The Government’s Export Prize for Cultural and Creative Industries is awarded to recognise the contribution of Swedish companies to Swedish exports and the promotion of Sweden as an innovative and creative country. We are nominated for the second year in a row; last year was the first time an architectural firm was nominated for the award.
White Arkitekter nominated for Government’s Export Prize
For the second year in a row, we have been nominated for the Swedish Government’s Export Prize for Cultural and Creative Industries. Our international presence has grown in recent years and last year we opened a studio in Stuttgart. With several prestigious projects internationally, we pass on knowledge in sustainability, transformation and timber architecture with the aim that by 2030 all our architecture will be climate neutral, through design excellence.
We are delighted to be nominated for the government's export award. It's a great proof that our work is being recognised in this context, as our mission is to contribute to a sustainable development through architecture – environmentally, socially and economically.
Carl Bäckstrand, Deputy CEO and International Director, White Arkitekter
Heinzelmann area, Germany
In 2021, we opened a studio in Stuttgart, Germany. The establishment means that we now have employees in Sweden, Norway, the UK, Germany, Canada and East Africa. With several projects underway and a keen interest in both Scandinavian architecture and several of our major projects such as the New Karolinska University Hospital and Sara Kulturhus, the Stuttgart studio has grown from two to twelve employees in a year and a half. Some of the projects the studio is working on include the transformation of the Heinzelmann industrial area and the Haus Hynsperg residential project.
Our international presence has been strengthened in recent years. It has made it even clearer to us that there is both a demand and an interest internationally for our solid knowledge in sustainability, transformation, and wood architecture.
Carl Bäckstrand, Deputy CEO and International Director, White Arkitekter
– Thanks to the fact that we, as architects, are a part of projects at an early stage, our international presence can act as a plough for other Swedish exports. For example, when we design timber buildings in large international projects, we can contribute to Swedish timber exports, Carl Bäckstrand continues.
Makasiiniranta, Helsinki, Finland
Our London studio also have several major projects underway in the UK, including the Velindre Cancer Centre in Wales. In Helsinki, we, as part of Konsortium Gran, recently won the international competition of the Makasiiniranta with the proposal Saaret. The winning proposal will allow us to develop Helsinki’s central quays with new sustainable buildings, new parks and walking paths that will climate-proof parts of the city.
Nodi, Sweden. Photo: Åke E:son Lindman
In addition to international expansion, several of our projects have recently been recognised in prestigious international competitions. Last year, True Blue waterfront park in Bergen won gold in the category “Future projects – Leisure” at WAN Awards, while the office building Nodi just outside Gothenburg won the “business building” category at the Dezeen Awards. Sara Kulturhus in Skellefteå has also been recognised in a number of competitions, including winning gold in the International Award for Wood Architecture.
The Government’s Export Prize for Cultural Industries was established in 2018. This year, a total of five companies have been nominated for the prize. The winner will be announced by Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell on the 6th of December.
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