Swedish design studio Förstberg Ling completed the Twelve Houses block of homes in Malmo, which is a series of three blocks that have gridded brick facade aesthetics. The homes are made from a structure of CLT, which is known as cross-laminated timber. The ground floor has an entrance hall, garage, kitchen, dining area, and living room -- the upstairs hosts two floors of bedrooms.
The practice explains that "The townhouses are part of a transformation of a larger city block, finding their place between a cluster of turn-of-the-century buildings with decorative brickwork and a modernistic tram depot in concrete. The townhouses fit in the industrial scale of Sorgenfri but are also separate entities, like an avenue of trees with intertwined branches."
Swedish Redbrick Townhomes
Förstberg Ling Designs the Twelve Houses Townhouse Block
Trend Themes
1. Gridded Facade Aesthetics - The trend towards gridded facade aesthetics in residential architecture creates opportunities for innovative materials like cross-laminated timber.
2. Cross-laminated Timber Construction - The use of cross-laminated timber in residential construction continues to be a growing trend as an alternative to traditional building methods.
3. Mixed-use Development - Mixed-use development opportunities in cities provide an opportunity to integrate new residential construction with existing turn-of-the-century buildings and modern architectural design.
Industry Implications
1. Residential Construction - Residential construction stands to benefit from the use of cross-laminated timber and other innovative materials and methods in the design of new housing developments.
2. Architecture - Architects have the opportunity to innovate with new materials and design techniques to create visually appealing, modern homes that complement existing architecture in urban areas.
3. Real Estate Development - Mixed-use real estate developers have an opportunity to integrate new residential construction into existing urban fabrics and create new, innovative spaces that blend different architectural styles and eras.