ArkDes expands on SVT’s major new series “How Sweden Was Built”

In autumn 2025, SVT makes a major investment in architecture and urban design with the series How Sweden Was Built In eight episodes starting 30 October, Gert Wingårdh, Mark Isitt and Petra Mede, together with a range of experts, explore themes including the big city, the suburb, the industrial settlement, and the residential street.

ArkDes has supported the editorial team of How Sweden Was Built ↗ (Så byggdes Sverige) in their archival research, and a wealth of material from the ArkDes collection will appear in the series.

Starting 30 October, we delve deeper into the themes of the series at the museum on Skeppsholmen through Unboxing, where original objects from the collection featured in the series will be on display. In November, we also invite visitors to two themed tours focusing on The Industrial Settlement and The Countryside.

Keep an eye out for the competition for upper secondary students announced by ArkDes and SVT, inspired by the series. Educational materials are available at arkdes.se, and the competition opens on 30 October alongside the first episode. Learn more here: Link

Unboxing: Themes from How Sweden Was Built

The Residential Street: 30 October – 1 November
The City: 6 November – 8 November
The Industrial Settlement: 13 November – 15 November
The Countryside: 20 November – 22 November
The Dream Apartment: 27 November – 29 November
The Suburb: 4 December – 6 December
The Centre: 11 December – 13 December

Note: The final Unboxing of the season will take place on 13 December. The last episode of the series, The Village (airing 18 December), will therefore not be reflected in ArkDes Unboxing.