Sweden Democrats push traditional house design, clash over complexity

The Sweden Democrats (SD) are championing a vision for standardized housing, proposing a "Sverigehus" – a red wooden house with white trim, symbolizing "security and tradition." This concept draws inspiration from the "Arkitekturupproret" (Architecture Uprising) movement, which opposes what it terms "modernist concrete boxes" in urban landscapes. The party's rural affairs spokesperson, Mattias Karlsson, stated that Tradition Arkitektur, a firm closely associated with the Arkitekturupproret, developed their model house.

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If you talk about the Swedish dream or the Swedish idyll, then it's houses that resemble what we have taken as occurring in those dreams – not this modern stuff.

SD's 2022 election promise included a building-permit-exempt model house that could be placed anywhere in the country. This idea was eventually incorporated into the Tidö Agreement. However, the party expresses significant dissatisfaction with the current proposal. "If you talk about the Swedish dream or the Swedish idyll, then it's houses that resemble what we have taken as occurring in those dreams – not this modern stuff," said party leader Jimmie Åkesson. Karlsson feels the final product has been "reduced," lamenting that while they initially prioritized traditional Swedish aesthetics, the project's continuation has been criticized for abandoning this focus in favor of broader choices.

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We wanted traditional Swedish aesthetics and architecture primarily. Then one can think that there must be a certain room for choice, different aesthetics and taste. But that one completely scrapped it in the continuation of the project, we have been critical of.

Beyond aesthetics, the Sweden Democrats find the proposal by Boverket (the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning) overly complicated. Despite the 120-square-meter "Carlson villa" being proposed for construction without a building permit, an initial pre-approval process is still required. SD advocates for a much simpler procedure, with Karlsson stating, "We need to rethink the entire issue."

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We need to rethink the entire issue.

Meanwhile, architect Gert Wingårdh, often a target of the Arkitekturupproret, has praised the concept of type-approved villas that can be built anywhere without a permit. At a recent Boverket hearing, Wingårdh commented, "We are constantly in discussions about design, colors, which way the roof should slope, which actually feels completely meaningless. It's just taste, in my opinion. So therefore, I think it's incredibly good that we are simplifying things in society." He believes this will diversify the housing market, cater to new customer groups, and speed up the process for many families, similar to the positive reception of the Attefallshus, which allows for 30-square-meter houses without a building permit since 2014.

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We are constantly in discussions about design, colors, which way the roof should slope, which actually feels completely meaningless. It's just taste, in my opinion. So therefore, I think it's incredibly good that we are simplifying things in society.