The Swedes are Coming! The Swedes are Coming! — Yes, in Cozy Tailor-Made, Eco-Friendly, Energy Saving, Prefabricated Homes!

It’s not the first time, Swedes have invigorated the American landscape with their eco-innovative architecture. Back in 1638, the Swedish colony of ‘New Sweden’ was established along the banks of the Delaware River that ran alongside the contiguous states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Although the number of first settlers was small in size, the territory in their possession limited, and their political ties to Sweden soon severed by northern wars in Europe and the capture of Fort Christina at Wilmington by the Dutch – the influence of their colonial footprints in America can still be seen in their native ‘Swedish Log Cabin’ architecture – made famous two centuries later by Abraham Lincoln’s presidential campaign bid in 1860 that he was born in a “log cabin” in Kentucky – a fact I can historically trace back to his New Jersey ‘Bowne’ ancestors thru their 17th century movements in south central New Jersey. For President Abraham Lincoln is in actuality, my 5th cousin.

But that was then. Today the Swedes are making their presence known with ‘prefabricated homes’ – easy-to-ship-and-assemble residential building parts manufactured off-site – that once again draw upon their creative skill for using environmentally sustainable materials in making practical eco-functioning homes with a touch of Scandinavian serenity. Classic examples include: 1) Willa Nordic’s “Eco House”, constructed of raw wood, built-in pergolas, and herbaceous plant growth; 2) Kjellgren Kaminsky Architecture’s “Villa Nyberg”, a timbered circular home, tightly insulated with a half circle second floor, central atrium, and a solar hot water heater on the roof; 3) Pinc House’s “Sport Home”, a modern version of a classic sports cabin or wooded bungalow complete with outside deck and grill area, panoramic windows and a spacious open interior; 4) Arkitekthus’s “Plus House”, a modern-day takeoff of a traditional Swedish barn constructed with native woods, glazed gables, windows, and walls, designed by the popular Swedish architects, Claesson, Koivisto, Rune, the inventors behind the stylish prefab folded roof house on Musko Island ; and 5) Rorvikshus’s gallery of pre-designed theme homes reflective of the historical provinces of Sweden itself – i.e. Gotland, Dalarna and Smaland. My personal favorite is that of the SASA Collection by Thomas Sandell, one of Sweden’s greats – a world famous architect, landscape designer, and furniture designer who interprets the celebrated “Swedish holiday cottage” in a more contemporary way by infusing his modern small prefab homes with the site’s topography thereby minimizing land footprints.

But perhaps the most interesting development is the entrée of IKEA, (a Swedish-based international retailer and adopted American icon of ready-to-assemble furniture and Scandinavian housewares) – into the housing market. Created in the mid-1990s, ‘BoKlok’ (Swedish for ‘Live Smart’), is now being launched for the first time in Germany later this summer – – updated eco-friendly modernist prefab developments that have grown globally from its initial debut in Sweden – then Norway, Finland, Denmark, and the UK. This rapid growth is due in part to technological advances like ‘SIP Panels’, (Structural Insulation Panels) that are precut and can be locked together. But there is more to all this than meets the eye – more than just making a profit – more than just conserving energy or pampering the planet.

The Swedes, I would argue, are a country of people imbued with a strong sense of moral conscience who have taken our American sense of ‘right to liberties and freedom’ to a higher level – the right that everyone should have adequate housing for their health and well-being. You can even see their sense of fairness in their handmade chocolate balls and Swedish coffee bread. Yes that’s right – according to Sweden’s leading chocolate expert, Jan Hedh, a beloved baker and confectioner, and world renown author of two beautiful cookbooks, “Artisan Bread” and “Swedish Breads and Pastries” – – “Freshly baked bread for breakfast, lunch, and dinner ought to be a basic human right!” And for most Swedes, prefabricated homes is indeed a ‘way of life’ – comprising 70% of the single-family housing market in Sweden – a fact greatly shaped by their short summer construction season and severe winters which in turn has induced economies of scale for mass production of highly energy-efficient housing.

And so here I am, quietly waiting and pining in the USA for my very own Swedish prefabricated home – an organic structure combined with a more eco-luxurious touch – a masterpiece of ‘ecological and poetic architecture’ – an upgrade of the ‘Swedish Log Cabin’ if you will – more along the lines of Gert Wingardh’s “Mill House”, another Swedish eco-architectural gem – only it’s a small spa retreat complete with ritual bathing and sauna features and an adjacent pool. A girl can dream, can’t she?