NORDISK ARKITEKTURFORSKNING 1996:1

Award-winning Industrial

by Magnus Rönn

This article presents industrial building projects which have won architectural awards. The point of the article is twofold: to reflect upon the concept of architectural quality and to discuss a few notions about design work with industrial projects. Magnus Ronn Architecture and at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden

Theme WORKSPACE DESIGN I use the term "industrial architecture" to mean buildings with space for production of goods HAT IS THE CONNECTION between and services. The empirical basis of the article architectural awards and the buil• comprises fifteen industrial building projects Wdings that win them? I assume that in western and southern Sweden from the prize-winning industrial building projects period 1979—1992 upon which were conferred represent ' notions of desirable architecture awards. Central to the analysis of attributes. A jury comprises established repre• these projects is the concept of architectural sentatives of the architectural profession. In the quality. field of architecture, knowledge is traditionally This study entails questions of judgment and developed and transferred through the use of design evaluation. What artistic values are examples and prototypes. The ability to distin• assigned to award-winning industrial building guish good examples is regarded as a sign of projects? How is the concept of architectural educated judgment. That is why this article quality used? To what extent can the value focuses upon industrial building projects which judgments in a jury's decision be tested against experienced architects refer to as good examples measurable properties? Other critical aspects or model cases, or which they consider successful include the effects of architectural awards on the solutions to design problems. mass media and the profession s use of awards to

37 expand its territory. The establishment of awards repertoire of personal experiences and arche• can be seen as one way for architects to strengthen typal cases — a practical body of knowledge their position in the market in order to increase based upon prototypes and themes. According the amount of work for the profession. to Schon, the contribution of architectural Competitions and awards "sell" Architecture by research should be to provide the professions' enveloping it in a glow of exclusivity. practitioners with useful concepts, theories and The review of award-winning industrial ar• methods. This implies that research in archi• chitecture has a direct connection to the deve• tecture should concern itself with building a lopment of knowledge in the field of archi• repertoire, with the collection, description, and tecture. References to typical cases and good analysis of archetypal cases to help architects examples demonstrates a kind of practical think reflectively during the entire design pro• professional competency. The development of cess — from idea to construcrion to manage• knowledge is predicated on one's ability to for• ment. mulate credible judgments about a building's characteristics. This holds true despite the fact Evaluating industrial architecture that our notions of what is — and what should The architectural quality of industrial buildings be - the mark of competency in architecture can be evaluated from two fundamentally diffe• change over time. The need for infallible know• rent perspectives. A study can be either descrip• ledge therefore raises questions about what tive or prescriptive (Rolf, 1993). Quality evalua• distinguishes good architecture, what the cri• tion thus corresponds to attempts to formulate teria are for "successful schemes", and how design judgments about existing industrial judgments should be made. If architects are to buildings. Quality enhancement focuses on the provide a reasonable degree of credibility, we design process and its possibilities. The diffe• must base our knowledge on phenomena which rence is that quality evaluation results in can be verified from those buildings which judgments which are based upon actions of the have won awards. past, whereas quality enhancement looks to the Jerker Lundquist maintains that the architec• future. The long-range goal can in both cases be tural profession's customs develop through the the creation of industrial architecture of high distinction of prototypes and good examples quality, and quality enhancement measures (Lundquist, 1992). This is one reason why a should of course be based upon experiences study of award-winning industrial buildings from quality evaluations. They are, nonetheless, ought to be able to contribute to the develop• rwo completely different ways of understanding ment of the profession. The competency of and appreciating industrial architecture. architects is constituted through illuminating This discussion reveals the importance of examples - archetypal cases - in which an differentiating between evaluations of archi• underlying rule principle is articulated through tectural quality which are done before comple• practical application. However, since the prin• tion of a project and those which are done after. ciple in question may in fact be the product — A preliminary analysis attempts to show the rather than the source - of the design, the conceivable consequences and probable effects archetypal case itself (and not the principle) is of certain of the building's characteristics. This of primary importance. type of testing can be applied to models of Donald Schon asserts that practical compe• industrial buildings, the evaluation based upon tency consists of the ability to employ a drawings and descriptions of the project. By repertoire of examples in one's reflections upon contrast, the analysis of a completed building an issue (Schon, 1983). When architects are deals with perceptions of the results of de facto confronted by new problems, we rely on a design decisions.

38 MAGNUS RÖNN The distinction between prospective and Architectural awards may be seen as an attempt retrospective studies corresponds to a distinc• at positive reinforcement of the building tion between two different approaches to the through the distinction of architectural concept of architectural quality. A prospective prototypes. evaluation results in programs, plans, specifi• The search for acclaimed industrial building cations, statements of policy and a basis for projects involved the review and analysis of decision making. The retrospective analysis four different architectural awards: of a built environment results in a statement 1) The Kasper Salin Awardv/as established in about the project's qualities, in empirically 1962 and is given out by SAR. The award has a based conceptions of goal attainment, appro• high status in the architectural profession. The priateness, effectiveness, rationality, and aesthe• distinction is conferred upon "a Swedish buil• tic experiences or values. This particular study ding or group of buildings of high architectural of award-winning industrial building projects class." According to its charter, the award is a contains retrospective evaluations. A subsidiary way for SAR to defend "man's right to a good goal of the research has been to review quality environment by promoting good architecture evaluations made by established representatives and good urban planning and by asserting the of the architectural profession. importance of the work of competent archi• tects." The jury comprises four SAR members Architectural awards chosen by the organization's chairman. The and winning industrial building projects award includes a citation in the form of a This study began with a delineation of architec• plaque which is mounted on the awarded buil• tural awards in Sweden, an inventory of both ding. [Examples of winning industrial buildings national and local awards. The point was to are: the Central Tram Storage and Maintenance make available a broad pool of award-winning Facility in Gothenburg by ABAKO Arkitekt- projects from which to choose. The method of kontor, recipient of the 1985 award, and analysis used was based on an empirical ap• laboratory buildings for Astra Hassle in Môln- proach, utilizing project documents (drawings dal (a suburb of Gothenburg) by Gert Win- and descriptions), visits to the objects, and the gârdh, which won the Kasper Salin Award in value judgments found in the comments of I993-] juries. I have focused on the practical use ofthe 2) The Fine Building in Gothenburg Award concept of architectural quality. has been granted since its establishment in 1965 The inventory began with a review of natio• as a donation to the city of Gothenburg from nal and regional distinctions awarded under Per and Alma Olsson. Of the funds donated, a the auspices of SAR, the National Association minimum of 2000 SEK ($325) goes to the of Swedish Architects. The search continued individual or building committee which during with a delineation of local awards independent the previous year commissioned one or more of SAR. A written survey revealed that ten out buildings which best satisfy aesthetic, hygienic, of eighteen randomly chosen communities and practical criteria. According to its charter, awarded architectural prizes. The majority of the award is to be endowed by "a committee of these local citations had been established five members with artistic sensibility". In 1992, during the 1980s and '90s. The result suggests the committee was made up of members ofthe a newly awakened interest among community Technical Society and ofthe Building Authority, governments for rewarding quality in construc• a local government leader, and the Director of tion and architecture. One explanation for the Museums in Gothenburg. The award includes, recent establishment of awards lies in the in addition to a bronze plaque to be mounted criticism of building during the 1960s and '70s. on the building, 5000 SEK ($800) toward

AWARD-WINNING INDUSTRIAL ARCHITECTURE 39 • DD ^ f-ülMJ-LUÜl- pjp|n DDp^rjpp^g—Lill Ul • IDE

Offices and Workshop, 1989 Honorable Mention, Award for Appealing Industrial Exterior decoration or equipment for the building. 4) TheAwardforAppealingIndustrialExterior [Examples of industrial buildings which have was established in 1986 by the local government won the award are: a truck for Volvo by in Mölndal in order to "stimulate interest in AKOS Arkitektkontor, the 1979 winner; the taking greater care with the urban environment Central Postal Terminal addition by White in the planning and " of places of Arkitekter, awarded honorable mention in 1988; work. A working committee from the govern• a fire station in Garda (a neighborhood in ment administration was assigned the task of Gothenburg) by FFNS Arkitekter, honorable selecting a winner from among projects nomi• mention recipient in 1989; and Röda Bolagets nated by the City , the Director of workshop and administrative facilities by Culture, and the Secretary of Business. Their Arkitektlaget, a 1991 honorable mention selec• goal is to reward each year workplaces which tion.] through "an appealing exterior contribute to a 3) The Fine Building in Malmö Award was more pleasant atmosphere in the community". founded in 1982, the charter prescribed by the [Industrial buildings which have won first prize community government there. The distinction are: in 1987, an office and production facility may be awarded for new construction as well as for Antonsson Maskin AB by Kroon Bygg- renovation or remodeling of existing buildings. konsult; a building for ERA-produkter by Lyxell It may be bestowed for entire residential Arkirekt & Byggkonsult in 1990; and a printing developments and elements such works facility for Akribi Print by Erseus, as facade treatments, exterior lighting designs, Frenning & Sjögren won the award in 1992. color schemes, or designs for outdoor spaces. Several industrial projects have won honorable The award is presented by a committee of eight mention: an office and service facility for ASEA- which is elected for a three year term. This Skandia by Arkitekthuset Klippan won in 1987; committee comprises members of the local a pharmaceuticals production building for Lej us government chosen by its administration, the by Skånska Arkitekter in 1988; some offices and Building Authority, City Planning Depart• a workshop for Kålleredsbussar by Projekt• ment, and Properties Management Depart• planering Arkitektgrupp won in 1989; an office ment. In addition, the Malmö Builders' Union and warehouse for Åby Elektriska by Löfqvist and the Union of Architects in Southern Sweden och Lundh Arkitekter in 1990; and a package are represented. The award consists of a copper freight terminal by Ellsinger Arkitekter won plaque and a diploma. [Some examples of honorable mention in 1992.] winning industrial buildings are: the District Heat Production Plant in Limhamn by Samu• Jury Statements elsson Arkitekter, winner in 1985, and the Canon The continuing discussion of the concept of Building in Malmö by Thurfjell Arkitektkon• architectural quality is based upon the state• tor, which was endowed with the 1987 award.] ments of juries. In these documents, the jury

40 MAGNUS RÖNN Fire Station, Gothenburg 1989 Honorable Mention, Fine Building in Gothenburg.

members characterize the winning projects. laboratory buildings are short, thick, and Their statements vary widely in format, con• chubby. This impression is strengthened by tent, and scope. the pronounced chimneys which emerge from the center of each building's roof. The effect is 1) Central Tram Storage and Maintenance Facil• countered by a number of elements - the ity, Gothenburg broadly glazed facades, refined use of sheet ABAKO Arkitektkontor metal, sunscreens which recall airplane wings, 1985 Kasper Salin Award: and bowed roofs — which create a surprising The Central Tram Facility is a work environ• vigor and lightness and a thoroughly original, ment with strong identiuy which also prov• slightly anarchistic character. The new work ides the unusual combination of care for the environment is rationally planned with a user with humor and charm. A skillfully superior influx of daylight. The ventilation executed concurrence of artistic embellish• system, unique among laboratories, affords ment and building form enriches the work• large, open work areas and the possibility of shops, offices, and employee space of the quickly responding to changing work interior as well as the beautifully designed demands. The choice of materials is often and richly detailed exterior. suitably simple in work spaces, becoming more sophisticated and expressive in com• 2) Laboratory Buildings for Astra Hâssle, Môln- mon areas. Astra Hassle demonstrates that the dal architecture of the modern industry can be Gert Wingârdh full of character, infused with high-tech preci• 1993 Kasper Salin Award: sion and personal artistry. The first phases of a long-range expansion are 3) Limhamn District Heat Production Plant, now completed. In an older factory area, the Limhamn architects have exploited opportunities for Samuelsson Arkitekter creating a facility which functions well during 1985 Fine Building In Malmö Award: all phases of development by extensively increa• sing the density of the area: old and new Limhamn's industrial quarter is dominated buildings interlace like fingers with one an• by a large cement factory. The facility today is other. Anew, generous circulation axis covering used for repair and distribution, but no longer several levels makes for short, effective con• for production. Here the Malmö Department nections between the various research units, of Energy has built a coal-fired central heat laboratories, offices and employee dining hall. production plant. A hot water plant basically The general disposition demonstrates an consists of a technical works housed in a unusual method of dramatically increasing climate shell. Combustion plants are universal• the quality of a previously mediocre area. The ly considered environmental polluters. This

AWARD-WINNING INDUSTRIAL ARCHITECTURE 41 Package Freight Terminal, Molndal. 19992 Honorable Mention, Award for Appealing Industrial Exterior

image is reinforced by the often meager east Malmö is a delightful departure from architecture of these facilities and by the this pattern. The design of this environment dusty coal heaps that surround them. By is based on a comprehensive idea which has contrast, Limhamn chose to invest in aesthe• found expression in both the building and tics with a consciously designed hot water the landscaping. The primary impression plant; as a result, instead of burdening its given is open, friendly and playful, all the surroundings, the facility has become a while reflecting the company's technological positive addition to the urban scene. In nature. The interior is also characterized by addition, disturbances to the surrounding lighr and openness. The Canon facility is area have been minimized by to a great extent proof that even industrial areas can gain an enclosing the handling of the coal. The work exciting urban image if companies explore environment is also well provided for. The the possibilities for architectural expression Disrrict Heat Production Plant marks the in their buildings. The Committee has there• birth of a new generation in the area. Its fore resolved to bestow upon the Canon unique and distinctive form are the product Building the 1987 Urban Design Award for of an untraditional conception of the its valuable addition to the urban environ• facility's role in the city. Form and function ment in Malmö. are combined in an exemplary synthesis. The 5) Volvo Truck Plant, Hisingen facility demonstrates that even this kind of AKOS Arkitektkontor building can be appealing and intriguing. 1979 Fine Building in Gothenburg Award: The Committee has therefore resolved to bestow upon the Limhamn District Heat Volvo Truck Plant was built for the efficient Production Plant the 1985 Urban Design Award inventory and distribution of truck parts. for its valuable addition to the urban environ• Its form and location are quite consistent ment in Malmö. to that purpose. The care and considera• tion taken for the work environment is 4) Canon Building, Malmö apparent in, for example, the indoor winter Thurfjell Arkitektkontor garden, the employee facilities, and the 1987 Fine Building In Malmö Award: health care department. The rooms are Areas devoted entirely to workplaces at the spacious and afford good contact with the periphery of our cities are often fettered with natural beauty of the surrounding Hising a monotonous character. The possibilities Island. Amid the green landscape, the white for forming the buildings in such a way as to metal building appears light, almost ethe• make a positive visual impression on visitors real, despite its enormous size. In the Volvo and passers by generally have been poorly Truck Plant, the requirements of an effec• exploited. Canon AB s new office and service tive work environment have been met skill• building in the Stenkällan industrial area of fully.

42 MAGNUS RÖNN 6) Central Postal Terminal addition, Gothen• 7) Gårda Fire Station, Gothenburg burg FFNS Arkitekter White Arkitekter 1989 Honorable Mention, Fine Building in 1988 Honorable Mention, Fine Building in Gothenburg: Gothenburg Award: The building satisfies the highest require• The addition to the Central Postal Terminal ments for practical, rational solutions and provides an architecturally skillful finish to good choices of material. The brightness of the western end of this extremely large the interior, enriched with artistic adornment, complex. The facade of enameled steel in contributes to a humane and pleasant work several gray-blue nuances shifts animatedly environment. with the varying rays of the sun while posing 8) Röda Bolagets Workshop and Administra• a pleasing contrast to the previously domi• tive Facilities, Gothenburg nant pink color. The building's interior Arkitektlaget character derives from modern technology. 1991 Honorable Mention, Fine Building in However, a humane and pleasant work Gothenburg Award: environment has been achieved through the use of screening and the lowering of ceilings Awarded for two beautiful buildings in accord around the workstations in the larger rooms. with the city and the traditional wooden The richness of the artistic adornment and architecture of the harbor. The massing is the care taken with the rooms and places for appropriately simple with spiritual details. rest from work strengthen the impression of The interior satisfies the needs of the users consideration for the quality of the work well and offers bright and pleasant work• environment, as does the light-filled employee places. restaurant with its roof terrace at the top of 9) Antonsson Maskin AB Offices and Produc• the building. The addition to the Postal Terminal is judged to be an exemplary solu• tion Facility, Mölndal tion to the large workplace, both functionally Kroon Byggkonsult and aesthetically. 1987 Award for Appealing Industrial Exterior:

AWARD-WINNING INDUSTRIAL ARCHITECTURE 43 r*SAO MOT SOpgB

Office and production facility, Mölndal. 1987 Award for Appealing Industrial Exterior

Despite its size, the building has been given behind a lower office building. The facades an interesting and exciting form. In this area are simply composed, finely structured with frequented by many people, the nicely desig• convincing choice of materials and detailing. ned building is of great importance for the The building makes a strong contribution to local environment. a positive experience of this part of Lindome.

10) Lejus Pharmaceuticals Plant, Mölndal 13) Åby Elektriska Office and Warehouse, Skånska Arkitekter Mölndal 1988 Honorable Mention, Award for Appealing Löfqvist och Lundh Arkitekter Industrial Exterior: 1990 Honorable Mention, Award for Appealing Industrial Exterior: A solid and pleasantly formed factory facility for pharmaceutical production. The building complements and concludes a small industrial area. The volume of the buil• 11) Kålleredsbussar Offices and Workshop, ding is well designed. The facades are carefully Kållered formed and give the building an appealing Projektplanering Arkitektgrupp exterior. 1989 Honorable Mention, Award for Appealing Industrial Exterior: 14) Akribi Print Works, Mölndal Erseus, Frenning & Sjögren An appealing building for a difficulty managed 1992 Award for Appealing Industrial Exterior: work process designed with great conside• ration for the surrounding residential neigh• Architecture which reflects the work it con• borhood. tains, well adapted to and open toward its surroundings. A fine integration of produc• 12) Window Factory for ERA-produkter, tion areas with offices. On the whole a very Lindome appealing and sober exterior. Lyxell Arkitekt & Byggkonsult 1990 Award for Appealing Industrial Exterior: 15) Package Freight Terminal, Mölndal Ellsinger Arkitekter It is often difficult to give industrial buildings 19992 Honorable Mention, Award for Appea• an exterior interesting enough to compete ling Industrial Exterior: with nearby buildings devoted entirely to offices. The window factory in Lindome is The freight facility combines a large building just such a rare building, and for its pain• volume for inventory and distribution with stakingly designed exterior it has been chosen an office building. Choice of materials and for this year's award. The building masses are architectural forms express the differing well disposed, with the higher industrial hall functions. The disposition of the buildings 44 MAGNUS RÖNN Office and Warehouse, Mölndal. 1990 Honorable Mention, Award for Appealing Industrial Exterior

ment of the built environment. But architectural perpendicular to each other makes for a quality cannot be the exclusive concern of spacious facility. The freight terminal has a architects and their professional organizations. very appealing exterior. I believe there is a need for some form of A review of award-winning industrial building balance in which architects' view of architectural projects reveals that the juries' statements lack quality is contrasted with the experiences of the any clear and coherent structure. Their methods built environment formulated by clients, deve• of evaluation and of formulating their opinions lopers, local users, and property administrators. vary. Among juries, there is obviously no com• It appears that a good equilibrium between mon technique for the analysis and demonstra• internal and external influence would be tion of architectural quality. The statements desirable (Rolf, 1993). Such a balance would often include references to other architectural require a broad discussion of the concept of awards. It may furthermore be noted that the architectural quality. To that end are needed opinions contained in jury statements reveal an the opinions of companies which would com• underlying agenda for which attributes are mission, manage, and use "good" industrial desirable in production environments. The architecture. fact that the opinions demonstrated by jury The evaluation of industrial building projects statements contain many obscure and esoteric is founded on comparisons and standards. An viewpoints does not mean that award-winning analysis which satisfies the jury results in a objects are haphazardly chosen and described number of positive statements of opinion. by the members of the jury. Opinions are based However, the ability to perceive architectural on a number of criteria about which there exits quality varies.Thus knowledgeable judges gene• a profound unanimity among architects. I rally expound their opinions with a higher believe they reflect a common vision which degree of credibility. Reliability in the classi• underlies the jury statements. Those industrial fication of good architecture therefore depends buildings which have won awards have been upon knowledge, clear indications of quality, judged appropriate, beautiful, functional, or and agreement between the judge's opinion effective against the background of a number and the object in question. of characteristics. Birgit Cold maintains that history provides a platform of information and support for the Design judgments evaluation of buildings (Cold, 1989). Quality and the criteria for architectural quality develops in a continual process of change. Architects usually assert the need for professional Quality arises from the confrontation between competency and responsibility for the develop• man, standard, and object. According to Cold,

WARD-WINNING INDUSTRIAL ARCHITECTURE 45 buildings are viewed as high quality when they the statements regarding Roda Bolaget's are useful over a long period of time, age workshop and administrative facilities (8), gracefully, are easy to use, inspire delight through the window factory for ERA-produkter their expression, appear to be well thought- (12) , Âby Elektriska's offices and warehouse out, are original, and are characterized by sim• (13) , and the package freight terminal (15) plicity of design. These criteria describe a view value a well disposed massing, pleasing of architecture based on traditional values such simplicity, careful design, simple and fine as durability, authenticity, professionalism, composition, appealing choice of materials wholeness, aesthetic honesty, beauty, legibility and detailing, a well designed building and usefulness. The desire for originality volume, and an appealing exterior. represents the rejuvenation of traditions and • Originality and novelty: schemes characte• the transgression of established norms. Cold rized as visionary, forceful, personal, arti• points out, however, that these requirements stic, playful, imaginative, poetic, inde• cannot necessarily be combined to produce pendent and progressive. The jury state• quality in architecture. ments about Roda Bolaget's facilities (8), One way to deepen the discussion would be the postal terminal (6), Astra Hassle's to define a number of relevant quality criteria laboratory buildings (2), and Antonsson included in the evaluation of industrial buil• Maskin's offices and production facility ding projects. The point is to confront the (9) prize individual and unique form, opinions in the reviewed jury statements with vigor and lightness, the ability to awaken normative interpretations of the concept of one's interest, excitement, freedom from architectural quality. With support from Cold, tradition, pleasing contrasts, personal six criteria groups can be distinguished on the artistry, spiritual detailing, refined use of basis of the characteristics of good architecture sheet metal, and architecture with charac• alluded to in the jury statements (Cold, 1991): ter. • Adaptation to surrounding buildings and • Harmony balance, and unity: schemes judged landscape: schemes which demonstrate to be accomplished, well dimensioned, or consideration for site conditions or local exceptional, and those which deal with environment, nature and climate. The such issues as new/old, technical/artistic, statements about the heat production unity/variation. The jury statements about plant (3), the Canon building (4), the bus the tram storage and maintenance facility company offices and workshop (11), (1), the heat production plant (3), the Volvo's truck plant (5), the print works postal terminal (6), and the Akribi print (14) , and the tram facility (1) show prefe• works (14), for example, reveal values rence for interesting junctures between such as conscious expression, exemplary building volumes, positive additions to accord between form and function, a the urban environment, an exciting ur• combination of care, humor and charm, ban image, adaptation to the surrounding fine integration, skillful agreement city center, and good contact with between artistic embellishment and buil• surrounding nature. ding form, and nearness and intimacy. • Systematization and development: schemes • Simplicity of construction and choice of which are considered safe, reassuring, well materials: schemes judged in terms of tested, effective, rational or economic. In moderation, mastery of detailing, simpli• their statements about Lej us' pharmaceuti• city of expression, and those which allude cals plant (10), the laboratory buildings to natural or traditional materials. Thus (2), and the fire station (7), the juries

46 MAGNUS RÖNN appreciated rational solutions, a clear orga• better tools — means of expression — in order to nization, good performance, and solid communicate with client, builder and other construction. consultants. The design's effects on the work • Physical framework and suitability to the environment and the resulting productivity work process: schemes characterized by must be able to be expressed in terms that good spatial organization ofworkstations, appeal to investment professionals. Architects good working conditions, easily surveyed must be able to demonstrate that good archi• floor plan organization, and adaptation tecture is a profitable investment for companies. to the work environment and the produc• This is turn poses demands on consequence tion process. Thus the jury statements analyses. about the truck plant (5), the fire station Normally the architectural quality of the (7), the tram facility (1), and the postal of production facilities gives the terminal (6) acclaim spacious rooms, a clearest consequences for the corporate econo• pleasant and humane work environment, my (Ibid.). Some examples are a well thought- an exemplary solution to the large work• out design with simple and easily understood place, and consideration for areas devoted relationships in the building, high standards to rest from work. for technical systems and equipment, daylight, contact with the surrounding environment, This collection should be seen as just one of and generality and flexibility which make the many possible intuitive hypotheses about the building easy to use, easy to adapt to changes in substance of the concept of architectural quality. methods of production, and easy to renovate. The collection is based on Cold. I have changed The clearest effect of quality in interior archi• the word order, used some slightly different tecture is increased productivity. Other possible terms, and added the point about quality in the consequences include reduced worker absence, physical framework for work processes. One slower employee turnover, a greater appreciation critical point is that is seems reasonable to for the work and improved conditions for construct a more clear work environment per• long-term high productivity. spective before evaluating award-winning The profitability of quality in the exterior industrial buildings in terms of architectural design is usually a matter of location, expression, quality. This is a relevant criticism of the jury choice of materials, and detailing. It is com• statements reviewed. Architectural quality monly argued that lower running and main• ought to be based upon a holistic view of the tenance costs in the future justify this kind of planning and design of places of work. One investment. It is more difficult to demonstrate would then also want criteria which cover the the profitability of investments in the adapta• entire process from decisions about choice of tion of buildings to their surrounding environ• area and site, about the building and its rooms, ment and in architecture as a symbol for the interior finish, and the design of work stations, company. The exterior environment includes to decisions about the technology, organization, obviously subjective values. A well thought- and work processes of the planned facility. out symbolism in a production facility can Gunnar Eliasson and Bo Mattson discuss inspire good will, pride, and feelings of unity. the quality of industrial architecture in terms of When companies are sold, these qualities are economic calculations and computational calculated and included in the price. Eliasson methodology (Eliasson and Mattson, 1990). and Mattson point out that one therefore should Quality is treated as aspects of a building's be able to do similar calculations of a building's interior and exterior form. Their point of architectural symbolic value and determine departure is that architects need to acquire how such value could be written off.

AWARD-WINNING INDUSTRIAL ARCHITECTURE 47 Good industrial architecture is considered rent approaches to architects' work with indust• profitable when it can be shown that quality rial building projects. I perceive on the one enhancing measures add value to a building by hand a business-oriented view of architecture in increasing revenues or decreasing production which buildings represent a means of achieving costs, and that such measures reduce future good working and production conditions. This costs for building and maintenance. Cold ideal sees the company's technology, building, questions this viewpoint, asserting in a commen• and organization as an integrated whole. The tary to this article that our conception of success of the result depends in this view architecture should not be oversimplified to primarily upon cooperation in the design pro• have us believe that quality can be expressed in cess between client, architect, technicians, and terms of profitability. Cold points to the fact representatives of the workforce. Partially opp• that other art forms, such as music, literature, osed to this perspective is the object-oriented and theater, are not based upon profitability. view of architecture. Here interest focuses Eliasson and Mattson, on the contrary, believe primarily on a building's physical form and that there exists a need for expressing architec• spatial organization. It reflects a traditional ture in economic terms to enable issues of conception of the architect's role in industrial quality to be incorporated into investment projects in which production issues are con• calculations and to lend credibility to argu• sidered outside the realm of rhe architect's ments for investing in good building design. commission. The architect's goal in this case is This strategy aims at developing a new popular to create a functional and aesthetically appealing understanding of architecture through the physical framework for the business. professional advisory of industrial building These differences in architectural views project clients. But the traditional lack of app• influence the organization of industrial buil• reciation for industrial architecture makes it ding projects and the definition of the role of difficult to awaken an interest in architectural the architect. The business-oriented perspective quality among the business community. This results in an architectural ideal based on the use implies that good architecture must be a suffi• of facilities. Architectural quality is assumed to cient goal in itself for industrial clients. be the result of cooperation in the project group between actors representing a broad Architectural ideals in jury statements spectrum of qualifications. The object-oriented The belief among established representatives conception, on the other hand, takes an external of the architectural profession that award- perspective of buildings. Thus industrial buil• winning industrial buildings reflect a collective dings may be endowed with a degree of general• understanding of desirable attributes - an archi• ity, their designs based on universal architectural tectural ideal - requires an urgent analysis of principles which are relatively independent of the juries' statements. The core issues of this the buildings' users, technology, and work architectural ideal ought to be the design pro• organization. Architectural quality is in this cess, the work of architects, and the concept of case a characteristic which an observer either architectural quality. This is one reason for sees, experiences, or otherwise attributes to a research into award-winning industrial archi• building. This situation can give some explana• tecture and the opinions which describe the tion for why observers and users can have such profession's understanding of architectural divergent impressions of work environments quality. and industrial architecture. The Award for With the help of the jury statements pre• Appealing Industrial Exterior in Molndal sented here I shall formulate a preliminary exemplifies the observer's view of the work• architectural ideal which includes two diffe• place.

48 MAGNUS RÖNN Conditions for design opinions physical properties of a given production Those industrial building projects which have environment. Value judgments entail state• been recognized with architectural awards have ments of goals and of how an industrial buil• of necessity undergone some form of evaluation. ding should be designed to satisfy requirements, Their recognition is the result of this evaluation desires, and needs. process. Judgments of architectural quality thus Georg von Wright points to the growing include both the results and the process of inclination to reject value judgments from the evaluation. The evaluation process comprises sphere of research (von Wright, 1994). The actions such as choice, ranking, and comparison. criticism is that value j udgments, as opposed to The results of that evaluation take the form of the evaluation of facts, merely express feelings jury statements and the various awards conferred and subjective conceptions. At the same time, upon building projects. Common to these is a von Wright sees a meaningful role for both. conception of value based on certain principles Value judgments are based on characteristics and a collective understanding of architectural which are adapted to the object in question. quality among the members of the jury. This is The degree of adaptation, the choice of char• a precondition for the formulation of credible acteristics referred to, and the weight assigned statements about architectural quality. to those characteristics by the different judges Goran Hermeren points out that the concept can vary. Some value judgments are more of value is used in varying contexts and has subjective than others. varying meanings (Hermeren, 1980). The ques• The legitimacy of distinctions of good archi• tion of whether or not values should be under• tecture depends upon a system in which diffe- stood as attributes of an object is a traditional tent buildings are judged in a similar way by point of dispute among philosophers. Suppor• experienced professional practitioners. The ters of the hypothesis that objects have inhe• architectural profession carries a social norm rent values are called value objectivists. For which provides for unanimity in evaluations of them, good architecture is a matter of qualitative the built environment. The more clearly archi• attributes of the built environment. In opposi• tects as a group proclaim common standards tion to the value objectivists are the value and require uniform rules for reviewing archi• subjectivists, who hold that values are the pro• tecture, the more similar the results of our perty of the subject. Here value exits only as a evaluations will be. construction in the minds of those who value In his review of this article, Jan Ahlin pointed the object. Supporters of this view therefore out that jury procedure is used to achieve a deny the existence of universal principles and reliable similarity in j udgments. The purpose is objective criteria for good and bad, right and to minimize differences between individuals. wrong, beautiful and ugly. The value objectivists However, disagreement in a rational conver• and value subjectivists agree, however, on the sation about award-winning industrial archi• idea that a system of values is a precondition for tecture can illuminate important differences in the handing down of design opinions. choice of perspective, sharpen our understan• Another relevant traditional point of conflict ding, and contribute to a deeper insight into deals with the difference between value judg• what ought to be recognized as the characteris• ments and the evaluation of facts. This diffe• tics of architectural quality. But widely varying rence raises questions of research ideals and the opinions in evaluations of architectural quality role of values in judgments. The gap between in a jury procedure will, I believe, cast doubt "facts" and "values" is part of the problematics over the members' integrity and competency, of architectural research. The evaluation of as well as making the criteria upon which their facts is in this context a matter of describing the opinion is based seem ambiguous and mudd-

AWARD-WINNING INDUSTRIAL ARCHITECTURE 49 led. Credibility and certainty in the judgment communicated through references and choices of architecture requires that jury members assign rather than through explanations. Interpreta• similar value to similar building attributes in a tion is prerequisite to proficiency and under• series of different situations. standing, but to interpret is not the same as to Credible design opinions are based on explain architecture. The result of this viewpoint knowledge of the concepts and criteria relevant is that someone who wants to know what "good" to those attributes considered "good" or "bad" industrial architecture is referred to a number in a building. Certain issues are problematic, of examples - not explanations and descriptions such as method of analysis and point of of architectural quality. But architects need to departure. The evaluation of award-winning be able to describe, predict, and explain the architecture can with good reason be assumed qualitative characteristics of buildings. The to rest on a conception of quality which is evaluation of drawings and buildings must be firmly anchored among architects. The dem• considered central aspects of the architectural and for credibility and certainty implies that profession. We ought therefore to be able to we should be able to consider design decisions explain and predict architectural quality using in some way objective, and that we therefore models. Understanding is simply not enough. It should be able to test them in an acceptable is reasonable to expect an architect to be able to way. Objectivity, however, is not a clearly deline• distinguish between good and poor proposals, ated attribute which is either present or absent, and to explain why a particular proposal should but is instead a scientific standard which is met be seen as better than others. The development to varying degrees. Both practicing architects of explanation patterns is therefore an essential and researchers need to be able to cast judgments task for research. We must distinguish between about what is good and bad in architecture. ideology and science. And we must, for example, Objectivity in design opinions means the ability be able to give acceptable reasons for why, how, to distinguish, interpret, describe, and explain and in what way award-winning industrial what is "right" or "good" for a certain person or buildings are good examples. From this per• persons in a particular context. spective, verification is then a matter of exami• Knowledge of what is considered appealing, nation methodology and the development of functional, and beautiful architecture is often knowledge in the field of Architecture.

Magnus Ronn, associated professor, Architec• ture and Urban Planning at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.

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50 MAGNUS RÖNN Eliasson, Gunnar och Mattson, Bo, Bakom ar• Rönn, Magnus, "Att återföra erfarenheter till betets fasader. SNS Förlag, Kristianstad (1990). projekteringsprocessen". Tidskrift för Arkitek• Hemlin, Sven m. fl., Professorstillsättningar i turforskning 1991:4. arkitekturämnen. På vilka grunder sker beslu- Rönn, Magnus, Vad är god industriarkitektur?, ten?YN~N 1990:1, Stockholm (1990). Ri7:i994, Byggforskningsrådet, Stockholm Hermerén, Göran, Attvärdera byggdmiljö. Bygg• (i994)- forskningsrådet 1139:1980. Stockholm (1980). Rönn, Magnus, "Industri, konst och samhälle". KasperSalinpriset1962-86, Byggförlaget, Stock• Nordisk Arkitekturforskning 1994:3. holm (1987). Rönn, Magnus, "Den estetiska fabriken", glän• Lehtonen, Hilkka, "Om kvalitetsbegreppets tan 1994:3. meningsfullhet i arkitektur och byggande". Rönn, Magnus, "Designomdömen och indust• Nordisk Arkitekturforskning 1993:4. rihusprojekt". VESTiyyy.i. Lehtonen, Hilkka, "Om utgångspunkterna vid Rönn, Magnus, Industriarkitektur — om pris• visualisering av arkitekturprojekt". Tidskrift belönade industrihusprojekt. Epsilon Press, för Arkitekturforskning 1991:1. Göteborg (1995). Linder, Rolf, Utvärderingsforskning - till vad Rönn, Magnus, Livscykeldesign som arkitekto• nytta? Acta Universitatis Gothoburgensis, nisk kvalitet och metod för erfarenhetsåter- Göteborg (1987). föring. TRITA-ARK-i996:6, Institutionen för Lundequist, Jerker, Projekteringsmetodikens teo• Arkitektur och Stadsbyggnad, KTH, Stock• retiska bakgrund. Projekteringsmetodik, holm (1996). KTH, Stockholm (1992). Schön, Donald, Think in Action. New York, Lundequist, Jerker, Designteorins kunskapsteore• Basic Books, Inc., Publischer (1983). tiska och estetiska utgångspunkter. Projekte• Sillen, Gunnar, "Industriarbetets estetisk. En ringsmetodik KTH, Stockholm (1992). historia om makt och gestaltning". Tidskrift Matrikel93. Svenska Arkitekters Riksförbund. för Arkitekturforskning 1989:1—2. Nilstun, Tore m. fl., Utvärderingsforskning och Stolterman, Erik, Designarbetets dolda rationa• rättsliga reformer. Analys av orsaker och effek• litet. Umeå Universitet, Umeå (1991). ter. Studentlitteratur, Lund (1984). Törebohm, Håkan, Studier av kunskapsutveck• Nilstun, Tore, "Utvärdering av sektors FoU". ling. Doxa, Karlshamn (1983). Tidskrift för Arkitekturforskning 1989:3. von Wright, Georg, Myten om framsteget. Al• Rolf, Bertil m. fl., Kvalitet i kunskapsprocess i bert Bonniers Förlag, Trondheim (1994). högre utbildning. Nya Doxa, Nora (1993). Wallén, Göran, "Utvärdering av arkitekturforsk• Rönn, Magnus, Byggarbetsmiljö-från ritningar ning". Tidskriftför Arkitekturfbrskning 1989:3. till byggnader på Kampen i Växjö. Epsilon Press, Göteborg (1992).

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