A project aimed to create a physical, public space dedicated to free speech and freedom of expression.
Project Agora - A place where people can meet, discuss and debate like a library filled with people instead of books.
The project aimed to create a physical, public space dedicated to free speech and freedom of expression. A place where people can meet, discuss and debate like a library filled with people instead of books. With free speech and freedom of expression as starting points, it was a matter, of course, to connect the design of the building to the origin of the subject, ancient Greece. Specifically, Athens and its Agora (similar to the Roman Forum), where people met, discussed, taught and debated. A place where knowledge changed hands and ideas about freedom of expression and democracy arose. With this in mind, the project started by translating the archetype of a public, free-standing building, the Greek temple, into a modern wooden building.
“The starting point is always the surroundings and the narrative. What story is the site telling, and how does the new story fit into that existing narrative.”
The location for project is centrally located in Gothenburg at Bältesspännarparken—a central location with connections to culture, commerce and recreation. The new building also fills the space currently opposite the Great Theatre. The material wood was evident given the current situation and can also be seen as a connection to the Greek temple whose origins are found in wood. The early archaic temples were built in wood, and Vitruvius believes that the classical orders (columns, cornices, friezes, etc.) further interpret the wooden construction used in these particular temples.
The starting point is always the surroundings and the narrative. What story is the site telling, and how does the new story fit into that existing narrative. The architecture itself should blend well with the existing while still adding something new and interesting. A solid, robust architecture that ages well, with beautiful and well designed details. Regarding sustainability, the most sustainable building is the one that is never demolished, which the previously mentioned starting points create the conditions for, regardless of the material.
It starts with an idea and thorough reading of the subject to create a solid foundation to build on. It can be about theory around different subjects, history, modern and historical references, constructions, etc. During this period I usually get different ideas which I usually test by hand before I decide on something to move forward with a track.
As an architect, SketchUp is an incredibly valuable tool for fast and efficient modeling during the early stages of a project. The program's sketching capabilities are highly effective and allow for easy visualization of design concepts. Its intuitive interface and similarity to using a pen make it a favorite among architects. The push-pull feature is a commonly used tool that architects appreciate for its simplicity and effectiveness. Looking towards the future, architects would love to see additional features added, such as vector push-pull and curviloft, that would further enhance their design capabilities in SketchUp.
As advice for new architect students looking to work more efficiently with SketchUp, I recommend the following tips: Although hindsight can often provide valuable lessons, SketchUp is a relatively easy program to learn over time. It's important to group your work frequently, use components intelligently, and explore all available functions to avoid unnecessary work. Additionally, consider using plugins to supplement any missing functionality.
I started working in SketchUp early in my first years of study at Chalmers University.
It was easy and smooth. It is possible to quickly sketch and visualize in the program with rendering software as a supplement.
Relatively early. As soon as something is challenging to visualize quickly on paper, I usually model it.
In addition to SketchUp, I also use Rhino for 3D modeling. Because in some cases it is more precise and adapted for more advanced geometries.
Sketchup, Autocad, Rhino, Twinmotion, Photoshop, Illustrator and most importantly, pen and paper.
At the moment it's just Sketchup.
I have used various insights for more advanced modeling in several work-related projects. Ex Curviloft, Soapskin, joint push-pull and upright extruder.
This was a master's thesis in architecture by Mathias Kidron, a former student at Chalmers University received the Carl Larsson scholarship in 2022.
