2019
Limhamn, Sweden
Individual

Krets

Krets (Orbit) explores how architecture can respond to the growing condition of urban loneliness, particularly among young adults living alone.

Designed for people navigating independent city life, often living alone with limited opportunities for everyday interaction, the project questions the way contemporary housing prioritises privacy and efficiency at the expense of everyday human interaction.

Drawing on research into wellbeing and social integration, the proposal positions architecture not as a cure but as a framework that can support healthier patterns of living. Studies consistently show that strong relationships are central to long-term wellbeing, yet current residential models offer few opportunities for connection beyond the private unit.

Krets reconsiders the role of circulation within the apartment building. Rather than treating it as a purely functional necessity, the project transforms movement into a shared spatial experience. A continuous looping core organises the building, allowing residents to see, pass, and gradually recognise one another through daily routines.

Responding to Limhamn's proximity to Malmö and its strong cycling culture, the loop is designed as a gentle continuous ramp that can be used on foot or by bicycle. This introduces a more active and slightly playful dimension to daily movement, embedding moments of encounter within routine journeys through the building.

This emphasis on familiarity, built slowly through repeated and low-pressure encounters, creates the conditions from which more meaningful social connections can emerge. Shared programmes such as workspaces, activity rooms and informal communal areas are positioned along this route, allowing interaction to develop naturally rather than being imposed.

The project proposes a shift from housing as a collection of isolated units towards housing as a social environment. Through subtle architectural intervention, Krets explores how the spaces between can support connection, wellbeing and a more resilient form of everyday urban life.