Students build and exhibit at Kristine Church

16 Construction Engineering students from the School of Engineering (JTH) at Jönköping University (JU) are participating in the Architecture Days event in Jönköping 5-8 September. They will build and exhibit rooms for public viewing in Kristine Church Park in Jönköping.

"This is a chance to develop ourselves professionally and learn a lot of new things," says the student Hermela Tareke.

Students will divided into groups use simple means and limited time and space to create simple constructions of rooms that are both meaningful and innovative. On 5-6 September they build their rooms and they will exhibit them on 7 September. On September 8, the rooms will be dismantled.

“The Architecture Days event in Jönköping is a unique opportunity to celebrate the importance of architecture through exhibitions and lectures. It is an inspiring experience for the students and gives them practical experience beyond the usual course offerings,’ says Geza Fischl, Senior Lecturer Architecture and teacher on the Construction Engineering programmes at JTH.

It is great to have contact with the students"

The project is called ‘Ephemeral 2024’, which means short-lived, but Geza Fischl believes that the rooms can still be creative and rich in content. As last year, JTH is collaborating with the architecture and engineering consultancy Sweco during Architecture Days.

“We put a lot of time and energy into these projects and it's great to have contact with the JTH students,” says Johan Franzén, architect at Sweco Jönköping.

The students will be located in the northern part of the park so as not to disturb the church's activities. The location offers both historical charm along with practical advantages such as access to water and toilets and proximity to shops and restaurants and more, Geza Fischl points out.

"Show what I have learned"

The Architectural Engineering student Edwin El-Zouki thinks it is fun to show what he has learned at JTH so far and to share his ideas. He is also happy to answer questions and tell visitors about our building project. Hermela Tareke, who also study Architectural Engineering, finds the task interesting and that it is exiting, but she is also nervous about exhibiting her groups building project to the public.

"I want to show my abilities and hope that we can create something that we will be proud of," says Hermela Tareke.

“Provide inspiration”

Erik Dreier, pastor of Kristine Church, says that exhibitions in or near churches are not uncommon, and that they contribute to reflection and understanding. He finds the students' building projects interesting and exciting, and that they may inspire new ways of looking at function and form.

“In terms of architecture, the church is an obvious building with a clear function. In signalling openness to its neighbours and issues in common gives the message that the church is both relevant, part of its time, as well as (sometimes) challenging in its positions” says Erik Dreier.

He mentions that the Church of Sweden Jönköping has more collaborations with Jönköping University and that students on the Lighting Design and Lighting Technology programme at JTH are helping to improve the lighting in the church’s cemetery environments.