Sweden's Kasper Salin Prize for Best Building of the Year announces four shortlisted projects

The Kasper Salin Prize for Best Building of the Year is awarded annually by the Swedish Association of Architects to a Swedish building or building project "of high architectural standard" — it is the country's oldest and most prestigious architectural award. 

In the past decade, the Swedish aesthetic has been embraced globally for its clean lines, quiet elegance and strong emphasis on functionality and this year's selected projects are a good example of why. The shortlist includes the extension to the Museum of Sketches for Public Art by Elding Oscarson, an elderly care housing by Marge, an expansion wing for an art collection by Petra Gipp, and a school in Gothenburg by Wahlström & Steijner Arkitekter.

Jury Chair and founder of Tham & Videgård Arkitekter, Bolle Tham spoke of this year's nominated projects, stating "the nominated projects show, for each in their own scale and varying prerequisites, the results of exceptionally good architectural effort. They each provide inspired and detailed answers to functional requirements, technical solutions and design, regardless of architectural features. This speaks for these buildings serving well over time, making them truly sustainable."

Take a look at the projects in the running for the Best Building of the Year below!

↑ Trädgårdarna, elderly care housing in Örebro. Architect: Marge Arkitekter, with senior architects MSA Susanne Ramel, Linda Björn and Katarina Grundsell. Commissioned by: Örebro Municipality through Marie Villman and Skanska Sverige through Thorbjörn Lindval

↑ Landmäreskolan in Gothenburg. Architect:  Wahlström & Steijner Arkitekter, through senior architect MSA Jürgen Wahlström. Commissioned by: Lokalförvaltningen, City of Gothenburg, through Charlotte Odbratt.

↑ Bruksgården, expansion wing in Höganäs. Architect: Architect MSA Petra Gipp. Commissioned by: Lindéngruppen, through Jenny Lindén Urnes.

↑ Museum of Sketches for Public Art in Lund, new entrance and restaurant. Architect: Elding Oscarson, through senior architects MSA Jonas Elding and Johan Oscarson. Commissioned by: Statens Fastighetsverk (National Property Board).