further developed for Arctic settings,” says Julio Diarte, assistant professor and project coordinator.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="565e2fbc-2e27-40ee-aa8c-6521ece3bef8" data-contentname="BILD JULIO">{}</div><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Innovation through simplicity</h2><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="42f43baf-0743-4ff9-b50a-b76ee8a96028" data-contentname="BILD illustration">{}</div><p>Behind the apparent simplicity lies a layer of digital innovation. Using computational design and structural simulations, the team tested how fabrics stretch, how curves can be shaped, and how the ice material behaves once frozen. This combination of high-tech planning and low-tech building methods highlights how sustainable design doesn’t always require advanced machinery – sometimes the most innovative solutions are those that can be realised with minimal resources.</p><p>“Our approach combines parametric design with simple construction methods, showing that sustainability and innovation can go hand in hand,” says Elena Vazquez, associate professor responsible for digital design and structural simulations.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Looking ahead</h2><p>The project has already shown that ice can be much more than a temporary spectacle in winter festivals. With further research, it could become part of the toolkit for creating emergency shelters or temporary structures in regions where conventional building materials are scarce. Next winter, the team will continue their experiments, refining the formwork and testing its potential on a larger scale. The two researchers behind the project have also presented their findings at the 43rd Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe) Conference in Ankara, Turkey, where they shared their results with an international audience.</p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/building-with-ice_12144231/https://www.umu.se/en/news/when-trees-become-co-actors_12142895/<description>How can art shift our perception of forests—from raw material to living companions? Through installations and performances in Umeå and abroad, Puerto Rican artist and architect Luis Berríos-Negrón, associate professor at Umeå School of Architecture, explores ways of listening to, nurturing, and co-existing with trees. His work opens new spaces for reckoning with the climate crisis, industrialisation, and colonialism, while reimagining reforestation as a cultural and relational practice. </description><pubDate>Wed, 24 Sep 2025 11:09:57 +0200</pubDate><atom:content type="html"><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">From Lab to Stage: Guataubá Turns Science into Sensory Experience </h2><p>In December 2024, Berríos-Negrón transformed the UPSC Wallenberg Tree Phenotyping Platform—generally reserved for highly technical plant research—into a space of art and encounter. His performance Guataubá unfolded as a multisensory tree nursery, where sound, movement, and choral voices invited the audience to imagine trees as sentient beings rather than economic resources. Collaborating with Copenhagen-based artist Félix Becker and the Umeå Barockkör, he blurred the boundaries between science and ritual, observation and care. </p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Caudex at Arboretum Norr – An Infrastructure for Tree Care </h2><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="bac50304-74d6-4c1b-bdb2-54bd37662733" data-contentname="BILD Caudex_2">{}</div><p>Earlier this year, Berríos-Negrón unveiled Caudex at Arboretum Norr in Baggböle, Umeå. Developed together with Arboretum staff, the installation is designed as a long-term support structure for “tree nursing”—the practice of listening to and caring for young treelings. To inaugurate this living infrastructure, he staged the performance Trophic Auscultation, featuring local musicians who played alongside the trees in acts of attunement and reciprocity. The work highlights the importance of collaboration between artists, scientists, and the wider community in shaping more sustainable relations with nature.</p><p>“For me, tree nursing is not only about nurturing diversity for young trees, but about learning, again, how to live in co-inhabitancy with forests. It’s a practice of personhood—listening, caring, and recognising that trees are as much actors as humans are in our shared future,” says Luis Berríos-Negrón</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Rethinking Reforestation – Between Puerto Rico, Denmark, and Sweden</h2><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="7694af8c-5cdd-4ef9-80d0-804408e1bc69" data-contentname="Bild Caudex_3">{}</div><p>These works build on Berríos-Negrón’s postdoctoral research, which compares reforestation efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria (2017–2022) with initiatives in Denmark and Sweden. While replanting trees is often framed as a technical fix for global warming and a cornerstone of the “Green Transition,” his work raises deeper questions: Whose knowledge counts in these processes? How can reforestation respond to biodiversity loss without repeating industrial and colonial patterns? By placing different regions in dialogue, he highlights how art can open new ways of seeing and practising reforestation beyond economic and technocratic frames.</p><p class="quote-center">For me, tree nursing is not only about nurturing diversity for young trees, but about learning, again, how to live in co-inhabitancy with forests.</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">Art as Geo-Aesthetics and Practice of Care </h2><p>Across installations, performances, and video essays, Berríos-Negrón develops what he calls “tree nursing” as both a gesture and a method. By attending to trees as co-actors, his work reimagines reforestation as a geo-aesthetic practice under revision—one that listens to landscapes, acknowledges colonial trauma, and nurtures rituals of care across borders and species. This perspective invites us to rethink not only how forests are managed, but also how humans situate themselves in relation to the more-than-human world. </p><p>Later this autumn, Berríos-Negrón will present these works at the<strong> 6th International Geomedia Conference in Karlstad</strong>, bringing Umeå’s art–science collaborations into an international dialogue. </p></atom:content><link>https://www.umu.se/en/news/when-trees-become-co-actors_12142895/</link></item><item xml:base="en/news/umeas-creative-heart-beats-extra-fast_12091604/"><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.umu.se/en/news/umeas-creative-heart-beats-extra-fast_12091604/</guid><title>Umeå's creative heart beats extra fastA sure sign of spring is that the Umeå University Arts Campus is coming alive with degree exhibitions and events at Umeå School of Architecture, Umeå Insitute of Design, Umeå Academy of Fine Arts, UmArts and Bildmuseet. Starting on 10 May, a mix of architecture, art and design is on offer with events and exhibitions. Most of them are open to the public, while some are aimed more at the industry, but what they all have in common is that they are of a high standard and well worth a visit.Mon, 12 May 2025 07:52:23 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/holmberg-tora-5543-250403-mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University. Photo: Mattias Pettersson.</p></div></div><p>"I look forward to attending as many exhibitions and events as I can and really encourage everyone to take part in as many as possible. I have always been fascinated by how the entire Arts Campus breathes creativity and artistry and since I took over as Vice-Chancellor, I have also realised that the programmes are of the highest quality, which is not least demonstrated by the School of Design, which year after year ends up at the top of the world rankings. Don't miss out on this," says Tora Holmberg, Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University.</p><p>First up this year is the Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibition at Umeå Academy of Fine Arts, which opens on 10 May at 13.00 with Studentkören followed by performances by some of the students and works around the Arts Campus and inside UmArts. The Bachelor's exhibition is titled Reflektor and is open until 26 May. You can read more about it <a href="/en/umea-academy-of-fine-arts/exhibitions/bfa3-2025---reflektor/">here on the School's website</a>. Two of the students' works can be found at UmArts, which also has several events of its own in May and June, please <a href="https://www.umarts.se/programme/">check the UmArts website</a> for all the information.</p><h3>Infinite Proposals at Bildmuseet</h3><p>A definite artistic highlight is, of course, the exhibition of students from the two-year Master's programme - the highest level of education in fine art - at the Bildmuseet. The title of the exhibition, <em>Infinite Proposals</em>, refers to the artistic process, from idea to creation and placement in the world. <em>Infinite Proposals</em> presents works by more than a dozen students and is curated by artist Annika Eriksson, a professor at Umeå Academy of Fine Arts and the students’ principal supervisor. <a href="~/link/7c1cc8254b9742adb0b20e11e1e77906.aspx">Read more about the exhibition on Bildmuseet's website.</a></p><p><em>Infinite Proposals</em> and the evocative exhibition on one of Cuba's most prominent and exciting artists Belkis Ayón (1967-1999) opens with a customary Art Friday on 23 May, <a href="https://www.bildmuseet.umu.se/en/events/art-friday-with-opening_12032572/">read more on Bildmuseet's website</a>.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/brita_taljedal2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/brita_taljedal2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/brita_taljedal2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/brita_taljedal2.jpg?mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/brita_taljedal2.jpg?mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/brita_taljedal2.jpg?mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Brita Täljedal, museum curator at Bildmuseet. Photo: Polly Yassin, Bildmuseet.</p></div></div><p>"We are so proud to show Belkis Ayón's monumental works inspired by the Abakuá, a secret Afro-Cuban brotherhood that she explored throughout her artistic career. In her interpretations of their myths, she speaks of belonging, silence, power and resistance, and introduces ideas about the fusion of religions and belief systems. ‘Ayón's iconic works form their own universe of traditions, hierarchies and worldviews and we will offer several lectures around the exhibition later this year," says museum curator Brita Täljedal, one of three curators.</p><p>Umeå School of Architecture and the Umeå Insitute of Design will open their final exhibitions to the public in early June. Umeå School of Architecture's final exhibition on 4-7 June will showcase the graduates' theses from the five-year architecture programme, as well as projects from other years in the School of Architecture's eight different design studios. The opening of the exhibition will take place on 4 June at 15:00, with presentations of a selection of the students' work. <a href="~/link/99f03d5db3994a458abd3156c3de0acd.aspx">Read more on the School of Architecture website.</a></p><h3>Degree Show live for everyone to watch</h3><p>Umeå Insitute of Design's <em>Design Talks & Degree Show - UID25</em> is now an important institution in the global design industry and is broadcast live for those who are not specially invited. However, on 4 June between 13:00-17:00, the entire exhibition inside the Umeå Institute of Design will be open to the public. <a href="/en/umea-institute-of-design/uid25/">Visit Umeå Insitute of Design's collection page</a> and marvel at all the exciting student projects by students from all over the world and, as mentioned, feel free to take part in the open live broadcast of UID25.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/horst_demian_1687_220518_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/horst_demian_1687_220518_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/horst_demian_1687_220518_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/horst_demian_1687_220518_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/horst_demian_1687_220518_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/1eaf91d5fa97456181ee1a58982d5d66/horst_demian_1687_220518_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Demian Horst, Head of Umeå Institute of Design. Photo: Hans Karlsson.</p></div></div><p>"UID25 emphasises the strong values we have around collaboration, people and our planet. Visitors will have the chance to see our students' innovative work that pushes the boundaries of creativity and imagination. The event reflects our globally diverse student body and the school's commitment to creativity grounded in social responsibility," explains Demian Horst, Head of Umeå Institute of Design.</p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/umeas-creative-heart-beats-extra-fast_12091604/https://www.umu.se/en/news/research-day-exploring-architectural-research-outcomes---_12077270/Research day: Exploring Architectural Research Outcomes On 5 March, Umeå School of Architecture (UMA) held its annual Research Day, this year with a focus on research outcomes. The event, which gathered researchers and staff at Curiosum, offered a day filled with presentations and roundtable discussions. Tue, 08 Apr 2025 10:52:38 +0200<p>UMA Research day provides a platform to present and discuss key research outcomes within Umeå School of Architecture. Designed as an interactive and participatory forum, the format includes presentations, Q&A sessions, and collective roundtable discussions, offering all staff members the opportunity to engage critically with ongoing research. This unique occasion strengthens the academic community but also allows for a focused exploration of both content and methodologies in architectural research. <br> <br>To gain a better understanding of the purpose of the event, we asked Maria Luna Nobile, responsible for research at Umeå School of Architecture, a few questions: <br> <br>1. The focus this year is on research outcomes, you asked the participants to present one specific fragment of their research. Why did you select this particular theme for this year's UMA Research Day?  </p><p>Architecture is a discipline that operates at the intersection of the humanities, social sciences, technical sciences, and the arts. The research at UMA encompasses a wide range of approaches and topics, reflecting the richness and diversity of our academic production. Building upon the first research day held in 2024, this year’s theme shifted attention to research outcomes, inviting participants to present a specific fragment of their past year produced research. This approach enables us to engage in a more detailed discussion on the diversity of research outputs in architecture, a field where outcomes extend beyond academic publications, as is often the case in more practice-based disciplines. Throughout the day, we examined and debated various forms of research dissemination outcomes and ideas, including academic papers, monographs, and research applications ideas and outcomes. This perspective reinforces an understanding of architecture not merely as a field concerned with materials and building envelopes, but fundamentally as a discipline that explores how spaces are designed to be inhabited. <br> <br>2. In your opinion, what aspects of the event were successful, and what conclusions can be drawn from it? </p><p>I believe that one of the most significant successes of the event was the openness and generosity of participants in fostering discussions about the potential of architectural research—particularly in how we communicate our findings to both the academic community and the wider public. Another key takeaway was the discussion on the impact of research on education. At UMA, research groups and educational design studios intersect to form a dynamic laboratory where theories, methodologies, and practices are continuously tested and refined.  <br> <br>3. In recent years, Umeå School of Architecture has prioritized strengthening the department's research environment. Can you describe this process briefly? </p><p>Umeå School of Architecture’s research environment focus on inquiry and experimentation. Its structure consists of four main thematic areas: architectural design, architectural history and theory + critical studies, landscape and urbanism, building costruction and materiality + computational design; and seven Research Groups with a strong focus on Architectural design, crossing one or more thematic areas and in line with Research Projects and Education. Each of the research group is looking from a specific lens at the most urgent aspects of the field of architectural research looking both at the Swedish, Nordic and international environment where everyone is always welcome to join and contribute. </p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/research-day-exploring-architectural-research-outcomes---_12077270/https://www.umu.se/en/news/uma-talks-uma-alumni--transforming-into-practice_12072860/UMA Talks: UMA Alumni – Transforming into PracticeThe first UMA Talks of the spring gathered former students from Umeå School of Architecture who shared their experiences and insights on running their own practices, offering participants a unique glimpse into the world of entrepreneurship in architecture and design.Fri, 04 Apr 2025 09:38:31 +0200<p>On 21 March, Umeå School of Architecture at Umeå University (UMA) welcomed students, staff, and the general public to an inspiring event where invited alumni, who have started their own practices after graduation, presented their work by drawing connections from their architectural education. Their presentations were followed by a roundtable discussion moderated by UMA lecturer Amalia Katopodis.<br> <br>In front of a full theater, architects Maja Bygdén and Ella Nyström (Bon Arkitekturateljé), Kasimir Suter Winter, Karina Suter Winter (Parti Design), Erik Karlsson, Martina Karlsson (Peripheral Works), and visual artist Maja Malmcrona shared valuable inspiration, concrete tips, and ideas about entrepreneurship and the profession of architecture and art. During the event, students had the opportunity to hear about both the challenges and successes faced by the practitioners as well as to gain valuable insight into navigating the industry as self-employed entrepreneurs. Amalia says:</p><p class="quote-center">Welcoming back our alumni to share their accomplished works has been an amazing experience not only for us as UMA teachers and staff, but mainly for our students currently building up dreams of practice, within these walls.</p><p><strong>Read more about the speakers:</strong><br><strong>Bon arkitekturateljé:</strong> Maja Bygdén, Ella Nyström<br>Bon is an architecture atelier located in Stockholm. Specializing in adaptive reuse and remodelling, Bon collaborates on projects ranging from furniture design to housing. The practice operates at the intersection of art and commerce by emphasizing craftsmanship and creative vision.<br><a href="https://bon-ark.com">Webpage </a><br> <br><strong>Maja Malmcrona</strong> <br>Maja Malmcrona is a visual artist whose work relates primarily to an examination of space and our experience of it, placing particular emphasis on the mediation between our natural and built environment. Her work takes the form of abstract landscapes, conceptual cartography, and imaginary structures, oscillating between these overlapping yet distinct subject matters.<br><a href="https://www.majamalmcrona.com">Webpage</a></p><p><br><strong>Parti Design: </strong>Kasimir Suter Winter, Karina Suter Winter<br>Party Design is an architecture and design agency developing solutions for complex living systems. From buildings to bio regions. Bringing design thinking to the citizens, and the citizens to the design process. Through regenerative placemaking, designing new systems and infrastructures, and getting hands on to build and shape places together with locals.<br>Webpage</p><p><br><strong>Peripheral Works</strong>: Erik Karlsson, Martina Karlsson<br>Peripheral Works is a multidisciplinary architectural practice developing holistic concepts in architecture and graphic design in northern Sweden. In their work, they strive to strengthen the connection between the environment and the identity of the place, in relation to its physical, social and natural context.<br><a href="https://www.peripheral.works">Webpage</a></p><p><strong>About UMA Talks:</strong><br>The UMA Talks are a free and accessible series of events. The series is devoted to advancing architectural discourse from both an international perspective and local perspective, and strives to enable the public, students, teachers, and researchers both within architecture and from other fields to get insight to and participate in the educational activities and academic research taking place at Umeå School of Architecture. Theorist, practitioners, artists, and other relevant guests are invited to speak or to participate in roundtable conversations or similar formats.<br><a href="/en/umea-school-of-architecture/about-us/events/umatalks/">Uma Talks</a></p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/uma-talks-uma-alumni--transforming-into-practice_12072860/https://www.umu.se/en/news/architecture-students-conduct-fieldwork-across-europe-and-africa_12069220/Architecture Students Conduct Fieldwork Across Europe and AfricaBetween January and February, several students from Umeå School of Architecture undertook independent fieldwork studies across different countries, collaborating with relevant actors and communities worldwide. Whilst some of them travelled within Sweden in different directions, others ventured abroad to Tanzania, Poland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.Sat, 29 Mar 2025 14:11:12 +0100<p>The Master’s level Studio 10 titled “Global Challenges: Urgent Pedagogy” fosters transformative learning approaches that empower students through situated action, and engages in live built projects around the world, bridging the gap between education and practice in Architecture.<br> <br>“This year departing from their own beliefs and ambitions as a future architects, we supported our students to conduct independent fieldwork studies, engaging with relevant actors and communities around the world, to gain firsthand experience and knowledge, feeding back into their MA Theses projects” says Amalia Katopodis, teacher and Studio 10 director.<br> <br>One of the students, Emmy Sondell, traveled to Mnini, Tanzania, where her Master’s Thesis project is based, to work closely together with Mnini Secondary School for girls in the development and future construction of their hostel. During her four-week fieldwork, she organized a sewing workshop to empower young girls, held meetings with school and community leaders, and participated in a construction internship with two local companies. These experiences not only strengthened her project but also allowed her to connect deeply with the local community, ensuring that the design of the hostel truly meets their needs. "My fieldwork allowed me to work directly with the people who will be affected by the project, ensuring that their voices are heard and that the design truly meets their needs" says Emmy. Her hands-on approach embodies Studio 10’s focus on addressing global challenges through meaningful architecture.</p><p>Artem Kosenko and Laura Gaudutytė, participated in the second “Building Back Better Workshop 2025”, in collaboration with other students, teachers, researchers and practitioners (<a href="~/link/e091202750524a0eb44aac2826346482.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more information from last year’s workshop here</a>) in Warsaw, Poland, where they delivered both practical and poetic projects exploring solutions for the sustainable rebuilding of Ukraine with focus on Odesa. “The Workshop allowed me to meet researchers who work in the same field, share and get inspired by relevant information and personal stories” says Artem, who’s work focuses on how architecture can play a critical role in healing and rebuilding war-torn communities, demonstrating how practical solutions can merge with creative expressions to support those in need.</p><p><br>Other students chose to walk the markets of Malmö, to cross the border in Haparanda, or stayed closer to home to meet local authorities, to visit the elderly, to play with the young, to offer hot coffee on a cold day, to volunteer for organizations and help those in need. <br>“We told them that their authority in their projects derives from their engagement with the context. They understood and walked out the door.” Says Amalia Katopodis.<br> <br>Read more about Studio 10’s work <a href="/en/umea-school-of-architecture/education/programmes/design-studios/studio-10/">here</a>. <br>Tutors: Amalia Katopodis, Maxine Lundström, Toms Kokins and Prof. Robert Mull.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Contacts:</strong></p><p><a href="~/link/78af15df4f92497083b0d896ab54d4a5.aspx">Amalia Katopodis</a>, Teacher</p><p><a href="~/link/0294f70a76414d6aa0f5ffa29f76d8eb.aspx">Stella Karlsson Garonzi</a>, Communications officer</p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/architecture-students-conduct-fieldwork-across-europe-and-africa_12069220/https://www.umu.se/en/news/arts-campus-hosts-artistic-research-from-around-the-world_12011729/Arts Campus hosts artistic research from around the worldA national symposium on artistic research will bring together over 200 researchers from 26 countries at the Arts Campus. The event is organised by the Swedish Research Council and co-organised by UmArts Research Center at Umeå University. The symposium is a platform for critical and creative dialogue on artistic research and all departments and organisations on the Arts Campus are involved in one way or another in the event, which runs between 4 and 6 December. Mon, 02 Dec 2024 19:08:30 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/carpenter_eleanor_3264_210920_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/carpenter_eleanor_3264_210920_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/carpenter_eleanor_3264_210920_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/carpenter_eleanor_3264_210920_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/carpenter_eleanor_3264_210920_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/carpenter_eleanor_3264_210920_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Ele Carpenter, Professor at Umeå School of Architecture and Director at UmArts. Photo: Mattias Pettersson.</p></div></div><p>“UmArts is the Research Centre for Art, Architecture and Design at Umeå University, established in 2021. We’re supporting interdisciplinary critically engaged practice -based research across: Umeå Academy of Fine Arts, Umeå Institute of Design, Umeå School of Architecture, and Bildmuseet. Now that we are up-and-running with a team of postdocs and Small Visionary Projects, we thought it would be good to invite people involved in artistic research to come and think about some important questions with us.”, says Ele Carpenter, Professor at Umeå School of Architecture and Director at UmArts.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/vr_2022_maria_h2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/vr_2022_maria_h2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/vr_2022_maria_h2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/vr_2022_maria_h2.jpg?mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/vr_2022_maria_h2.jpg?mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/vr_2022_maria_h2.jpg?mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Maria Hellström Reimer, scientific adviser with special responsibility for artistic research at the Swedish Research Council. Photo: Swedish Research Council.</p></div></div><p>“When it comes to artistic research, Umeå and the artistic campus is a very exciting national environment. By co-organising the symposium, we can work together to strengthen curiosity-driven and method-developing research and make its diversity visible,” says Maria Hellström Reimer, scientific adviser with special responsibility for artistic research at the Swedish Research Council, which is responsible for the event.</p><h3>Hundreds of researchers from around the world</h3><p>The extensive programme is a mix of keynotes, panel debates and installations. The welcome address, keynotes and plenary sessions will be live streamed on the university website <a href="/live">www.umu.se/live</a>. </p><p>“The large turnout is no coincidence.There is a lot of focused and passionate work behind it, especially in the development of an inclusive structure with room for many voices and many burning topics. UmArts has also succeeded in bringing together the artistically orientated forces within the university and in a short time managed to build a strong research environment and a great commitment to artistic basic research,” says Maria Hellström Reimer.</p><h3>Actual and metaphorical hurricanes</h3><p>The symposium explores the dynamic interplay between more-than-human forces and culturally resilient structures. The inspiration for the symposium's name - Hurricanes and Scaffolding - comes from American art critic, curator and writer Nora N. Khan's essay ‘Towards a Poetics of Artificial Super Intelligence’.</p><p>“The theme of the symposium is hurricanes and scaffolding, exploring the dynamic interplay between more-than-human forces and culturally resilient structures. There are many hurricanes looming; actual and metaphorical; from Artificial Super Intelligence to tsunami’s, winds, fires and flooding; to the Atlantic meridional collapse of climate crisis; and the catastrophe of war and genocide;  and we need creative strategies and tactics for dealing with these increasingly commonplace challenges.”, explains Ele Carpenter.</p><p>“Which brings us to the concept of scaffolding – improvising temporary structures and infrastructures for building resilience, building back better, creating the communities we want to live in, to support us to be good humans in a multispecies environment. Our scaffolding should be critical and creative, and open up new spaces for the political imaginary – to imagine things otherwise.”</p><p>Hurricanes and Scaffolding - Symposium on Artistic Research 2024 takes place between 4 and 6 December and <a href="~/link/7543563ea2594cb18530be933146d268.aspx">here is the full programme</a>. The welcome address, keynotes and plenary sessions will be live streamed on the university website <a href="/live">www.umu.se/live</a>. </p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/umarts_1920x10804.png?format=webp&mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/umarts_1920x10804.png?format=webp&mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/umarts_1920x10804.png?format=webp&mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/umarts_1920x10804.png?mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/umarts_1920x10804.png?mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/0d468ca526414e5d93716cdcf8633a1f/umarts_1920x10804.png?mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Illustration made for the symposium by Ida Åberg.</p></div></div>https://www.umu.se/en/news/arts-campus-hosts-artistic-research-from-around-the-world_12011729/https://www.umu.se/en/news/funding-for-new-solutions-using-biomass-in-cement-3d-printing_12003351/Funding for new solutions using biomass in cement 3D-printingA research project, led by Chalmers professor Ergang Wang in cooperation with Umeå School of Architecture, Konkretprint AB and Biofiber Tech Sweden AB on innovative solutions using biomass in cement 3D-printing, has been granted funding by Formas. Julio Diarte Almada, Assistant professor at Umeå School of Architecture will coordinate the design of prototype building parts and structures, as well as digital simulations to assess different material properties. Fri, 08 Nov 2024 12:24:00 +0100<p>The research project <em>Towards sustainable biobased circularity in digitalized building: pilot scale 3D printing upcycled biomass in cement</em> was submitted to a call titled <a href="https://formas.se/en/start-page/apply-for-funding/all-calls/calls/2024-02-23-research-driven-solutions-for-a-sustainable-society-2024.html">Research-driven solutions for sustainable transitions 2024</a>, by Formas, a Swedish government research council for sustainable development. Led by Professor Ergang Wang from Applied Chemistry at Chalmers University of Technology in collaboration with Umeå School of Architecture and the business partners Konkretprint AB and Biofiber Tech Sweden AB, the project has been granted 3,9 million kronor in funding.</p><p class="quote-center">I investigate how to repurpose natural waste materials from the Swedish industry into new building materials for both building renovation and new buildings</p><p>Julio Diarte Almada is Umeå School of Architecture’s participant in the project. Originally from Paraguay, Julio got his PhD in architecture from Penn State University in 2020 with a focus on computational design and building material processes. Since august 2023, Julio’s worked as an assistant professor at Umeå School of Architecture, sharing his time between research and teaching.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="f742970a-1841-4223-8699-845d661672d9" data-contentname="Julio Diarte Almada Press">{}</div><p>– In my research, I investigate how to repurpose natural waste materials from the Swedish industry into new building materials for both building renovation and new buildings. In this process, I collaborate with researchers from architecture, building physics, and material science to design, fabricate, and test prototype building parts and components. As a teacher, I coordinate the architectural technology course for 2nd year students of the Architecture Programme and I’m part of the teaching team for the same course for the Master’s Programme in Architecture and Urban Design, says Julio Diarte Almada.</p><h3>Using industrial waste in 3D-printable solutions</h3><p>In recent times, Umeå School of Architecture has expanded its facilities to the second floor of Curiosum at Umeå’s Arts Campus, next doors from school’s main building. Beside a computer lab and lecture areas, a space here is currently dedicated to a research lab for Julio’s experimentation with innovative building materials. Lifting out a box from the shelves, Julio shows a variation of 3D-printed prototype samples and explains:</p><p>– The research I do consist of three main parts. Firstly, we take the waste produced by Swedish industries; wood fibres from the forestry industry, cellulose from the textile and packaging industry, and biochar from the energy industry; and investigate appropriate formulations to create 3D printable pastes. For example, we combine these fibres with clay, cement, or mycelium, other additives, and water. Then, we pick the most successful formulations, design building parts, and 3D print to test the material and visual properties. Finally, we fabricate mock-ups at real scale to study how to integrate these new building components into existing or new buildings. For example, if the new components have good thermal insulation properties, we create insulation panels that can be attached to existing buildings. <br><br></p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/918ba0423d8a41be8033ddb1cf3fbc33/juliolab.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/918ba0423d8a41be8033ddb1cf3fbc33/juliolab.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/918ba0423d8a41be8033ddb1cf3fbc33/juliolab.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/918ba0423d8a41be8033ddb1cf3fbc33/juliolab.jpg?mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/918ba0423d8a41be8033ddb1cf3fbc33/juliolab.jpg?mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/918ba0423d8a41be8033ddb1cf3fbc33/juliolab.jpg?mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture><span class="photo" style="font-family: 'HCo Gotham SSm', Verdana, sans-serif; color: #666666; font-size: 0.66667rem; text-wrap-mode: nowrap;">Image</span><span style="font-family: 'HCo Gotham SSm', Verdana, sans-serif; color: #666666; font-size: 0.66667rem; text-wrap-mode: nowrap;">Erik Persson</span></div></div><h3>Research collaborations to scale up</h3><p>As Julio tours me around his lab, showing the raw materials, the computer programs used for modelling the prints and the 3D-printer currently running in test mode; a student drops by to get some quick insight into a current experiment where a panel in a full-scale, student-built design project is soon to be printed. As the student leaves the lab, I ask Julio how he got involved in the project with Professor Ergang Wang from Chalmers.</p><p>– Collaboration is critical in research, so the first thing I did when I arrived in Sweden was to reach out to people working with similar problems but from different disciplines. That’s how I got in contact with researchers from Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Chalmers University who had experience with repurposing industrial biobased waste material processes. Since then, we have been working together in preliminary experiments and writing applications to explore repurposing biobased waste as resource for building materials. The application then includes academia and industry partners working on 3D-printing with concrete and biofibers technology, Julio explains.</p><p class="quote-center">My role in the research team is to coordinate the design of prototype building parts and structures as well as digital simulations to assess different material properties</p><p>He continues to explain the call, and the aim of their project, which is set to begin in December 2024 and continue until the end of November 2026.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="3c3d8db0-08c3-46e0-9a6f-4f58a57777c6" data-contentname="3D-printed domes">{}</div><p>– The Formas <em>Research-driven solutions for sustainable transitions 2024</em> looked for sustainable processes that can achieve real-world impact and can result in economic, environmental, and social benefits. The project that we are part of is titled <em>Towards sustainable biobased circularity in digitalized building: pilot scale 3D printing upcycled biomass in cement</em> and it’s about reducing cement content in 3D-printed buildings with concrete by incorporating a surface coated wood fibre as reinforcement. We hope to achieve a suitable formulation of cement and wood fibre that works for 3D printing large structures and offers beneficial properties such as strength, lightness, and reduced environmental impact. My role in the research team is to coordinate the design of prototype building parts and structures as well as digital simulations to assess different material properties. The research funds allocated to Umeå School of Architecture (<strong>Editorial note:</strong> around 365,000 SEK) will be used to hire a student research assistant to help in this process, Julio Diarte Almada concludes.<span class="bildPhotografer"><br></span></p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/funding-for-new-solutions-using-biomass-in-cement-3d-printing_12003351/https://www.umu.se/en/news/umea-school-of-architecture-joins-new-european-bauhaus-initiative_11928588/Umeå School of Architecture joins New European Bauhaus InitiativeLiving spaces that are beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive are the value words of the EU initiative New European Bauhaus. During 2023, Umeå University, represented by Umeå School of Architecture and the Department for Applied Physics, became an official partner in the New European Bauhaus.Mon, 12 Aug 2024 10:08:55 +0200<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/97ee2e73e31a4b77b78ea7dff29b2561/kajsa_nydell2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/97ee2e73e31a4b77b78ea7dff29b2561/kajsa_nydell2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/97ee2e73e31a4b77b78ea7dff29b2561/kajsa_nydell2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/97ee2e73e31a4b77b78ea7dff29b2561/kajsa_nydell2.jpg?mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/97ee2e73e31a4b77b78ea7dff29b2561/kajsa_nydell2.jpg?mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/97ee2e73e31a4b77b78ea7dff29b2561/kajsa_nydell2.jpg?mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Participants in NEB Academy meeting at UMA in september 2023</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Kajsa Nydell</span></div></div><p>The New European Bauhaus initiative (NEB) aspires to connect the European Green Deal to the daily lives and living spaces of European citizens. Launched by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission in 2020, the idea of NEB was to become a bridge between science and technology, and art and culture, adding social, creative, and cultural dimensions to the work with the European Green Deal. This idea later developed into three core value words, aiming for living spaces to be Beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive. In 2021, the Swedish government assigned Boverket the task to coordinate the New Europe Bauhaus Initiative in Sweden. <br><br>During 2023, Umeå University became an official partner of NEB, represented by Umeå School of Architecture and The Department of Applied Physics. </p><p>“Taking part in the New European Bauhaus Initiative is highly relevant for Umeå School of Architecture. We are situated and anchored in northern Sweden, currently undergoing a new industrial revolution related to the processes of climate change adaption. Further, our education, research and cooperation efforts are aimed precisely towards the values designed for the NEB. Therefore, joining the initiative was a natural step to further develop and to contribute with our competence related to these aims”, says Cornelia Redeker, Professor and Head of Department at Umeå School of Architecture.</p><h3>National NEB network meeting in Umeå and Skellefteå</h3><p>In the middle of September 2023, a national New European Bauhaus network meeting took place in Umeå and Skellefteå. The meeting, taking place partly at Umeå School of Architecture, was arranged jointly by all NEB-partners in Västerbotten – Umeå University, Skellefteå Kommun, Umeå Kommun, Region Västerbotten, Länsstyrelsen Västerbotten, SLU and RISE. The discussions during the network meeting focused on local and regional cross-sectorial collaborations, as well as ongoing work across Sweden relating to circular processes, innovative timber construction and other measures to develop the ecosystem of the construction industry.</p><h3>The NEB Academy</h3><p>Another focus during the NEB network meeting in Umeå and Skellefteå was the new NEB Academy for sustainable construction program. The European Union has initially invested 100 million Swedish kronor to educate people within and attract new competence to the building sector. The workshop during the network meeting was the first to take place related to the mission. Boverket (the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning) has given the assignment to lead the work with NEB Academy in Sweden to RISE (Research Institute of Sweden). Together with Swedish actors, among them Umeå School of Architecture, RISE aims to develop educational material for competence building in the construction and architecture sectors with a focus on wooden construction and circular construction.</p><h3>Student Design Competition</h3><p>Another part of the NEB Initiative is the NEB Design Challenge, organized by the Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordic Carbon Neutral Bauhaus, Finnish Ministry of Environment and Research Institute of Sweden in collaboration with Architects Sweden. It’s a design challenge for architecture students to form transdisciplinary teams with students from different fields and together design new innovative and creative solutions for adaptive reuse of buildings and sites to inspire the construction sector to be better at using what has already been built. The task is to ideate on the re-design (Reuse and Readapt) of four sites in the Nordic region (Umeå, Stavanger, Kuopio & Høje-Taastrup) and one of the launching events took place late February 2024 at Umeå School of Architecture. The final winner for each site will too be announced at an award ceremony at UMA during the End of Year festivities on 30 May.</p><p> </p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/umea-school-of-architecture-joins-new-european-bauhaus-initiative_11928588/https://www.umu.se/en/news/installation-by-students--teachers-at-umea-school-of-architecture-in-lulea_11922053/Installation by architecture students & teachers at Storgatan in LuleåAs part of Luleåbiennalen 2024, students and teachers from the summer course Laponia, given at Umeå School of Architecture in 2023, are installing the work The Waterfall That Went Silent in Luleå’s city center. The installation will be inaugurated on Tuesday 9 April.Tue, 09 Apr 2024 10:22:09 +0200<p><a href="https://www.luleabiennalen.se/">Luleåbiennalen 2024</a>: On the threshold of 1:1, inaugurated in the beginning of March with the overarching theme of Art & Architecture, presents exhibitions and site-specific artworks some of which unfold during the biennial.<br><br>The Waterfall That Went Silent is a spatial and physical sound installation presented by Umeå School of Architecture (UMA). Originally constructed during the summer course Laponia in 2023 at the Saltoloukta tourist station, the installation has been redesigned to be shown in Luleå's public spaces as part of the Luleåbiennalen 2024.<br><br>The installation serves as a reminder of the vanished roar of the Stora Sjöfallet waterfall, which disappeared along with vast reindeer herding lands due to Sweden's hydropower developments on the Lule River in the early 20th century. The installation invites reflection on the human pursuit of technological progress, the trade-offs between resources and energy against the natural and cultural environment, and the mounting pressure on Norrbotten's resources in the past, present, and future.<br><br>The installation is performatively built by its authors on Storgatan in Luleå between 5–8 april, 2024, with the intention of triggering discussions with and among bypassers. Luleåbiennalen, Umeå School of Architecture, and the project’s authors wish to extend a warm welcome to everyone to walk by, ask questions, or to just say hello.<br><br>The Waterfall That Went Silent will be inaugurated 9 April at 14.30 on Storgatan in Luleå.<br><br><strong>Contacts:</strong><br><a href="mailto:sophia.persson@konstframjandet.se">Sophia Persson</a>, Press & Communications, Luleåbiennalen<br><a href="mailto:toms.kokins@umu.se">Toms Kokins</a>, Umeå School of Architecture (UMA)</p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/installation-by-students--teachers-at-umea-school-of-architecture-in-lulea_11922053/https://www.umu.se/en/news/architecture-students-in-international-workshop-on-the-sustainable-recovery-of-ukraine_11896321/Architecture students in workshop on Sustainable recovery of Ukraine At the end of January, twenty-six students from Umeå School of Architecture participated in an international workshop on strategies and methods for the sustainable recovery of Ukraine. The Umeå students were on site for two weeks in the Polish capital of Warsaw, one of the two host cities for the workshop, the other being Lviv in western Ukraine.Fri, 16 Feb 2024 12:42:00 +0100<div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareright"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/8755008278a14aa1872a2ff4e1367dc0/3_azhiemi_iqbal7.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/8755008278a14aa1872a2ff4e1367dc0/3_azhiemi_iqbal7.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/8755008278a14aa1872a2ff4e1367dc0/3_azhiemi_iqbal7.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/8755008278a14aa1872a2ff4e1367dc0/3_azhiemi_iqbal7.jpg?mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/8755008278a14aa1872a2ff4e1367dc0/3_azhiemi_iqbal7.jpg?mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/8755008278a14aa1872a2ff4e1367dc0/3_azhiemi_iqbal7.jpg?mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Students working during the Build Back Better Workshop</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Azhiemi Iqbal, student in Studio 10</span></div></div><p><em>Building back better</em> was the title of the architecture workshop and exhibition that took place in parallel in Warsaw in Poland and Lviv in Ukraine. The collaboration included four universities, the Kharkiv School of Architecture in Ukraine, the Warsaw University of Technology in Poland, the University of Limerick in Ireland, and Umeå School of Architecture in Sweden. During two intensive weeks, around a hundred students, teachers, researchers, representatives from voluntary organizations, professional architects, municipal officials, activists, and residents participated in important discussions around strategies and methods for the sustainable rebuilding of Ukraine.</p><h3>Focus on global challenges</h3><p>The students from Umeå School of Architecture study at master's level and are part of the teaching studio titled Studio 10: Global Challenges. The studio is taught by teachers Amalia Katopodis, Joël Jouannet and Professor Robert Mull and focuses on socio-political, economic and environmental global challenges, targeting concrete situations and places that people find themselves in as a consequence of these factors and explores new models of architecture and urbanism able to contribute within these contexts.</p><p>– Architectural education is generally bad at addressing global challenges, preferring instead to remain neutral. But over the past five years students from Umeå University have made a significant contribution to the Global Free Unit’s work with refugees in Greece and Turkey and now on the recovery of Ukraine. Students have been committed, compassionate and  professional and have made a real difference to the lives of those they have worked with and now to the debate about the future of Ukraine. They should be very proud but there is still so much to do, says Professor Robert Mull, founder of the Global Free Unit and guest professor at Umeå School of Architecture.</p><p>Amalia Katopodis, teacher and Studio 10 coordinator continues:<br>– This year the studio focuses on the situation in Ukraine, working closely together with our network of colleagues at the Kharkiv School of Architecture and at Ro3kvit: The Urban Coalition for Ukraine, as well as with architectural practices and voluntary organizations in Poland contributing to the ongoing discussions and knowledge exchange around Ukraine’s urgent need for a sustainable recovery. In this way, the workshop is a central piece of the puzzle in the studio's direction during this academic year.</p><h3>Working with the city Dnipro</h3><p>On site in Warsaw, the students from Umeå worked together with other students and teachers from the participating institutions, under the advice of experts gathered from different disciplines. The focus was on Ukraine's fourth largest city, Dnipro, located in the south-eastern part of the country, between Donbass in the east, Kharkiv in the north and Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in the south. The research, design work and exhibition stretched across four different scales nested within each other: the Dnipro River basin, the city of Dnipro itself, the Peremoha micro district and a specific housing block within that area.<br><br>Joël Jouannet works as an adjunct lecturer at Umeå School of Architecture, alternating his time between teaching in Studio 10 and his architectural practice.<br>– Discovering a new territory, here the city of Dnipro and more precisely the Peremoha residential area, opened a new horizon of challenges that are facing us. Reconstruction and rethinking of former soviet cities re as much in a need to acknowledge the local actors and foster initiatives that may feed good architecture. Architecture feels more than ever an expression that must find its roots in the usages of space, says Joël Jouannet back in Umeå on his reflections from the workshop.</p><h3>Challenging group work</h3><p>One of the students participating was Lina Degerth. For her, one of the most memorable details was the structure of the workshop, taking place in parallel on at least three sites, communicating with each other live by virtual interpreters.<br>– The workshop highlighted the potentials that collaborative learning environments outside of the architecture school can offer students. The content of the workshop also exposed us to the importance of listening and daring to engage in real and complex topics to the best of our ability. It was fun to witness and merge the UMA working culture with the other workshop participants while navigating tricky hybrid group work, says Lina Degerth.</p><p><em>The workshop was supported by the Norwegian Refugee Council and EGALA, the Warsaw Observatory of Culture and National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning in Poland, ARUP, Greenpeace and Ro3kvit.</em></p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/architecture-students-in-international-workshop-on-the-sustainable-recovery-of-ukraine_11896321/https://www.umu.se/en/news/umea-school-of-architecture-gets-new-doctoral-programme_11895527/<description>Umeå School of Architecture at Umeå University will regain the right to educate future researchers. A clear focus of the doctoral programme will be sustainable development and climate adaptation. Umeå School of Architecture is already in the starting blocks to recruit doctoral students for various research projects.</description><pubDate>Tue, 20 Feb 2024 13:52:14 +0100</pubDate><atom:content type="html"><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/arkitekthgskolan_mg_1189_jgs2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/arkitekthgskolan_mg_1189_jgs2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/arkitekthgskolan_mg_1189_jgs2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/arkitekthgskolan_mg_1189_jgs2.jpg?mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/arkitekthgskolan_mg_1189_jgs2.jpg?mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/arkitekthgskolan_mg_1189_jgs2.jpg?mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Umeå School of Architecture regains the right to conduct doctoral education. As a first steg four doctoral students will be recruited to different research projects.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Johan Gunséus</span></div></div><p>“We are starting the PhD programme with four positions, which feels good” says Cornelia Redeker, Head of Department at Umeå School of Architecture. “However, the demand from colleagues within the architecture school who until now did not have the possibility to do apply for a PhD position by far exceeds that number. That is a challenge and one way of meeting that is to create formats that enable more productive links between research and education. We are also exploring the possibilities of shared PhD positions through the Industrial Doctoral School and the gender studies PhD programme.”</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/cornelia_redeker_2402202.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/cornelia_redeker_2402202.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/cornelia_redeker_2402202.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/cornelia_redeker_2402202.jpg?mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/cornelia_redeker_2402202.jpg?mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/cornelia_redeker_2402202.jpg?mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Cornelia Redeker, head of department, Umeå School of Architecture.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>[Fotograf saknas]</span></div></div><p>Architecture has previously been a doctoral education subject at Umeå University. The first doctoral students were admitted in 2013. However, when the Swedish Higher Education Authority reviewed the doctoral programme in 2018, it was considered to lack quality, clarity and strategy and as a consequence of the criticism it was discontinued.</p><h3>Strategic recruitment</h3><p>Since then, significant changes have taken place at Umeå School of Architecture in terms of management structure, research and supervision expertise. In recent years, a number of research-qualified teachers have been strategically recruited. This has laid the foundation for a stable research environment that today includes three professors and seven associate professors who conduct research in areas ranging from urban planning and sustainable construction to digital innovation.</p><p>"The development of Umeå School of Architecture in recent years has been fantastic and the faculty is very proud that we can now resume the doctoral programme in architecture" says Mikael Elofsson, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology.</p><div class="mediaflowwrapper bildlink halfwidthsquareleft"><div class="bildImage"><picture><source srcset="/contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/elofsson_mikael_5054_170508_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/elofsson_mikael_5054_170508_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/elofsson_mikael_5054_170508_mpn2.jpg?format=webp&mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" type="image/webp" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"><source srcset="/contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/elofsson_mikael_5054_170508_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&width=640 640w, /contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/elofsson_mikael_5054_170508_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&width=854 854w, /contentassets/51a8f0fd450b467a8abe3698e4353b9f/elofsson_mikael_5054_170508_mpn2.jpg?mode=crop&width=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 640px, (max-width: 854px) 854px, 1280px"></picture></div><div class="bildText"><p>Mikael Elofsson.</p><span class="bildPhotografer"><span class="photo">Image</span>Mattias Pettersson</span></div></div><p>The new management has therefore applied for Umeå School of Architecture to regain the right to educate doctoral students, which the Faculty Board supported and Umeå University's Vice-Chancellor approved in a decision on 9 February this year.</p><p><em>How does it feel to get started with doctoral education at UMA again?</em></p><p>“Wonderful, we are very excited to expand our research environment to include a PhD programme” says Cornelia Redeker. The “again” is not really of relevance as none of us were involved in the previous PhD School.”</p><p>Architecture is per se a practice-based profession and education, she explains further. Embedding architectural design practices within a scientific framework holds enormous potential to meet the challenges the built environment at large is facing today.</p><p class="quote-left">We are very excited to expand our research environment to include a PhD programme</p><h3>Focus on northern Sweden</h3><p><em>What gap in doctoral education in Architecture in Sweden will the new education fill?</em></p><p>“It is not so much about filling a gap, but of strengthening our own research environment” says Cornelia Redeker. “The upcoming calls will focus on quite a diverse range of topics that are set: from climate adaptation of the built environment for the specific context of Northern Sweden, to infrastructures of care and models of inclusion, and the development of building materials with the support of digital tools. It will even include one open call where we are looking forward to receiving proposals.”</p><p><em>Tell us more about the focus on sustainable development and climate adaptation?</em></p><p>“The UN sustainable development goals, and of course at the core SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, are the basis for all our research areas at UMA with different focal areas such as social sustainability as a basis for all other development with a long tradition at UMA. The speed at which climate change is impacting us both globally and regionally is creating an urgency where the built environment has an enormous capacity to contribute to change. Our doctoral students will address different models of change technically, socio-ecologically and of course from a socio-cultural perspective. All of our research areas, take a multiscalar perspective starting from the building scale. This can imply expanding to the neighbourhood, the city and the region as well as zooming back in on the performance of building materials.”</p><p>Umeå School of Architecture will also collaborate with Umeå Institute of Design and the Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, as well as with Arts Campus and UmArts. Doctoral students will also engage in partner networks in academia, but also the private and public sectors.</p><p>“Academically, we are part of ResArc, the PhD network of the Swedish architecture schools together with SLU Landscape, but are also exploring possibilities of exchange with the Nordic Baltic Architecture Academy, and others in our extensive international network. Regionally we are a partner in the New European Bauhaus Nordic hub which is currently in the making” says Cornelia Redeker.</p></atom:content><link>https://www.umu.se/en/news/umea-school-of-architecture-gets-new-doctoral-programme_11895527/</link></item><item xml:base="en/news/new-leadership-at-umea-school-of-architecture_11838585/"><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.umu.se/en/news/new-leadership-at-umea-school-of-architecture_11838585/</guid><title>New Leadership at Umeå School of ArchitectureA new leadership has been appointed at Umeå School of Architecture. Cornelia Redeker is the new head of department. Sara Thor continues as deputy head of department and Katrin Holmqvist-Sten is new director of studies as well as assistant head of department.Mon, 30 Oct 2023 10:39:00 +0100<p>Cornelia Redeker is professor in Architecture and assumed the role of Head of Umeå School of Architecture (UMA) from September 2023 together with Sara Thor and Katrin Holmqvist-Sten, both with previous experience from management at UMA and other departments at Umeå University.</p><p>“It is an honour and of course a great responsibility to take on this role. I am looking forward to expanding on the amazing place that UMA already is” says Cornelia.</p><p>Cornelia Redeker is an architect and urban planner originally from Germany and has been teaching and researching at Umeå School of Architecture since 2021. She studied architecture and urban planning at the University of Applied Sciences Cologne in Germany and the Berlage-Institute in the Netherlands. Her PhD at TU Delft in the Netherlands focused on urban flood integration. In parallel to developing her PhD research, she was teaching urban design and regional planning at TU Munich while also consulting for urban development- and upgrading projects internationally through her office Cities on Rivers / Cities on Sand.  From 2012 onwards, Cornelia worked as associate professor in architecture and urban design at the German University in Cairo.</p><p class="quote-center">The North of Sweden is currently undergoing its third industrial transition and that at an unprecedented scale. As the only architecture school in this region, we must bring forward new ways of how we build and of how we live together in response to urgencies that we are facing globally</p><p>At UMA she has initiated the research and teaching lab Designing Cycles at 64° together with Sara Thor. The lab explores how buildings, and their inhabitants can turn from being consumers to becoming producers through integrated models and prototypes for local food production, water and energy systems, specifically under sub-arctic climate conditions like those in Umeå.</p><p>“The built environment offers an enormous capacity to turn our ecological footprint into a positive one. Through the emergent research environment at UMA, I would like to see how we can contribute to this in a more impactful way, e.g., through retrofitting, multifunctionality and reuse”, Cornelia Redeker explains concerning her visions for the department under her leadership.</p><p>“The North of Sweden is currently undergoing its third industrial transition, and that at an unprecedented scale. As the only architecture school in this region, we want to bring forward new ways of how we build and of how we can live together in response to urgencies that we are facing globally: climate change, urbanization, the commodification of housing and issues of displacement. In my opinion one way of how to accelerate this change is to create stronger links between our education, which is to a large part project-based, and research, and I believe UMA is in a very strong position to develop these links”, Cornelia elaborates.</p><p class="quote-center">UMA is a very special community of academics, administrators, technicians, and students working together in a very collaborative way. Our team of educators and researchers is extremely international. Altogether, this creates a very enriching environment</p><p>Katrin Holmqvist-Sten has been taken on the role of director of studies and has been appointed assistant head of department. She has a background in the history and theory of art and has taken on various roles at UMA from 2008 onwards. Between 2017 and 2021 she was head of department at Umeå School of Fine Arts. Her current research concerns the spatial infrastructure of culture and especially houses of culture in the north of Sweden and their role in the urban context and discourse.</p><p>Sara Thor continues in the role as deputy head of department which she was appointed to in 2019. She is furthermore appointed as head of education. Sara Thor has been teaching at UMA for the last eight years and is also currently involved in the research project Designing Cycles at 64° together with Cornelia Redeker.</p><p>Part of the new leadership are also Maria Luna Nobile, head of research and Daniel Movilla Vega, in the new role of director of doctoral studies. Sangram Shirke is continuing his appointed role as programme director at the department.</p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/new-leadership-at-umea-school-of-architecture_11838585/https://www.umu.se/en/news/mapping-forest-land-in-architectural-research-project_11832176/Mapping Forest Land in Architectural Research ProjectUMArts and Future Forests funds the architectural research project Sweden's Timber Empire.Thu, 12 Oct 2023 09:10:56 +0200<h3><strong>Earlier this year, Researcher Toms Kokins received funding from UMArts and Future Forests to conduct research within architecture and the timber industry in Sweden and Latvia. </strong></h3><p>Toms Kokins is an Architect and Lecturer at Umeå School of Architecture at Umeå University. He was approved of funding for his research project “Sweden’s Timber Empire: Resource driven colonisation in Baltic Sea region”. The project has been funded by UmArts Small Visionary Projects (2022) and SLU Future Forests (2023) seed money, enabling Kokins to conduct preliminary research and test various research methods in the context of Swedish-owned forests in Latvia.</p><p><strong>The project</strong></p><p>Kokins explains that the research project is called “Sweden’s Timber Empire”, and has an architectural perspective on the transnational timber industry’s impact on the landscapes of material, labour, and ecologies. It is a case of Swedish forests in Latvia.  </p><p>– The project aims to critically map the extent of Swedish state- and privately-owned forest land in the Baltic Sea region with an in-depth case study of territory of Latvia. Using a mix of quantitative data gathering and diverse qualitative mapping methods, it aims to reveal hidden layers of social, ecological, and economical interrelations underlying the process of acquiring productive forestry lands beyond Sweden’s national borders, Kokins says.</p><p class="quote-center">The aim is to expand its geography in the Baltic Sea region and to establish collaborations across the disciplines of architecture, forestry, human geography, landscape history, planning and art.</p><div data-classid="36f4349b-8093-492b-b616-05d8964e4c89" data-contentguid="caa86844-412a-4e2d-867d-2ddb0ab5b110" data-contentname="PIC Toms Kokins">{}</div><p><strong>The background</strong></p><p>Upon the question about the background for the project, Kokins describes that the issue of resource driven colonisation and its implications has been overlooked within the context of forestry and architecture in Baltic Sea region. </p><p>– Current debates on forestry focuses within either national borders, or within the perspective of one of the corporate players, such as forestry companies. There is a lack of a transnational holistic perspective on timber resource accumulation, and a critical view towards architecture and building industry as one of the extensive timber consumption contributors, Kokins explains. </p><p>He hopes this project can contribute to, and serve, as a contextualised platform to discuss the global trend of resource accumulation that often neglects the urge for preserving biodiversity, cultural identities, and economical independencies in the affected territories. It intends to identify what is and what can be the role of architecture in these processes.</p><p><strong>The outcomes</strong></p><p>– The aim is to expand its geography in the Baltic Sea region and to establish collaborations across the disciplines of architecture, forestry, human geography, landscape history, planning and art, Kokins answers to the question about the outcomes for the project. He continues to describe the nearest future:</p><p>– An expected outcome in 2023 is an application for a PhD position and future research plan. I have also been invited to contribute to upcoming forest-themed exhibition in 2024 at Bildmuseet, Umeå.</p><p>Currently, Kokins is an artist in residency at UmArts open studio at Smedjan in Umeå Arts Campus that is open for public.</p><p>More information about the research project can be found on the <a href="~/link/180b724d31d648528c66c997f8c30f5b.aspx">Research Project Page</a>. </p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/mapping-forest-land-in-architectural-research-project_11832176/https://www.umu.se/en/news/global-challenges-at-sasuf-research-and-innovation-week_11756528/Global challenges in focus at Swedish-South African research and innovation weekHow can Swedish and South African researchers jointly contribute to meeting the global challenges the world is facing? And how can students from both countries participate in the work on internationalization? These were some of the things that were discussed during the SASUF Research and Innovation Week in South Africa where Umeå University participated together with 39 other Swedish and South African universities.Mon, 24 Apr 2023 23:53:55 +0200<p>The Research and Innovation Week is part of the STINT-funded project SASUF, South Africa Sweden University Forum, with the aim of strengthening the cooperation between the two countries in research, education and innovation. Participants included researchers, teachers, students and representatives of university management from SASUF's 26 South African and 14 Swedish higher education institutions, as well as research funders. The program contained seminars and workshops within six themes, all linked to the UN's sustainability goals. 14 people from Umeå University participated.</p><p>- SASUF is an important forum for discussing joint solutions to global challenges in both countries, says Vice-Chancellor Hans Adolfsson. All South African universities in the country are involved in the project. The fact that they gather under the same umbrella is unique and shows that there is a great interest in international cooperation.</p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Over 500 participants from South Africa and Sweden</h2><p>The Research and Innovation Week was divided into two parts: scientific workshops and seminars that took place in 12 different cities across South Africa over two days, and the Sustainability Forum hosted by the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town over three days. In parallel with the research workshops, seminars and poster exhibition, a special program for Vice-Chancellors from South Africa and Sweden and a student summit with representatives from Swedish and South African universities also took place. In total, over 500 people from South Africa and Sweden participated in the Sustainability Forum. Representatives of the university management also visited the Swedish Embassy in Pretoria and Swedish Ambassador Håkan Juholt - who also participated in the Research and Innovation Week.</p><h2 id="info1" data-magellan-target="info1">Global cooperation important for sustainability perspective</h2><p>One of those who participated from Umeå University is Karin Sporre, professor of pedagogical work. She has long had a research collaboration with Heila Lotz-Sistika, professor at Rhodes University, on ethics and education from a sustainability perspective. During the research and innovation week, together with colleagues, they had the opportunity to hold two workshops where they presented and discussed children's and young people's commitment to sustainability and hope, as a driving force for developing preschools, schools and teacher training.</p><p>- The SASUF week has given me a lot, says Karin. Many fun meetings with people working on other research problems that relate to the important contemporary issues of climate and sustainability.</p><p>Karin Sporre describes that it has been important to have partners outside the Euro-American academic sphere and that this means that global perspectives, which are important not least from a sustainability perspective today, can become a more obvious part of research and postgraduate education.</p><p>- Not least the differences in the school and educational society in our respective countries give us new experiences and knowledge that make us understand our own contexts even better, says Sporre about the collaboration.</p><h2 id="info2" data-magellan-target="info2">Students' involvement in internationalization important</h2><p>Within the SASUF 2030 project, students' participation has been identified as particularly important. On site in South Africa were representatives from most of the participating universities. From Umeå University, Alba Puigefabregas Sieso, a student on the bachelor's programme in Life Science, participated. Together with the other student representatives, she participated in and arranged several seminars during the week, for example one focusing on student inclusion in internationalisation.</p><p>- It has been a fantastic experience. We have had a tight schedule this week. We have covered several different topics, learned new perspectives on global issues and come up with new ideas, says Alba. The student network in SASUF wants to be a platform to connect researchers with students and promote innovative collaborations.</p><p>The students' participation seems to have made an impression on the principals. Umeå University's rector Hans Adolfsson states that there are a great many students who have participated during the week, which shows that there is a future for SASUF.</p><p>- Students are a natural partner to have along, says Hans Adolfsson, and sends an invitation to Umeå's students to get more involved!</p><h2 id="info3" data-magellan-target="info3">SASUF Research and innovation week in Sweden 2024</h2><p>For Umeå University, the SASUF project has so far resulted in several good examples of collaborations with various South African universities. It involves collaborations in areas such as public health, ecology, computer science, architecture and educational science.</p><p>- SASUF means a lot to the cooperation between Sweden and South Africa and to Umeå University. It contributes to good contacts with the South African universities, but also with other Swedish universities in the project. We look forward to continuing the collaborations that are already underway and are confident that new ones will be started, says Hans Adolfsson.</p><p>The SASUF project runs until 2024. Next year, Sweden will host the research and innovation week, which will be arranged in Lund, Alnarp and Malmö on 13-17 May.</p><p>A call for seed funds for new collaborations between South Africa and Sweden is now open. The application deadline is April 28, 2023.</p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/global-challenges-at-sasuf-research-and-innovation-week_11756528/https://www.umu.se/en/news/umarts-post-doctoral-researchers_11520466/UmArts Call for Artistic Post-Doctoral Researchers The UmArts research center at Umeå University is looking for excellent candidates for two postdoctoral positions in interdisciplinary research. The post-docs will be part of the UmArts research environment developing new art, architecture and design practices that generate a critical and creative discourse within the public realm.Tue, 22 Mar 2022 11:10:51 +0100<p>We have identified two very specific research areas that will make an important contribution to expanding the scope of artistic research:</p><p>The post-doc in Art and Architecture will be based at <a href="https://www.arch.umu.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Umeå School of Architecture</a> (UMA) in partnership with <a href="~/link/2ef6b4f1a89f453fa0f14c470ccc0795.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bildmuseet</a> museum of contemporary art. Whilst the post-doc in Design and Molecular Biology will be based at <a href="https://www.dh.umu.se/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Umeå Institute of Design</a>, in partnership with the <a href="~/link/659b08dc1a0140919eca984863e58cf5.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department of Molecular Biology</a>. Each post doc will work independently on their own creative project with support from supervisors in their two departments and the Director of <a href="https://umarts.se" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UmArts</a>. </p><p> </p><h3>UmArts Post-doc in Art and Architecture  </h3><p>This post-doctoral research will be focused on the intersection of art and architecture, and will be based at Umeå School of Architecture (UMA), in partnership with the Bildmuseet museum of contemporary art.</p><p>The broad aim is to develop new critical frameworks for investigating spatial politics including: territorial divisions, decolonisation, social cohesion, sustainability and resilience, which have relationships to northern Scandinavia. Proposals can develop new ways of inhabiting through the re-use, adaptation and occupation of space. </p><p><a href="~/link/7dc2dfda7ae940588441b6174ee54429.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full details of the role and application details can be found here.</a></p><p> </p><h3>UmArts Post-doc in Design and Molecular Biology</h3><p>This post-doctoral research will be focused on the intersection of design and molecular biology, and will be based at Umeå Institute of Design (UID), working in partnership with the Department of Molecular Biology. The broad aim is to investigate the potential roles of more-than-human and multispecies entanglement in designing our futures. We welcome proposals that converge the making and growing practices of Design and Molecular Biology, that conceptually entangle human and more-than-human bodies and world-making.</p><p><a href="~/link/9c274b63cd9d4f6b8c17f5f140b7673e.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full details of the role and application details can be found here.</a></p><p> </p><h3>Contact information</h3><p>If you would like to discuss a research proposal please contact Director of UmArts Ele Carpenter, ele.carpenter@umu.se </p><p> </p><p> </p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/umarts-post-doctoral-researchers_11520466/https://www.umu.se/en/news/chosen-to-sketch-the-future-for-northern-cities_11355364/Chosen to Sketch the Future for Northern citiesSeveral teams with connections to Umeå School of Architecture are among the eleven chosen to sketch the future of northern cities within the framework of the announcement ”Visioner i norr”. Thu, 03 Feb 2022 11:15:09 +0100<p class="quote-center">We will use architecture, art and curatorial practice to help Skellefteå find creative ways to welcome and support those moving to the municipality.</p><p>Northern Sweden is currently experiencing a boom of large investments in industry and infrastructure related to green technology. New establishments like Northvolt’s battery factory in the city Skellefteå are rapidly creating new jobs and likewise a need for developments in housing and urban environments.</p><p>For this reason, six municipalities and state agencies Arkdes, The National Board of Housing, Building and Planning, The Swedish Energy Agency, Formas and Vinnova, announced “Visioner i norr” (roughly: Visions for the north) as part of EU:s New European Bauhaus framework in the fall of 2021. The announcement sought for creative and interdisciplinary teams to sketch on ideas for future beautiful, sustainable and inclusive habitats in the municipalities Kiruna, Gällivare, Boden, Luleå, Skellefteå and Umeå.</p><p>Among the 55 applicants, eleven teams have now been chosen to continue to sketch with the vantagepoints set by the municipalities, having the opportunity to apply for founding of up to 300 000 SEK.</p><p>Several of the chosen teams hold connections to Umeå School of Architecture. For Umeå Municipality’s case, team ”Norrlandsmodellen” with UMA-lecturer Sara Thor, has been chosen. Also Team ”Of Public Interest”, chosen to work on the case of Gällivare has a Umeå School of Architecture representation in lecturer Tobias Westerlund.</p><p>Most evident is however the UMA-affiliations in the team ”Moving North”, chosen to work with the case of Skellefteå municipality which might be translated as ”From Stagnation to Klondyke and to what? What should Skellefteå become to be a sustainable place with a better everyday life for both current and future inhabitants?”. In Team ”Moving North”, Umeå School of Architecture is present through guest professor Robert Mull, lecturers Amalia Katopodis and Sangram Shirke, student Emmy Andersson and UMarts director Ele Carpenter.</p><p>“The Moving North team were delighted to be chosen to work with Skellefteå municipality. We will use architecture, art and curatorial practice to help Skellefteå find creative ways to welcome and support those moving to the municipality. Moving North will critically explore how different placemaking processes can promote social participation, social sustainability, innovative living environments and inclusive public spaces. We are all very excited to be given this role and the trust it implies”, says Robert Mull when asked to comment the news.</p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/chosen-to-sketch-the-future-for-northern-cities_11355364/https://www.umu.se/en/news/vinnova-grant-for-research-in-architecture-for-innovative-resource-management_11019354/Vinnova grant for research in architecture for innovative resource managementCornelia Redeker, Associate professor and Sara Thor, Lecturer at Umeå School of Architecture at Umeå University have been granted funding by Vinnova for the project ”Designing Cycles at 64° – Interior Urban Landscapes/case study Umeå”. Thu, 21 Oct 2021 11:22:12 +0200<p>The aim of the project is to explore possibilities for urban farming in a northern climate through greenhouse extensions and other low-tech, low-cost and low-maintenance passive architectural solutions. </p><p>The project ”Designing Cycles at 64° – Interior Urban Landscapes/case study Umeå” was proposed to Vinnova’s call Climate adaptions in the built environment 2021. </p><p>”As a response to climate change, the greater aim is to increase local food production within the urban context of this specific climate zone and to create productive partnerships beyond our own discipline” explains Cornelia Redeker, Associate Professor at Umeå School of Architecture. </p><p>The funding from Vinnova of 3,5 million SEK enables a two-year project to outline the possibilities of a prototype implementation in Umeå, Sweden. Among the project partners are Swedish University of Agricultural Science’s Plant Physiology Department, Aarhus University’s Aquatic Biology Department, Umeå Municipality and Vidden Bostad AB. </p><p>”We are really looking forward to working together with water and plant experts and local partners and inhabitants”, says Cornelia Redeker in response to the news about the project funding. </p><p> </p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/vinnova-grant-for-research-in-architecture-for-innovative-resource-management_11019354/https://www.umu.se/en/news/teaching-assistants-help-in-education---and-develop-personally_10893745/Teaching assistants help in education - and develop personallyIn parallel with their own studies, teaching assistants help with teaching - with everything from mathematics teaching in small groups to arranging digital exhibitions. In recent years, the Faculty of Science and Technology has invested in employing teaching assistants in more departments than before. Thu, 16 Sep 2021 14:34:11 +0200<p class="quote-left">We are resources for the teachers, for example in large courses so that you can have lessons in small groups.</p><p>“It is very instructive in that you learn how to lead a group, to speak in front of people and to be natural in such a situation. I think that can be great for the future working life. I also think it is a perfect job to have while you study, you do not have to go elsewhere because you study and work in the same place” says Amanda Rudälv, teaching assistant in the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics.</p><p>Teaching assistants have long existed in several of the faculty's departments, but not all. In 2020, when the corona pandemic prevented the Education Committee from distributing travel funds for conferences, the money was instead redistributed to employing teaching assistants in order to increase the quality of education.</p><h3>Karina focuses on communication</h3><p>Umeå School of Architecture is one of the departments that has not previously had teaching assistants. Master's student Karina Gataullina now has a ten percent position there. Karina and her partner moved to Umeå from Prague, after friends who studied architecture in Umeå were enthusiastic about the city and the education. In Prague, in addition to her studies, Karina and her friends ran a non-profit project to teach design to high school students. In the project, she worked a lot with communication efforts to make the project known to the public.</p><p>“When the assignment at Umeå School of Architecture was announced, it said that you would work a lot with communication, which really connected all the dots for me.”</p><p>Now Karina Gataullina and the other teaching assistant Navid Ghafouri have almost independent care of the school's Instagram account, where students during the pandemic showed their degree projects digitally.</p><p>“We curated all posts so that visitors would feel as if they were visiting Umeå School of Architecture for real. We also work with various publications that the school has.”</p><h3>Personal drive and better understanding of the university</h3><p>Being a teaching assistant is very rewarding, she thinks. On the one hand, it provides an increased understanding of how the university works, but also an increased drive in one's own studies and personal development.</p><p>“When the school staff interviewed me before this autumn’s assignment, they thought they saw a different Karina now, more confident in myself. It also feels important to be able to represent the other students and ensure that their work is taken care of and displayed in a good way.”</p><p>Amanda Rudälv and Andreas Granath are teaching assistants at the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics.</p><p>“We are resources for the teachers, for example in large courses so that you can have lessons in small groups” says Andreas. “Last year I was in the base year and there were so many students that we had five lesson groups.”</p><p>He and Amanda walk around and help the students while they work with maths assignments, but also hold tutorials in the whole group or are responsible for math workshops. They are employed 25 percent and think that the assignment can be combined with their own studies.</p><p>“Even if it is a lot of preparation, you can do the job at any time, except for the scheduled sessions” says Amanda, who is in fourth year of the five year programme in engineering and management. “We also have a teaching assistant office we can use, where we can work whenever we want.”</p><h3>Develops virtual reality in chemistry courses</h3><p>Konstantinos Magkakis, teaching assistant at the Department of Chemistry, has had a slightly different assignment. At the department, a project is underway to use VR glasses to study molecules and other chemical structures. During the summer, he has explored how the glasses can be used optimally, designed exercises and looked at how virtual reality can be integrated into more chemistry courses.</p><p>“It has been a great experience for me, first and foremost because the project is super interesting and very engaging. This autumn, I will start as a doctoral student in structural biology and being able to look at molecules in 3D is also very helpful in that work” says Konstantinos Magkakis.</p><p>As a doctoral student, he will also teach and hold a lot of exercises where students use VR glasses.</p><p>For Konstantinos, the teaching assistant period is over, while Karina and Amanda continue and Andreas does his last semester.</p><p>“I write my exam project after Christmas” he says. “But the assignment has made me realize that teaching is something I might want to continue doing. My goal now is to end up in the academy and continue working as a researcher and teacher. The teaching assistant period has given me the opportunity to see what projects there are and I have gained a good insight into how things work in the department.”</p><p>Prior to 2021, the Education Committee sought more funding for teaching assistants, which meant that more students got such assignments, among other things to assist in education via Zoom. The Education Committee sees great advantages in using assistants in teaching and therefore hopes to be able to continue with this.</p><h3>“Educational and rewarding”</h3><p>“It is an educational and rewarding assignment for the students who work as teaching assistants, but they also make it easier for the teachers” says Karolina Broman, chair of the Education Committee. “The hope is that more funds can be allocated in the future for teaching assistants and that good examples of how these can be used to increase the quality of education can be spread between the departments.”</p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/teaching-assistants-help-in-education---and-develop-personally_10893745/https://www.umu.se/en/news/over-600-applicants-to-new-course-in-architecture-_10499252/Over 600 applicants to new course in architecture This autumn, Umeå School of Architecture is initiating a series of new freestanding courses. Interest in the first course, “Architecture and the City - Towards another future”, by far exceeds the school’s expectations. So far, the course has attracted 620 applicants to 40 places, of which more than half applied to the course as their first choice.Wed, 26 May 2021 08:33:09 +0200<p>“Wow, this is really more than I expected” says James Brown, associate professor and responsible for the course.</p><p> </p><p>The course is a beginner's course in architecture that takes the student on a historical and contemporary journey, where some of the most significant environments built by man are examined. The course provides historical examples of architecture and cities and how buildings, cities and landscapes create opportunities for people to get involved in their common living environment.</p><p> </p><p>“We start the course for several reasons” says Michael Gruber, deputy head of department and director of studies at Umeå School of Architecture. “We want to take advantage of the expertise available at the department, broaden the opportunities for people to study the subject of architecture and in the long run counteract the social bias in recruitment, but also give students who study other programmes at the university the opportunity to supplement with an architecture course if they wish.”</p><p> </p><p>By offering the course as a distance course and with a 25 percent study rate, Umeå School of Architecture wants to give people who are either working or studying another subject in parallel the opportunity to study. The target group is anyone who is curious about architecture in general or who wants to supplement their education with architecture.</p><p>Umeå School of Architecture is starting to offer freestanding courses in architecture as a complement to its five-year architectural programme and two-year master's programme in architecture and urban design. In the spring of 2022, another freestanding course will be offered, “Mapping Changing Ecosystems: Understanding Our Impact on the Natural Environment”.</p><p><a title="Read more about the course Architecture and the City – Towards another future" href="~/link/22c2ee3ae0d14c1aab3746bf53e7687b.aspx">Read more about the course Architecture and the City – Towards another future</a></p><p> </p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/over-600-applicants-to-new-course-in-architecture-_10499252/https://www.umu.se/en/news/architect-receives-pedagogical-award_10121257/Architect receives pedagogical awardJames Benedict Brown, associate professor at Umeå School of Architecture, UMA, Umeå University, is awarded the Faculty of Science and Technology’s pedagogical award for 2021. The prize money is SEK 30,000.Mon, 15 Feb 2021 08:00:07 +0100<p>“I’m really honored to receive this recognition for the teaching I’ve delivered at UMA” says James Benedict Brown. “I was shoveling snow off the roof my house when the call came, so it was a very good moment to be grateful for the balance between work and home that I have found in Västerbotten! I bought a house deep in the countryside at the start of the pandemic.”[JB1] </p><p>He has worked as an Associate Professor at Umeå School of Architecture since 2019. James studied Architecture at the University of Sheffield and received his doctorate at Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 2012. He has held academic positions at De Montfort University, Norwich University of the Arts, the Royal College of Art and the University of Nottingham, England.</p><p>At Umeå School of Architecture, he is responsible for five courses in Architectural History and has in the past year been strongly committed to developing the courses, both in terms of content and how they are taught. James also embraced the challenges posed by the corona pandemic in adapting teaching for distance learning.</p><p>Rather than just moving his lectures online, he has structured the course content into two categories, pre-recorded video content that students can take part of via the UmU Play platform, as well as live seminars and live tutorials via Zoom. He has recorded his lectures in short sections, where he has often been outdoors and used local buildings as examples in teaching.</p><p>During the corona pandemic, James Benedict has also worked hard to share positive examples of new pedagogy with his colleagues at Umeå School of Architecture. He has also been involved internationally in these issues, for example through participation in webinars and group discussions.</p><p>“At the start of the pandemic, our first reaction was to move everything online without any changes. What I learned through this teaching is that neither teachers nor students appreciate two-hour lectures on Zoom! You have to break up and re-arrange your content so that students can watch, pause and re-watch shorter videos in their own time, and then come together for live sessions.”</p><p>“It inspires me to think about how we can use this technology in the future. Some of my lectures have been recorded using a phone and a selfie-stick, so why not record history lectures out in the world, in front of the buildings I’m talking about” says James Benedict Brown.</p><p>In the award motivation, the faculty says the following about the choice of James Benedict Brown:</p><p>“James Benedict Brown receives the award for his dedicated work in developing the courses in architectural history. He inspires colleagues to work with digital methods and tools in new creative ways, which is much appreciated by teachers and students.”</p><p>The faculty's pedagogical award is awarded every year. The purpose is to make visible and encourage teachers' commitment and efforts in higher education pedagogical development. The prize money is SEK 30,000.</p><p> </p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/architect-receives-pedagogical-award_10121257/https://www.umu.se/en/news/art-curator-returns-to-umea-as-director-for-umarts_10003921/Art curator returns to Umeå as director of UmArtsProfessor Ele Carpenter has been appointed director of the Umeå Centre for Architecture, Design and the Arts, shortened UmArts at Umeå University. She will be given the overall responsibility to develop, lead and coordinate the university’s art activities. Ele Carpenter will be based at the Umeå School of Architecture where she has an appointment as professor.Mon, 18 Jan 2021 10:59:06 +0100<p>“I’m delighted to become the director of UmArts. It’s a fantastic opportunity to develop arts research across the university. As a curator of contemporary art, I develop new contexts for creative interdisciplinary research with universities, public museums and galleries, so I’m looking forward to the new possibilities in Umeå,” says Professor Ele Carpenter at the Umeå School of Architecture at Umeå University.</p><p>UmArts consists of the Bildmuseet contemporary arts museum, the Umeå Institute of Design, the Umeå School of Architecture, the Umeå Academy of Fine Arts, and the Department of Creative Studies.</p><p>The new centre aims to take a holistic approach to the art activities at Umeå University to maintain and advance its high quality, as well as establish a distinctive art profile and strengthen its visibility and impact both nationally and internationally.</p><p>“I’m pleased that we have now recruited a director of UmArts and Ele Carpenter is a highly competent person well suited to lead this part of the organisation. The recruitment team has done an excellent job in landing all the details. I’m looking forward to following the progress of UmArts and the activities in the Arts under Ele Carpenter’s guidance,” says Hans Adolfsson, Vice-Chancellor of Umeå University.</p><p>As a new director, Ele Carpenter is prioritising to establish a new research network for all contributing parts of UmArts.</p><p>“UmArts will host research reading groups, lectures, workshops and exhibitions focusing on some of the most important questions of our time: Caring for the Planet, Decolonisation and the Nuclear Anthopocene. This internationally important programme will help to support existing art research at Umeå University and develop new regional, national and international partnerships,” she says.</p><p>Ele Carpenter has a long-standing relationship with Umeå University. Already in 2008, she undertook a postdoctoral fellowship in art at Humlab to research her Open Source Embroidery exhibition for Bildmuseet. In 2010, during the lead up to Umeå becoming the European Capital of Culture, she joined the jury on their tour of the city to highlight Umeå’s international cultural network, which she found was a particularly honourable assignment.</p><p>In 2016, she curated the exhibition Perpetual Uncertainty at Bildmuseet and commissioned artists to make new work in response to the Nuclear Antropocene. She also participated in the publishing of the Nuclear Culture Source Book that accompanied the exhibition, which also toured to Z33 in Belgium and the Malmö Konstmuseum between 2016–2018.</p><p><a href="https://mediabank-umu.qbank-mediaportal.se/selection/487ccc17d1d37994a264be61a12626f5">Portrait photo for download Photo: Darren Banks</a></p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">Biography:</h2><p>Professor Ele Carpenter joins Umeå University from Goldsmiths University of London where she is reader in curating at the Department of Art, and director of the Nuclear Culture Research Group. One of her most recent exhibitions include Splitting the Atom at the CAC Centre for Contemporary Art and the Energy & Technology Museum in Vilnius, Lithuania (2020). Ele Carpenter’s nuclear research has led to her participation in the OECD/Nuclear Energy Agency where she gives lectures and workshops on art and nuclear culture including deep time markers for high level radioactive waste. She is a visiting research fellow at the Institute of the Arts, University of Cumbria, and in 2019, she was awarded her Radiation Protection Supervisor Certificate.</p><p>Ele Carpenter originally trained as an artist at Leeds Metropolitan University (1993) and undertook a postgraduate diploma in Art Gallery and Museum Studies at Manchester University (1996) before a traineeship at the Museum of Modern Art in Oxford. Ele Carpenter then ran a public gallery in Sunderland in Northern England for five years before helping to establish a community cinema collective called the Star & Shadow where she programmed artists’ film and video. She completed her doctoral degree with CRUMB in 2008 at the University of Sunderland, whilst working as an associate curator at CCA Glasgow. She then undertook postdoctoral research at Umeå University before joining the MFA Curating programme at Goldsmiths in 2009.</p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/art-curator-returns-to-umea-as-director-for-umarts_10003921/https://www.umu.se/en/news/arkitektstudenter-gor-skillnad-for-flyktingar-i-izmir-och-lesvos_9912993/Architect students make a difference for refugees in Izmir and LesvosThe refugee crisis is one of the biggest challenges for the global society and with the effects of climate change, it will continue to grow in scale and importance. In the light of these challenges, the School of Architecture at Umeå University launched a project that this year engaged 40 highly dedicated master's students to making a difference for the displaced populations residing in Greece and Turkey. The projects were presented last week.Tue, 22 Dec 2020 13:47:47 +0100<p>“Our master's students no longer have to worry that their role as architects is something abstract. There is a clear need here where the students' knowledge is valuable and solutions are urgent,” says Amalia Katopodis, university lecturer and responsible for Studio 10 at the School of Architecture at Umeå University.<br> <br>Umeå School of Architecture work with the refugee crisis is conducted within the framework of a teaching studio in year 4-5. The aim is to carry out real projects in the context of the eastern Mediterranean border to the EU with a focus on the Turkish city of Izmir and the Greek island Lesvos. In collaboration with global research clusters, local academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, activists and refugees, the goal is furthermore to reduce the distance that often exists between architectural education and the practice of architecture in real contexts.<br> <br>An example of this from the past semester has been a collaboration with the TIAFI Community Center, which helps more than 2,000 displaced Syrian refugees living in the Turkish city of Izmir as a result of the agreement reached between the EU and Turkey. In addition to Syrian refugees, TIAFI also supports a large number of local Turkish families who have been forced to flee as a result of an earthquake that hit the city recently.<br> <br>“I have had the pleasure of working with some of the fantastic young architecture students in recent months,” says Anne O’Rorke at TIAFI Community Center. “The students entered the work with great enthusiasm, energy and creativity and gave us hope for a better future for the refugees we support and for TIAFI, which is now being formed into a well-functioning meeting place.”</p><p>Another example of the work within the framework of the studio has been a close collaboration with students from Yaşar University in Izmir where the student groups jointly developed an atlas of the physical and social reality in the city, which thereafter functioned as the backdrop for the specific student projects.<br> <br>The students' results will also integrate in a larger ongoing research project, WHIT: Wellbeing, Housing and Infrastructure in Turkey under the leadership of the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, where Umeå School of Architecture Professor Robert Mull is a collaborator with researchers, NGOs and engineers from the UK and Turkey.<br> <br>“Students from Umeå School of Architecture have a powerful mix of emotional intelligence, pragmatism and design flair that makes them very effective when working with displaced people in Turkey and Greece,” says Professor Robert Mull. “Their projects in these difficult contexts suggest a form of architectural practice based on compassion, sharing and dialogue, which is important for the future of UMA and education more widely.”</p><p> In their work, the master's students have sought to link aesthetic, ethical and political values to architectural, urban, social, material and environmental strategies. The result has been everything from prototypes and drawings to interventions in society, which might improve the situation of people seeking refuge in Izmir and Lesvos.<br> <br>An example is the exploration of a student group into what it means to create a home and an identity and the manifestation of such notions as housing strategies addressing integrity, well-being and ownership. The students produced material scale 1:1 prototypes, detailed building components and step-by-step guidelines for major strategies related to municipal plans.<br> <br>Other students addressed issues related to gender and the situation of children by exploring these areas through crafts, education and employment in close discussion with existing NGOs, and through the planning of events and activities aimed to empower displaced people. Further, some students focused on urgent issues like the supply of drinking water, insulation and needs of sanitary solutions through the making of full scale prototypes. <br> <br>“For small organizations with limited resources, such as ours, partnerships with academic institutions are invaluable,” says Shareen Elnaschie from the Office of Displaced Designers. “They provide a unique opportunity for knowledge creation and exchange where all parties can benefit.”</p><p>Sangram Shirke who is also a teacher in Studio 10 now hopes that some of the students’ ideas can eventually be realized.</p><p>“Now we look forward to the students' digital project reports and also to continue our work during the rest of the school year with detailed city, housing and material proposals that will improve the well-being and everyday life of the refugee families living in Izmir and Lesbos, says Sangram Shirke, university lecturer and program director at the School of Architecture at Umeå University.”<br> <br><br></p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">About Studio 10:</h2><p>Making the Difference: Architecture for displaced populations in Greece and Turkey is a studio at master's level at the School of Architecture at Umeå University. Teachers are Robert Mull, Amalia Katopodis and Sangram Shirke. Architect students from Umeå University and Yasar University in Izmir participate in the studio.<br> <br>Collaborators: Prof. Meltem Gürel and the Department of Architecture of Yasar University in Izmir, the WHIT consortium, Anne O’Rorke and Elisabeth Cunningham from the TIAFI Community Center in Izmir, Shareen Elnaschie from the Office of Displaced Designers in Lesvos.</p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/arkitektstudenter-gor-skillnad-for-flyktingar-i-izmir-och-lesvos_9912993/https://www.umu.se/en/news/new-leadership-at-umea-school-of-architecture_8309980/New leadership at Umeå School of ArchitectureA new leadership has been appointed at Umeå School of Architecture at Umeå University. New head of department is Mikael Henningsson, former head of the Department of Psychology. Sara Thor steps in as deputy head of department and Michael Gruber becomes assistant head of department.Wed, 04 Sep 2019 08:00:04 +0200<p>“It will be very exciting to be part of the school's continued development, both in terms of running the popular architectural programme and also over time to introduce more research into the school” says Mikael Henningsson, new head of department at Umeå School of Architecture.</p><p>Mikael Henningsson is 59 years old and born in Vännäs. He trained as a psychologist at Umeå University and worked in psychiatric care for a few years, before returning to the university and a doctorate in 1999. He has subsequently researched and taught, been director of studies for the psychology programme and later head of the Department of Psychology. He is an esteemed teacher, who has been awarded both the student union's and the social sciences faculty's educational prizes.</p><p>Sara Thor becomes deputy head of department. She trained as an architect at Chalmers and La Vilette in Paris. She has previously worked as a practicing architect in a bureau in the UK and has since 2015 taught at Umeå School of Architecture, where she is the course teacher for a design studio in the master's programme.</p><p>Michael Gruber has been appointed assistant head of department. He is 56 years old and originally from Gothenburg. His area of responsibility will be education and he will also receive the role of director of studies. Michael Gruber is a university lecturer in psychology and most recently comes from the Department of Psychology, where he has worked in various roles as educational leader for more than 15 years. In 2016 he was appointed as excellent teacher.</p><p>The management also includes Amalia Katapodis, who was previously appointed by the faculty's education committee to be the programme director for the Architectural programme and the Master's programme in Architecture and Urban Design. She is a practicing architect since 2007 and has been teaching since 2011. For the past four years she has worked as a lecturer at Umeå School of Architecture.</p><p>“I am very pleased that we have got such a competent management in place” says Mikael Elofsson, dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology. “This guarantees that Umeå School of Architecture will continue to develop and the focus is now on building a robust research environment.”</p><p>“The faculty leadership has done an excellent job of finding a new management for Umeå School of Architecture in a short time, says vice chancellor Hans Adolfsson. With a new leadership in place, the work to develop the school but also to strengthen the activities on the Arts campus can continue.</p><p><a title="Read more about Umeå School of Architecture" href="http://www.arch.umu.se">Read more about Umeå School of Architecture</a></p><p><strong>For more information, please contact:</strong></p><p>Mikael Henningsson, head of department, School of Architecture, Umeå University<br>Phone: +46 90 786 57 98<br>Email: mikael.henningsson@umu.se</p><p>Mikael Elofsson, dean, Faculty of Science and Technology, Umeå University<br>Phone: +46 90 786 93 28, +46 70 616 93 28<br>Email: mikael.elofsson@umu.se</p><p><a title="Press photo for download" href="https://mediabank.umu.se/selection/3a6215a8e3399c940923c5aa1dc57794">Press photo for download</a></p><p> </p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/new-leadership-at-umea-school-of-architecture_8309980/https://www.umu.se/en/news/prefekt-och-bitradande-prefekt-pa-arkitekthogskolan-kliver-av_7962227/The head of department and deputy head of Umeå School of Architecture resignTwo out of three in the management of Umeå School of Architecture at Umeå University, the head of department Ana Betancour and deputy head of department Anna Croon, leave their management assignments.Tue, 23 Jul 2019 12:34:47 +0200<p>Ana Betancour and Anna Croon announced on Monday that they were leaving their positions as head of department and deputy dead of department with two months' notice.</p><p>Betancour and Croon state as a reason for the termination of their prefect contracts that they feel that they lack the support from the faculty and university management that they need to be able to lead and develop Umeå School of Architecture.</p><p>In addition to Ana Betancour and Anna Croon, Carl-Johan Vesterlund, programme director for the architectural programme, and Tobias Westerlund, director of studies, have announced that they are leaving their assignments.</p><p>The faculty has initiated the process of identifying people who can fill the vacancies and will act to solve the situation that has arisen in the best possible way. The faculty management has initiated dialogues with university management, the science and technology student union, NTK, and employees at Umeå School of Architecture.</p><p> </p><h2 id="info0" data-magellan-target="info0">About Umeå School of Architecture</h2><p>Umeå School of Architecture is part of Umeå University and is beautifully situated next to Umeälven, a stone's throw from the city centre. The architectural education started in 2009 and currently has about 250 students at the bachelor's and master's level. The school is part of the university's arts campus. The school's goal is to educate future architects who can work for social change, towards a sustainable society, based on an ethical approach to the profession.</p><p><a href="http://www.arch.umu.se">Read more about Umeå School of Architecture </a></p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/prefekt-och-bitradande-prefekt-pa-arkitekthogskolan-kliver-av_7962227/https://www.umu.se/en/news/architecture-students-take-on-community-project_5815318/Architecture students take on community projectA festival in the Norwegian island municipality of Træna kicks off a project on rural and community development for the second-year students at the five-year Architectural Programme in Umeå.Wed, 20 Jun 2018 16:23:57 +0200<p><sup>Træna is a very beautiful place.<br>Photo: Tobias Westerlund</sup></p><p>“We went to Norway to take part in the Træna festival. It contained workshops and lectures raising issues on the survival and development of small communities in the north,” says Tobias Westerlund, lecturer at Umeå School of Architecture at Umeå University.</p><p>Træna municipality consists of 450 islands, islets and rocks in the Norwegian Sea about forty kilometres from mainland Norway. The landscape is dramatic with high mountains rising above the sea. The region has been inhabited since the Stone Age and the people here have always had fishing as their main livelihood.</p><p>The municipality has only 478 inhabitants. Nevertheless, it has still become known for its music festival that attracts up to 2,000 visitors every summer. At present, the municipality works on a plan to develop the society by 2030, together with an aim for a total population of 555 inhabitants, to secure service and employment.</p><p>“The fact that we are a small community means that politicians and politics come closer to the inhabitants. Those who live in Træna also feel they can participate and influence the development,” says Moa Björnsson, head of development in Træna municipality, who gave a talk to the students.</p><p>In Norway, there is a larger number of small municipalities than in Sweden. In Sweden, major municipal reforms were conducted during the 1900s that resulted in merging many small rural municipalities with larger towns. The Norwegian rural politics is also often presented as much more generous than the Swedish one.</p><p>“Many architects focus on cities. However, it is important that our future architects not only focus on cities, but that they also incorporate rural areas. This study trip gives a good opportunity for students to learn more about how architecture and community planning interact, and to learn to see both the individual and societal perspective,” says Tobias Westerlund.</p><figure class="caption imagelefthalf"><figcaption><em>The students Thea Salomonsson and Ella Nyström have strong impressions of the study trip to Norway. Photo: Tobias Westerlund</em></figcaption></figure><p>In addition to participating in the various activities within the framework of the festival, the students were also asked to identify the characteristics of the island of Husøy: What distinguishes the location? What are the buildings and topography like? What activities take place there?</p><p>“Our strongest impression was the affinity of the people living there. The Træna inhabitants that we interviewed also confirmed that the best thing about life in the area was the great social cohesion, together with the nature,” says Thea Salomonsson and Ella Nyström, both students working together on the project.</p><p>Having returned from the trip, the students are now in the process of compiling their surveys. The next step is for the students to propose and design an architectural project on the islands of Træna. The results will be presented to the public at the End of Year Exhibition at the Umeå School of Architecture in early June.</p><p>“When we returned from the trip, we started looking at how to work with the identity of the location. Both of us have an interest in the tourism industry and we see a potential in developing it in a sustainable way. We want to investigate how potential visitors and local inhabitants’ interests could benefit each other,” says Thea Salomonsson.</p><p>The students travelled to Norway between 15 and 19 February.</p><figure class="caption imagefullwidth"><figcaption><em>Second-year students at the Architectural Programme in Umeå. Photo: Tobias Westerlund</em></figcaption></figure><h2 id="info0">About Umeå School of Architecture:</h2><p>Umeå School of Architecture is a part of Umeå University and is beautifully situated alongside the Ume River, a stone’s throw from the city centre. The Architectural Programme started in 2009 and presently has about 250 students at Bachelor’s and Master’s level.</p><p>The School is a part of the Umeå Arts Campus, which also houses the Umeå Academy of Fine Arts, Umeå Institute of Design, HUMlab-X, Bildmuseet contemporary arts museum, Sliperiet cross-disciplinary collaborative and experimental platform, and a library focused on art, design and architecture.</p><p><a class="columnarrow" href="http://www.arch.umu.se/en">http://www.arch.umu.se/en</a></p><h2 id="info1">For more information, please contact:</h2><p>Tobias Westerlund, Umeå School of Architecture, Umeå UniversityPhone: +46 90-786 66 33<br>Email: <a href="mailto:tobias.westerlund@umu.se">tobias.westerlund@umu.se</a></p><p><a class="columnarrow" href="https://mediabank.umu.se/share/b8aab0e1db6261dbe56521d3ed8bd1e0">Press photos for download</a></p><p class="textright">Editor: Ingrid Söderbergh</p>https://www.umu.se/en/news/architecture-students-take-on-community-project_5815318/