Directory

Minihouse concept. Photograph by Andy Liffner for Nordic Marine Living AB.

Jonas Wagell

Architects Directory 2008

Although 35 year-old Jonas Wagell bills himself as a furniture designer first and foremost, his major architectural work has strong parallels with designing on a small scale. The Minihouse concept is a modular structure with modernist lines. But unlike so many of the pukka prefabs that have sprouted in the 21st century, Wagell’s masterstroke is to market the structure as a compact flatpack, neatly tapping into the exceptional efficiency and neat aesthetics drilled into us by IKEA. Wagell’s background includes studying graphic design and working in marketing, before heading to Stockholm’s prestigious Beckmans School of Design in 2001 and then on to a masters in interiors and furniture design at Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design.

Buildings

JONAS WAGELL - SWEDEN
Floating House
The Minihouse is an admirable distillation of Wagell’s interests. Modular in form, additions like saunas and kitchens can be added at will. The exterior is defined by the sweep of the wraparound trellis providing shade and privacy on the compact terrace. Wagell believes the kit can be built over a weekend, and the dimensions are carefully scaled to ensure it slips through the net and doesn’t need a building permit. While the designer hopes the Minihouse will soon be flying out of the factories, the Floating House design is far more conceptual; a way of maximising available living space in the face of rising land prices. Taking the view that ‘we don’t necessarily need more products; the problem is rather that there are a lot of badly designed things out there’, Wagell believes that this way ‘all good design is sustainable.’ Ultimately, he is looking to ‘keep craftsmanship alive’.

Architects Directory 2008

INFORMATION

Address
John Ericssonsgatan 15, 5th
SE-112 22 Stockholm

Telephone
46.8 6603563

Website
http://www.jonaswagell.se
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