Mixing Hot and Cold: Fiery Soul Architects Creating Sustainable Buildings in the Arctic

Book chapter, 2018

A small Swedish architectural firm performs a strategy to internationalize in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, even into the most northern parts, Lofoten and Svalbard. These countries and areas exhibit similarities and differences, providing opportunity and barriers for architectural businesses to expand. Three strands of literature are used, business of architectural firm, internationalization, and strategy. The empirical material from the Swedish architectural firm, is gathered through semi-structured interviews and desktop research. The findings indicate that, when the firm executes its business outside local boundaries, three dimensions of strategy must be performed: (1) firm’s services are required by international clients. (2) Opportunity has to be provided and firm must response with flexibility. (3) The service, finally, is executed through an international project where synergy and customization are performed. The strategizing should inseparably relate to the multifaceted situation.