NEWS When the new School of Architecture at Umeå University opens in the autumn of 2009, it will be noteworthy of being the fourth of its kind in Sweden. Additionally, it will be quite unique in comparison with the other existing schools.
“That was one of the things that the Swedish Agency of Higher Education thought was interesting when we met with them in June,” says Thomas Olofsson, Director of the School of Architecture.
“Another thing was that it will maintain a unique independent status – as a unit of its own instead of a department - with the Faculty of Science of Technology as host,” explains Thomas Olofsson.
Exactly how independent will be formulated by the management of the university, but the intention has been to give the prospective principal Peter Kjaer significant influence over the focus of activity.
The aspiration for an architecture programme in Umeå is certainly far from new. The first study began in the early 1990s, but construction and real estate crisis in Sweden negatively affected the entire building construction market to the extent of shelving the entire project.
The project came of light with the arrival of a new vice-chancellor at Umeå University. A new investigation under the leadership of Tapio Alakörkkö, head of the Umeå Institute of Design - on the needs of architects and Umeå University's ability to deliver - emboldened the ambitions.
Even if the existing architectural training programmes in Stockholm, Goteborg and Lund were considered good enough for the demands of the metropolitan areas, there still was insufficiency throughout the whole of Sweden. Including the world as a whole, as more than ten percent of the students in Aarhus, Denmark obtained jobs in Central Europe and/or the tiger economies of Asia. And many of the architects who were interviewed were very positive to the profile of the Umeå programme.
A basic idea is to build a close collaboration between the "departments" which will form the new “Arts and Design Campus”; which will include the School of Architecture, Institute of Design, School of Fine Arts, Museum of Contemporary Design and Visual Culture, HUMlab (digital humanities), as well as accommodating a locale for incubation, for supporting start-ups in the field.
“The challenge for us to find a good balance and associate with other activities on the new campus and the three faculties: Science and Technology, Social Sciences and Arts - it is essential to maintain a working collaboration” says Thomas Olofsson.
Basically, there is a wide range of subjects that are included. With a base in architecture and architectural theory, there will be courses in the history of architecture building, community planning, economy, environment, and energy to give a wider perspective on the professional role.
“Being a part of a large and comprehensive university provides tremendous opportunities for us, that others don’t have,” maintains Thomas Olofsson.
The architecture education will have an international focus, with a head figure whose network extends throughout the world. Furthermore, the education will be adapted to the promote mobility in Europe and will be open to international students, with a three-year Undergraduate programme and continuing Master’s programme.
Students will even be provided with a spectacular new view, quite literally. During the first academic year, it will come from a landmark building in central Umeå called Tullkammaren (Customs House), where the basement has been renovated for workshops, and another floor for student areas.
Construction of the new premises beside the School of Fine Arts by the banks of the Umeå River will begin in early 2009. An approximate total of 7000 square metres on three levels (see photo) can perhaps give some indication of the architectural innovation we can expect from the future building.
Editor: Michael Nordvall