Conservation and creative transformation in Aarhus

Kjellander Sjöberg’s Johan Pitura was one of the invited speakers at the ‘Conservation and Creative Transformation’ conference in Aarhus on 18th March 2025.

The need for expertise regarding conservation and transformation is one of the most crucial topics for the construction industry right now. For several years, the organisation Building Green has held conferences on sustainable development – which have become key places to meet up, discuss challenges, and learn from each other.

This time, the aim was to get a solid understanding of why and when adaptive reuse makes sense, and how transformation can contribute to social regeneration. The conference will offer inspiration for repurposing old buildings while ensuring both quality and financial viability.

The construction industry is in a period of substantial change, where the existing building stock plays a central role in the necessary shift. We can no longer afford to demolish buildings and replace them every time they don’t meet our requirements or needs.

Instead, we must focus on making the most of the square footage we already have. This requires us to get better at investigating and realising the opportunities and potential within existing buildings, and at finding creative solutions to adapt them for future needs.

Conservation, renovation, revitalisation, and reuse are strategies that can breathe new life into existing buildings.

Swedish Architects Declare Climate & Biodiversity Emergency

Kjellander Sjöberg, as part of the Architects Declare initiative, will host the first networking event in 2025 in Malmö. On Tuesday, 4th March from 12-1 pm, the new series of monthly lunch meetings will kick off. These sessions, held simultaneously in Malmö, Stockholm and Göteborg, will take place every first Tuesday of each month for all participant of Architects Declare to discuss the 12 commitments of call to action, two points at a time.

Architects Declare is a network of architectural practices committed to addressing the climate and biodiversity emergency. The initiative was launched in the UK in the spring of 2019 and has now spread to more than 28 countries around the world. Swedish Architects Declare has been signed by over 300 Swedish architectural practices.

Shop Talk 12: Roles in sustainable urban development

Transition and systemic change – what does it mean for the industry?

The urban development sector is undergoing a transformation and is on the verge of a systemic shift. A likely scenario is that the amount of new construction will decrease dramatically, with a renewed focus on the existing built environment, on the transformation and maintenance of what already exists, ranging from neighbourhoods to urban blocks, buildings, and interior adaptations. At the same time, we must meet societal needs for versatile spaces – for community, care, education, work, production, leisure, health, services, and homes.

What does this transition mean for us? How will our professional roles as urban planners, architects, engineers, developers, contractors, and administrators change? How will it affect work processes, skills, continuing education, and business models? What new roles are needed?

This Shop Talk is part of an ongoing discussion series about the transition towards a circular and sustainable society.

Guests:
Patrik Lundberg, Skanska Fastigheter
Jesper Wallgren, Finch
Carin Daal, Stena Fastigheter
Sofia Lagerblad, Stena Fastigheter
Andreas Eggertsen, Malmö City Council
Kristoffer Nilsson, Malmö City Council
Johan Holmqvist, IVL Swedish Environmental Institute
Erik Larssen, Stadsverkstad

Time and place:
5 December 2024, 8:00 – 9:00
Engelbrektsgatan 7
211 33 Malmö

Symposium: When work creates a city!

Kjellander Sjöberg has been invited to take part in a symposium on transformation of industrial areas, taking place at the end of the 25th anniversary of the Industrial Heritage Trail from November 6th to 8th, 2024 in the former salt warehouse of the Hansa coking plant in Dortmund, Ruhr Region of Germany.

KS Malmö Director Johan Pitura will give a keynote on reimagining of industrial heritage, presenting transformation of Gjuteriet for Varvsstaden, and join a panel discussion with invited international experts from Germany, Netherlands and Italy.

The symposium is a cooperation event between the Regional Association Ruhr (RVR), Baukultur NRW, the Foundation for the Preservation of Industrial Monuments and Historical Culture and the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH). It is supported by the Ministry of Regional Identity, Local Government, Building and Digitalization of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Time and place:
6th – 8th November 2024
Hansa coking plant
Emscherallee 11
44369 Dortmund (Germany)

Architecture Matters Pittsburgh & New York

Kjellander Sjöberg joining a delegation trip to the USA from October 7-11, offering public workshops and panel discussions with leading experts from Sweden and the USA to explore how architecture and urban design can enhance experiences, promote well-being, and contribute to the green transition. The discussions will also delve into the potential of sustainable timber construction and showcase successful built examples from Sweden.

The trip, titled “Architecture Matters,” is organized by the STHLMNYC platforming collaboration with the Swedish Institute, Architects Sweden, in conjunction with the Architecture Week in Pittsburgh and Archtober, New York City’s annual architecture and design festival.

In Pittsburgh, the focus will be on “challenges beyond design,” exploring how architecture can drive meaningful change. In New York, the discussions will center around how architecture can help push boundaries and drive innovation forward. There will also be a focus on wood as a renewable material and explore its potential as a design asset.

KS at Building Green Hamburg

ACT NOW! Everyone is talking about the urgent need for a change, to reorganise the building sector. There is no time to lose. We are facing an acute climate crisis for which the construction industry bears a large part of the responsibility. We have the solutions and the knowledge of what needs to be done, but how do we get from talking to doing?

Featuring the revitalisation of Kockum’s formerly industrial area in Malmö and the example of Gjuteriet, Stefan Sjöberg will present the process of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through minimising resource consumption and impact on the climate caused by urban transformation and construction processes. How focusing on sustainable strategies and common goals early in the process is essential for the necessary transition as well as for the built result – architecture. The lecture, titled: Reimagning industrial heritage, will take place on 19 June at 11:15 on the main stage.

Time and place:
19 – 20 June 2024
Fischauktionshalle
Große Elbstraße 9
Hamburg

Think Tank 025: Envisioning better communities

What does the best of urban design and the future of towns & cities mean to us?

Scandinavian urban practice is currently at a high – flourishing both at home and abroad. Recent years have seen a hype around the development of our Nordic cities in relation to urban design, masterplanning, neighbourhood communities, the public good and sustainability. With an increasing demand for this way of thinking more widely – what is it about this approach to urbanism that is growing in influence and gaining international recognition?

We welcome some of the leaders in urban thinking and practice who are driving innovative approaches to the nature and quality of urban places, regenerating our built environments today and visioning the cities of the future. We are happy to host a panel with a broad perspective, bringing together Swedish and international experience.

Think Tank 024: Rosengård – a neighbourhood for all

Local initiatives, communities, learning and culture

This edition of the KS Think Tank is a part of the Malmö in the Making initiative taking place during September 2023.

How do we make a neighbourhood for everyone? Focusing on the Rosengård district in Malmö, welcome to an open conversation about opportunities for local initiatives, better communities, learning, culture and entrepreneurship.

What obstacles are there in the physical environment that prevent kickstarting initiatives which bring people closer together and strengthen the local community, intensifying activities in shared meeting places? Where all ages are welcome and can find their place? Where children and young people feel seen and can contribute to their environment. How can we create places and opportunities for local entrepreneurship, small industries and workplaces? How can learning be accessible for all and evolve over time?

Which environment do we want and need?

Panel Guests:
Aisha Mossberg (Goto 10)
Laura Kieler (BRIQ)
Jenny Berg Nilson (Fryshuset)
Carin Daal (Stena Fastigheter)
Halimo Nuur Bashir (Rosengårds Folkets Hus)
Marcus Horning (Malmö City)

Time and place:
28th September – 5:00 pm
Design Built pavilion
Bennets väg 13
213 67 Malmö