Barkarby KV20

Award Criteria

Architectural Excellence

The vision is to create a vibrant residential block that fosters social interaction through timeless architecture. The ensemble of varied building volumes frames a green courtyard with an underground garage. Buildings range from four to eight stories, with taller corner volumes marking the block in the urban landscape. Facades are calm and cohesive, with proportions articulated into base, body, and roofline, highlighted through shifts in color, material, or form. The block steps down toward the south to optimize light for façades and courtyard. The courtyard serves as a central meeting place with spaces for play, gardening, and social activities across generations.

Technical Innovation & Sustainability

SIBS modular construction enables rapid, flexible residential development with high architectural variation. Offsite precision engineering and robotic manufacturing ensure tight tolerances, enhancing airtightness, acoustics, and vibration control. Modules can be delivered fully furnished, reducing on-site work and enabling relocatability. Design automation halves planning time, while parametric systems meet diverse regulatory and aesthetic needs. Material efficiency is achieved through reduced concrete use and direct sourcing, yielding ~15% cost savings. The system supports green building via minimized waste, energy-efficient assembly, and reuse of components.

Cost Effectiveness

SIBS modular construction achieves cost-effectiveness through factory-based production, reducing labor costs and material waste. Modules are pre-finished with kitchens, bathrooms, and sometimes furnitured, minimizing on-site work. Installation is rapid, electrical and plumbing connections take under one hour per unit. Materials like steel, gypsum, and insulation are sourced directly, yielding ~15% cost savings. The plug-and-play system allows integration with conventional podiums and supports relocatability via dismantlable connectors. Partnerships with subcontractors and automated design tools further streamline timelines, cutting design phases by 50% and total construction time by over 40%