A housing development which includes homes ‘floating’ on 7m poles has won the prestigious Swedish Wood Prize, the country’s annual contest for the use of timber in construction.
The Östra Kvanrskogen project comprises 40 timber-framed and clad buildings on the side of a hill in a nature park in Sollentuna. The steep slope means some are split level, and at one end are supported on steel stilts.
The houses were designed by architects Brunnberg & Forshed and built by the site owner Folkehem. They beat off 205 other projects to take the Wood Prize golden horse trophy and SKr100,000 in cash.
The competition judges described the development as “both playful and well thought out”.
“The buildings almost float in the air, so required a light material,” they said. “And their unusual location has given them an intense architectural expression.”
