Arknat unites architecture with nature

The aim of the festival is to combine architecture with nature and allow architecture and engineering students from across the Nordic region to design and then build wooden windbreaks themselves. The result has been a large number of creative and beautiful windbreaks in our Swedish landscape.

To increase understanding and strengthen the combination between architecture and nature, Sweco and the organisation FriluftsByn have initiated the architecture festival Arknat. Arknat creates new platforms for developing local tourism on a sustainable basis.

Architecture students design and create wooden windbreaks

In Arknat, architecture students from all over the Nordic region will work together for two weeks to design and make wooden windbreaks. In combination with lectures and guidance, the students gain practical knowledge of wood construction and an understanding of the material’s properties.

The workshops have taken place during the summer of 2017, 2018 and 2019 and have resulted in a total of nine beautiful and unique windbreaks, free for the public to visit and use. In the summer of 2021 and 2022, the festival was organised along Skåneleden where there are now a number of new shelters to experience.