Architecture and Welfare: Scandinavian Perspectives
Architecture and Welfare: Scandinavian Perspectives
25 February 2026
Time
6.00 PM
Location
AA Bookshop, 33 Bedford Square, WC1B 3ES
Architecture was central to the realisation of the Nordic welfare state, translating democratic ideals into concrete spatial form. Guided by an inclusive vision of ‘welfare for all’, architects, landscape architects and planners gave spatial and architectural form to ideas of equality, collectivity and democracy, producing a vast body of architecture across Scandinavia in the post-war years. Architecture and Welfare: Scandinavian Perspectives critically revisits this legacy, examining the varied landscapes of the welfare state and providing a nuanced account of how welfare architecture confronted a contentious past and an uncertain future.
We are delighted to launch Architecture and Welfare: Scandinavian Perspectives at the AA Bookshop. The book will be available to purchase at a special launch price of £50 (RRP £54).
Biographies
Thordis Arrhenius is a professor at the School of Architecture, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden. Her teaching and research are characterised by a dedication to contemporary critical issues in heritage and urbanism where the historical perspective informs actions and strategies. She has published widely in the fields of culture theory, modern heritage and architecture.
Ellen Braae, is a professor at the University of Copenhagen, where she leads the research group Landscape Architecture and Urbanism. Her research bridges design and humanities, focusing on regenerative transformation and preservation of open spaces. She has published widely on landscape, planning and welfare studies.
Ambrose Gillick is a designer, researcher and educator at the University of Kent, where he leads the MArch programme. His research explores architectural culture, spatial theory and community engagement through design, play and collaboration. He hosts the A is for Architecture Podcast and co-delivered Scotland’s collateral project at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale.