August Orsvall Håkansson
– Narratives and expressions from the final days of a building
Located at Södra Hamnvägen 40 in Värtahamnen, there is a yellow brick building from 1962 that has reached the end of its life cycle. Situated in the area of a major urban planning project, the building has been approved for demolition. Left abandoned for several years, it has become a decaying architectural wreck, fenced off from the surrounding area. Wooden boards have been used to cover the windows to prevent trespassing and vandalism, while large stones block the entrances like guardians of the building. Frost damage has caused the bricks on the facade to collapse.
The building is scheduled for demolition in the spring of 2023.
In my degree project, I explore the state of this building and the transformative processes of its decay. What relevant aesthetic approaches and design ideas can be absorbed from this architectural condition? How can the concept of decay serve as a starting point for design? Can the contemplation of transience and decay early in the design process be a source for innovation?