Olle Sahlqvist

My degree project discusses historic and futuristic developments in the forestry during the renovation of the Skellefeteå campus. I examine the schools neighbouring wood industries to find shadow places within their liner production and by mapping, experimenting and transforming wasted materials, I use new and old methods going as far back as 200 years. With the help of scientific research, the project finds solutions to repurpose sawdust and bark by mimicking the tree’s own biological structure.

By observing the king of the forest, the ant, I followed their example on sustainable architecture and work ethic. This results in an educational space for students to place their discoveries into the trees rings of knowledge, creating a space that builds on each other’s research to inspire new and old solutions with wood.

A material library with a furniture collection inspired by the forest’s own material collection corresponds to the school’s own identity and heritage. Bark walls, mushroom stools and a modular panel system symbolise the values for which the school strives. A learning-by-doing-project where every discovery creates a foundation for the next step.