In Praise of Shadows Architecture

In Praise of Shadows Architecture - A Line of Thought

“A thought or an idea never develops into a project in a straight line. Architectural knowledge for us is not only created in the studio; it has to be gained in dialogue with actual materials and building techniques on site and it’s important to us to keep the line of thought from idea to realization so that it is readable when the project is built.” In Praise of Shadows Architecture

Founded by Fredric Benesch and Katarina Lundeberg in 2009, Stockholm-based firm In Praise of Shadows Architecture engages in a wide range of projects of varied scales and typologies. This first monograph on their work features some forty buildings and projects from the years 2009 to 2024. The selection includes small boathouses and garden pavilions, private homes, and housing developments, as well as retail spaces, schools, and library buildings.

The ideas and designs of In Praise of Shadows Architecture are remarkable, revealed in buildings which share an elegant signature that manifests itself in the choice of materials, the shaping of these, and a focus on spatial experience. Many of them are timber constructions, as sustainability is a core part of their philosophy. Unusually for a group of architects working from Stockholm, Benesch and Lundeberg and their collaborators take a special interest in the Swedish modernistic heritage and the famous architectural culture of the Swiss canton of Grisons.