Alexander Mihel – Scholarship recipient, Young Swedish Design 2026
Scholarship: Swedish Wood
Study trip for scholarship recipients to Swedish forests.
Example value – a low-key transformation with a focus on the future
The renovation was carried out using local materials and traditional craftsmanship, with a long-term vision of combining regenerative agriculture and construction in response to today's sustainability challenges. The project is based on a site-specific methodology, with both the historical character of the building and the qualities of the landscape shaping the design.
Exemplary value. The project serves as a clear example of how simple, well-thought-out interventions can extend the life of older buildings while enhancing their usability. By reusing the roof, frame, and interior materials, the need for new resources has been minimized, and the room's new function still bears traces of its origins. The barn shows how tradition and modernity can be combined in a low-key and site-specific architecture and how small-scale transformations can pave the way for more regenerative and locally rooted construction.
A historical and landscape analysis mapped local resources such as cobblestones, timber, and clay used in the renovation. The clay was applied to floors and walls and complemented with traditional techniques such as exposed woodwork and handcrafted iron details. The walls were built in lightweight concrete and plastered with lime to create a living surface layer. The roof was preserved and insulated from the outside. A new wood-burning stove stands centrally in the room, inspired by the house's old baking oven. A previously blocked window facing the field has been reopened, and an outdoor kitchen outside reinforces the connection between inside and outside.