Urban Development - the Conservative Force in Stockholm

In Sweden, there is a governmental body called "Skönhetsrådet," which roughly translates to "Beauty Advisory Board." This board's function is to give advice whenever a big urban development is proposed. But "advice" is too neutral a word to describe what the board does. It criticizes almost all the new construction plans that would make Stockholm's skyline look different. In other words, no skyscrapers allowed.

Apparently, the board is making an effort to preserve the conservative aesthetic values of the city's neoclassical architectural style prevalent in the 1920s, as well as the functionalist style from the late 30s to the 40s. The purpose is for all new architecture to blend in with the existing ones so that the city has a coherent look. A lofty goal, but one that doesn't really welcome changes in architecture that reflects modern living.

I have always wondered why taller buildings don't exist and aren't being built in Stockholm, even though there is a tremendous housing shortage. I also wonder why there are such vast stretches of forests in between suburbs that are not used for building homes for people, while many are squeezed into tiny spaces (like me and my husband) or move around frequently because they cannot find a permanent home. (See my earlier entry for more details of the housing problem.)

Of course, the preservation of the environment and of aesthetics are commendable efforts. But are the quality of living and human life itself worth less? Why can't there be a better balance?

A letter to a local daily newspaper from a member of the "Architects' Friends" makes a scathing remark on the Beauty Advisory Board's backward looking mentality. It says, "Shall we make Stockholm into an open air museum or do we want to have a dynamic city that believes in the future, diversity and its people?"

Well, sometimes I cannot help but think of myself as an object in a museum. Our building, built in 1939 with cheap materials, is a so-called cultural landmark, a representative of the famed functionalism school ("funkis"). Absolutely no changes to the façade is allowed (well, except for the paint, of course). One winter I and my husband proposed to the landlord to change the windows into three-paned windows because our existing two-paned ones are letting cold air in during the window and it's often unbearably cold indoors, especially when the temperature drops to -20C outside. But we found out later that this was not allowed since the change of windows would affect the look of the building. If we are not objects of a living museum, what else are we?

Preserving beauty and culture is important. But at the same time, a balance should be striked so that the basic needs of people as well as their higher aspirations for modernization and bold expressions are respected.