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.

Do it again, do it right – Around the country with Renoveringsraseriet by authors Gustav Bergström and Alfred Skogberg.

Over the past decades, we have seen container after container filled with our common building heritage. Beautiful 1950s kitchens are worn out and replaced by mass-produced ones, mouth-blown window glass ends up in landfills, and cheap, unmaintainable materials replace old and solid ones.

Since its inception in 2020, Renovation Fury has criticized careless renovations on their popular Facebook and Instagram accounts of the same name.

In this book, we follow the founders, Gustav Bergström and Alfred Skogberg, on a journey to twelve Swedish cities; from Kiruna in the north to Sölvesborg in the south. They talk to architects, urban planners and experts and point out both good examples and pure disasters.

Do it again, do it right is both a portrait of the times and a cry for help. Caring and preserving is not just about nostalgia, it’s a must if we want to achieve our climate goals. It’s high time we started to see the value of craftsmanship and quality, and realize that new is not always better!

Houses made of slag – many have never seen them, others stand in awe of the slag bricks that shimmer in blue, green, gray and even change color with the light. Intriguing structures, tiny lumps of iron, charcoal striations – what can’t you find when you take a closer look at the building material? What is it, many people ask today. When were the houses built? Why was cinder block made?

Slagstone is our first artificial building stone, used in ore fields as an alternative to building timber. The forest was needed for the production of charcoal, the fuel for smelting ore and the extraction of copper and iron. The metals were exported, bringing income to Sweden and raising people’s standard of living. Slag was a by-product of metal production. The metals have been sold around the world, the workplaces are closed down and gone – but the slag remains and tells us – about ores and technological development, about heavy manual labor and skilled craftsmanship. No two cinder blocks are the same. Never again can one be made.

DESCRIPTION The book aims to raise awareness of the buildings. The oldest ones date from the 18th century, the youngest from the early 20th century. They are churches or cellars and everything in between. The pictures aim to show how amazing the buildings are and the text provides information about their background, construction and care. The hope is that people will be inspired to take pride in the slag houses and care for these unique buildings, made from a material that is irreplaceable today.

TIP Don’t forget to take a look at our beautiful Bagarstuga in Gysinge, which is built of cinder block.

Building Care for Apartments takes its starting point in the emergence of the modern city at the end of the 19th century and allows us to follow the development of the Swedish apartment decade by decade, until the end of the 1980s. By highlighting how political forces have interacted with aesthetic ideals and construction technology, the book provides a unique insight into why our homes look the way they do. From the design of residential areas and the appearance of facades, to the division of rooms, the colors of walls and the specific profiles of skirting boards. In an accessible way, you will learn about the rich history hidden behind the perhaps worn floors or flaking wallpaper.

The second part of the book consists of an extensive chapter devoted entirely to the practical aspects of renovation and apartment care. It presents concrete strategies for approaching and dealing with issues related to care and renovation, as well as practical tips on how best to proceed when faced with the need to restore or replace something.

Building Conservation for Apartments is an indispensable tool for anyone interested in preserving their apartment and its history.