Biome Recipe bridges vision and practice – a hands-on “recipe” for real-world transformation:
- Reuse and circularity: unlocking the potential of existing resources while reducing environmental impact.
- Financial and operational models: ensuring projects remain viable to build, manage, and maintain over time.
- A scalable method: ensuring adaptability across campuses and student cities throughout Sweden and the Nordic region.
- Clear roles and frameworks: defining responsibilities, resources and workflows for efficient delivery.
Together, the partners aim to create living environments where the next generation not only lives – but also grows, connects and thrives in ways that strengthen both community and the green transition.
The collaboration between Akademiska Hus, EFFEKT, and CREE Buildings brings together a unique combination of insight, innovation, and impact: Akademiska Hus’ extensive research into students’ needs, behavioral change and design solutions; EFFEKT’s research and design experience in creating community-oriented, low-impact homes with a best-in-class indoor environment; and CREE Buildings’ expertise in adapting their flexible timber-hybrid building system for student housing across Europe.
Voices from the collaboration
Linda Teng, Akademiska Hus:
“We want to create environments where students’ everyday lives and futures meet – where sustainability is not an add-on, but the very foundation for how we transform our existing campuses.”
Kasper Ax, EFFEKT Architects:
“It’s about creating living environments of high environmental and social value — places that set new standards for how the next generation can grow, connect, and thrive within a Nordic context.”
Alexander Montell, CREE Buildings:
”Understanding the perspectives of students, developers and architects on how to create well-functioning and attractive student housing for the future is highly valuable to us at CREE. By contributing to the development of the Biome Recipe, we look forward to adapting CREE Buildings’ timber-hybrid system to meet the Swedish and Nordic requirements for the next generation of student housing.”
