Cinder blocks and cinder houses

In this book, architectural antiquarian Erika Åberg shows you how to maintain, renovate and make creative reuse projects with old windows and doors.

“Windows are the soul of the house” has become almost a proverb in the building industry. What does it really mean? What are the significance and qualities of old windows? And what about doors? Here, Erika Åberg talks about design and stylistic approaches through the ages, different types of glass, function – or the lack of it – and the challenges of keeping the heat in and the cold out.

The timber used for windows and doors in the past was the best available, of a quality that is hard to find today. If cared for properly, it can last for hundreds of years. Here you will learn about restoration of varying degrees of difficulty, from first aid to full restoration.

With smart techniques and solutions, you can get windows and doors that are beautiful and fit your house. It goes without saying that preserving is more environmentally friendly than buying new. Here is an example of an orangery built with recycled windows.

Erika Åberg tells you in text and pictures how you can take care of and enjoy your old windows and doors for a long time to come.

Many of us love old houses, the atmosphere they give you, the secrets and questions they hide and pose: What did the house look like originally? Has it always been here? Who has lived here before me?

Sweden has a unique treasure trove of archived material that can tell us so much about our houses and their inhabitants throughout history. This is by no means limited to castles and manor houses. There is also a lot to tell about our country houses, detached houses, city apartments and suburban villas. You just need to know where to look.

In this book, architectural historian Erika Åberg wants to take us by the hand and tell us how we can find the history of our houses, and how we can best utilize different buildings and their annual rings. She does this by telling inspiring stories, guiding us to different archives and showing us how to best interpret a building, exterior and interior.

There are plenty of in-depth examples from the TV program of the same name, but it’s a book that stands on its own, with solid advice on building styles through the ages, building conservation and restoration tips.

“Interior Renovation” is the fourth book in the series – Building Care in Practice. The book is about the houses inside, why they look the way they do, about the tradition behind it, about the craftsmanship and last but not least about how to renovate so that these qualities do not disappear.

It deals with carpentry profiles, fittings, floors, ceilings and walls, stairs, kitchens and kitchen fittings, sanitary facilities, electricity and lighting in a way that shows that the old is an asset rather than an obstacle when living in the house.

The book, which focuses on houses from the 18th to the 20th century, also shows appropriate compromises, as the old inevitably clashes with the modern.

Wallpaper through the ages – Perspectives from the Engelsberg Mill World Heritage Site.

Wallpaper has been one of our most important wall decorations for centuries and in various forms. Attitudes towards wallpaper have changed over time, especially in recent decades, but today there is a strong and growing interest in wallpaper and the historic preservation of buildings.

This book, which is the first stand-alone volume in a series on the Engelsberg Mill World Heritage Site, contributes to a better understanding of the history of wallpaper. Through the rich array of illustrations, both historical and modern, experts in several subjects share their in-depth knowledge of wallpaper, both as a craft and as an expression of different decorative ideals.

130 illustrations. Edition: French binding with gold foil and printed cover, wire-bound. 24 x 31 cm. 200 pages.

Authors: Erika Åberg, Lars Sjöberg, Stina Olinder Haubo, Ursula Sjöberg, Mats Qwarfordt, Martin Olin, Sara Lundström.

Editors-in-chief: Svante Holmbaek Tirén, Kurt Almqvist.

Design: Patric Leo.