A Brief History of the Architecture Research Subject at LTU

The Architecture research subject at Luleå University of Technology (LTU) was established in 2005, building on earlier initiatives in building science, civil engineering, and human work science. The university recognized the need for a research field that not only addressed design and construction, but also engaged with regional development, climate adaptation, and northern conditions—issues especially relevant to the Arctic and sub-Arctic context.

During its first decade, LTU’s Architecture research group consisted of approximately half a dozen employees including some doctoral students. Their work focused on:

• Building design and preservation tailored to cold climates.
• Urban and rural planning, particularly for sparsely populated areas.
• Initiating doctoral education and contributing to national research agendas, notably through Formas and Vinnova.

From 2019-2020, prof. Agatino Rizzo is the head of the architecture research subject. During this period the group has expanded significantly in both staff and research scope. Key developments include:

• Active participation in major European and Nordic research projects on sustainability, circularity, and participatory planning (e.g., JPI Urban Europe, Interreg).
• A growing emphasis on artistic research (e.g., through the ARC initiative) and Arctic studies (e.g., via the Arctic Six alliance).
• A strong focus on academic excellence, demonstrated through high-impact journal publications, and on societal engagement via participation in major national and European architecture events (e.g., Venice Biennale in 2021, 2023, and 2025; Luleå Biennale in 2024).
• Increased integration of digital tools and methods in architectural design (generative design), fabrication (Fab Lab), and urban planning (GIS), supported by growing lab infrastructure for both teaching and research.

In 2025, the Architecture group celebrated its 20 year anniversary. The group comprises around 20 senior researchers and teachers, and 10 doctoral students. More than half of the group’s income comes from externally funded research, with support from agencies such as Formas, Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency, EU Interreg, JPI Urban Europe, the Swedish Transport Administration, and others.