Research

• RESEARCH STATEMENT
  Fredrik Skåtar is an architectural and design researcher, active in academia and the commercial sector. His focus is the promotion of architecture's vague, artistic facets, gathering data from professional experience, field trips and experimental drawing.

  
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  DEFENDING VAGUENESS

  Artistic expression, mood, and the sensation of well-being and identity are architectural components that are hard to prove and defend. Consequently, they are also challenging to create and given their vague properties; they risk neglect. Yet, aren’t these facets the very driving force of architecture? So how can architects defend and promote them?
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  ARCHITECTURE IS SUSTAINABLE

  Driven by climate change and public demand for climate-friendly architectural solutions, sustainability is ever more present in society. But what does the term mean for architecture? Arguably, sustainable architecture focuses primarily on technical-environmental solutions, which is, of course, valuable. But is there not a risk of forgetting the full scope of the term, such as cultural, societal, and artistic sustainability? Should not architecture be superior to sustainability?
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  FIELD TRIP: FLANDERS

  Fredrik Skåtar has conducted several field trips to Flanders, Belgium, to gather examples and data on the region’s exemplary architectural approach. With uniquely influential city architects (Bouwmeester) in leading positions, Flanders is a role model for promoting architectural diversity and long-term qualitative urban planning.
  
  Since 2018, Fredrik Skåtar has conducted four field trips to Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels with architectural offices in collaboration with Style Scandinavia.
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  FIELD TRIP: BERLIN

  History has undoubtedly impacted the urban structure of Berlin, and the city is still arguably divided to some extent. However, the unification process has enabled the construction of unique, centrally located infrastructure and architecture. On top of that, Berlin offers prominent examples of 20th-century buildings and works of contemporary architects.
  
  Since 2012, Fredrik Skåtar has conducted nearly 30 field trips to Berlin with architectural offices in collaboration with Style Scandinavia.
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  UPGRADED TOOLS

  Using the latest design methods (particularly generative/parametric) tend to produce what Fredrik Skåtar labels tool-driven formalism or can-do-ism. That is, some designers choose a specific shape because it is possible, rather than considering who wants it or profits from it. We need to view new technology as subordinate to architecture, perhaps labelling architecture’s design tools as upgraded.
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  algorithmically controlled processes

  — exploring Grasshopper (Rhinoceros) solutions for design and architecture. Fredrik Skåtar focuses on analysing and creating architecturally useful geometry with help from Grasshopper. He strives for integrating these into the normal design process. Why is Grasshopper often associated with spectacular shapes? Is it not better if such a tool is invisible, behind architecture?
  
  Fredrik Skåtar has created an open-source archive of Grasshopper models.