What is the Policy for Designed Living Environment? 

The Policy for Designed Living Environment (prop. 2017/18:110) ↗ is Sweden’s national policy for architecture and design. It sets goals and ambitions for architecture and design’s role in building Swedish cities, towns and communities. It was published in 2017 and passed the parliament in 2018.

The Policy focuses on how cities and places are shaped and how this influences our daily lives. It encompasses architecture, design, art, and cultural heritage, aiming to support the creation sustainable and beautiful environments for living and working.

According to the policy, Designed Living Environments encompass everything that affects our physical surroundings. The policy advocates building with respect for what already exists in a place, aiming for long-term ecological and social sustainability, and promoting higher quality in our built environments. It also involves using architecture, design, art, and cultural heritage as tools for to develop equal and equitable cities. This work is long-term, requires a holistic view, and the collaboration of many stakeholders.

ArkDes, along with the National Board of Housing and Planning, the National Heritage Board, and the Public Art Agency Sweden, is tasked by the government to promote the development of this policy area. ArkDes serves as a knowledge source and platform to explore, monitor, and disseminate information about the policy and its aims, especially in the fields of architecture and design. The mission includes overseeing and following up on the area across Sweden. Our conclusions are published in an annual report submitted to government every February.

The proposition for the Policy for Designed Living Environment emphasises ArkDes’s role in supporting helping to develop regional and local meeting places for architecture, and design. ArkDes collaborates with all of Sweden’s 21 regions through a national network spanning from Skåne to Norrbotten. This network consists of experts in various fields, such as designers, architects and urban planners and exists to promote the exchange of information and knowledge.

ArkDes also has special funding for practice-based research and development efforts within Designed Living Environments. Through installations, particiatory projects, exhibitions, events, and education, ArkDes collaborates with actors around the country and spreads knowledge about how design and architecture impact society and our shared living environments.

When ArkDes reopens on September 27, 2024, at Skeppsholmen, visitors will experience various aspects of Designed Living Environments through exhibitions, workshops, and debates. In the coming years, ArkDes will present its practice-based research projects and other innovations that impact architecture and design. Visitors will also have the opportunity to participate in debates and events in the field.

ArkDes is a member of the Council for Sustainable Cities, a governmental collaboration to promote vibrant and sustainable cities and communities.

Learn more about this at hållbarstad.se ↗.