NORTHERN LIGHTS: Villa Engström

This article is part of the Northern Lights series,a personal project curated by Biljana Janjušević, which has strong focus on the experience of the spatial manifestation of light in Scandinavian architecture, as well as carefully crafted detailing in wood as a traditional Nordic material. Sustainable aspects of vernacular architecture, being successfully translated in the contemporary architectonics, represent the other focal point of the research. Este artículo es parte de la serie Northern Lights (Luces del Norte), comisariado por Biljana Janjušević, el cual tiene un fuerte enfoque en la experiencia espacial de la luz en la arquitectura escandinava así como un especial cuidado a la artesanía de la madera como material nórdico tradicional. Los aspectos sostenibles de la arquitectura vernácula, trasladados con éxito a la arquitectura contemporánea, representa otro de los puntos claves de esta investigación. Beloved and considered native in two countries, Sweden and native UK, Ralph Erskine is one of the exemplary architects who had enough wisdom to adapt to life circumstances of WWII after being forced to stay in Scandinavia. He used the time on disposal to kick off the remarkable career which granted architectural world with one of the most elaborate studies on Nordic climate building. Considering himself a functionalist architect, the doctrine of Genius loci and requirements of the program, are primary aspects of all the projects he produced. Erskine underlines in his work and discourse the importance of communication with the client. Incorporation of natural factors such as landscape configuration or climatic conditions is inseparable from a functional building. To make ends meet is not an easy task, but Villa Engström in Lisö, south of Stockholm, is a plastic example that it is possible.