New party fights for traditional architecture: 'Gert Wingårdh is the enemy'

A new political party in Sweden, Arkitekturupproret (Architecture Uprising), is championing traditional architectural styles, advocating for buildings with columns and eaves, and opposing modern designs. The party's leader, Nils Freckéus, a practicing architect himself, believes that modern architecture, exemplified by structures like Kulturhuset, detracts from the world's beauty.

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I think he makes the world worse.

Freckéus specifically targets star architect Gert Wingårdh, stating, "I think he makes the world worse." He contrasts this with traditional architecture, which he feels is rooted in human scale and proportion, making it inherently more beautiful. The party's initiative stems from a perceived lack of progress within the digital organization of the same name, which they feel has been too passive.

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A column is actually based on the human measure. We think that what reminds us of ourselves is beautiful.

Arkitekturupproret seeks to translate online support into tangible action, with figures like influencer Katrin Zytomierska and Stockholm personality Björn Tarras-Wahlberg on their ballot. A key campaign point is the opposition to the current Nobel Center proposal at Slussen, a project Freckéus is determined to halt. He emphasizes the need for greater public input, arguing that current developments, such as those in Värtahamnen, are decided by a small group of architects and officials without adequate transparency or public consultation.

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They get nowhere, they have tried for 15 years now. They post pictures on Facebook and then people like it.

Freckéus asserts that the party's platform is informed by over a decade of public sentiment measured by the original digital group. He notes that traditional designs consistently receive positive feedback, unlike modern styles which he claims are often criticized by other architects who adhere to rigid, outdated principles. While acknowledging that traditional architecture involves repetition, Freckéus argues it is a continuously evolving field that builds upon established rules while allowing for gradual changes.

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It must not happen.