Integrating Sustainability: White Arkitekter's Monica von Schmalensee on Curiosity, Social Context, and Matters of Justice

By Julia Gamolina

Monica von Schmalensee is an architect and former CEO of White Arkitekter, one Scandinavia’s leading architectural practices. As a result of driving the sustainability agenda in Sweden, Monica has won the prestigious prize as the community builder of the year and is a frequent keynote speaker at internationally renowned conferences. She also holds the title of Chairman of the Sustainable Cities Council and acts as advisor to the Mayor of London in the urban development program “Good growth by design.” In her interview, Monica talks about working in Sweden and a healthy family life as a matter of justice, advising those just starting their careers to remain curious.

JG: Tell me about your foundational years - what did you do a lot growing up? Where did your family live?

MvS: I grew up in a medium-sized industrial city, Västerås, in Sweden, in an architect-designed house. I was very good at drawing, but it wasn’t a foregone conclusion that I would become an architect for that reason. It was when I got the job as a tourist guide, I realised that I had a genuine interest of how the city had developed and in what way. My father also had a secret dream that to become an architect, so perhaps it was inherited.

Far Roc, Queens, New York, US – White’s winning proposal, called “Small Means and Great Ends”, in FAR ROC Design Competition for Resilient and Sustainable Development of Rockaways.

What did you learn about yourself in studying architecture?

That it is all about teamwork, not the brilliant one-person architect. Even if you do different tasks, everything is teamwork. I also learned that the purpose of architecture is people – the ones working, living, learning, and healing in the environments we design. It is more about people and understanding the social context than the form. That has been with me all these years.

How did you get your start in the field?

I graduated in the middle of a recession. It was very difficult to find a job, so I started my own business and worked mainly with interior design, which was great fun. I am glad to have had the experience from the small scale to the large scale. Very exciting that the profession ranges from interiors to urban design and everything in between. The width is a great opportunity and challenge.

Eventually, I landed a job, in the early 80’s, at one of the most prestigious firms at the time, Lindroos, and my future seemed set. But around the beginning of the 90’s various financial crises broke out and I got fired twice due to childbirth. After that I thought I would never come back to the profession because of the deep crisis that affected the whole industry. So, I started studying law and economics to broaden my architectural credentials in order to take on other roles. But when I finished my studies in 1994, I joined White Arkitekter, where I have been ever since.

“I also learned that the purpose of architecture is people – the ones working, living, learning, and healing in the environments we design. It is more about people and understanding the social context than the form.”

— Monica von Schmalensee

Tell me more about the firm.

Founded in 1951 by Sidney White and PA Ekholm, the practice achieved early success in designing residential and healthcare projects with wellbeing at the heart of its practice. This aligned with Sweden’s political movements at the time, so social democracy is ingrained in its company culture. White believed in a shared ownership model, and today around 77 % of the 700 employees are co-owners, of whom 127 are partners, which adds to the anti-hierarchical spirit that retains staff so well.

Where are you in your career today? What is on your mind most at the moment?

I have had all roles one can have, from junior architect to CEO. So now I have stepped down and has the role as a senior advisor for the firm, which suits me very well. Now I have more space to take on other advisory work and roles, such as Chairman of the Sustainable Cities Council, advisor to the Mayor of London’s group of design advocates who bring expertise to all London boroughs to improve living conditions through architecture. The profession of an architect doesn’t start or stop at a certain age. It continues as long as you are interested in society, design and architecture.

Climate Innovation District, Leeds, UK – named as one of the winners at the Housing Design Awards. The project draws on Scandinavian best practice and harnesses the latest technology to deliver new low-carbon homes alongside manufacturing, leisure, offices, a care home, primary school, and climate resilient public realm.

Places for girls – a research project about how to make cities more inclusive and social sustainable. As a part of the London Festival of Architecture 2018, White invited festivalgoers to experience the city from a girl’s perspective through a piece of street theatre together with teenage girls.

Looking back at it all, what have been the biggest challenges? How did you manage through a disappointment or a perceived setback?

It is a big task to feed 900 people with work and be there for all employees. A partner-driven organisation that touts a bottom-up motto when it comes to decision-making is a challenge in management. As CEO you live with the job 24/7 and then it is very essential to enjoy it, otherwise it is not possible to fulfill. I have always enjoyed my work.

To manage through setbacks, I have tried not to take things personally. You must distance yourself so that you can act rationally and professionally.

Who are you admiring right now and why?

I think back a bit to a person I know a bit, Dominique Alba, who worked in Jean Nouvel’s agency before joining APUR, the city planning agency of Paris. She is one of the brains behind the 15-minute city concept and leads the development on how a city can be transformed.

Another person I admire is Zaha Hadid. She is a strong role model for many. I admire her waywardness and headstrongness, which is a big part of her success.

Kiruna Masterplan – masterplan of one of the biggest urban transformation projects of our time. The Arctic city of Kiruna has to move. The urban transformation is a unique opportunity to build a city that supports the Kiruna residents to meet the city’s challenges and find a sustainable development.

Selma Lagerlöf Centre, Gothenburg Sweden – a civic building for culture and a forerunner in circular architecture with 92 % reused furniture.

What is the impact you’d like to have on the world? What is your core mission? And, what does success in that look like to you?

Sustainability is still my core mission. That is something that we have driven through our work approach at White Arkitekter and it has been integrated in everything we do, even the leadership. It has opened new pathways and issues about how planning can make a big difference. We were early with driving those issues, how our processes link to sustainability and how important that will be for the future. These issues are now starting to come on the agenda, for example with The New European Bauhaus, which is very gratifying and promising.

“The profession of an architect doesn’t start or stop at a certain age. It continues as long as you are interested in society, design and architecture.”

— Monica von Schmalensee

Finally, what advice do you have for those starting their career? Would your advice be any different for women?

Make sure you have wise people to turn to. That is the best asset. Use curiosity as a driving force, then a lot could happen. Curiosity is one of the best qualities you can have. You also need to be interested in people. It is for them we design and build.

The best one can do as a leader is to create security for the employees. I tell everyone to put family first. If things aren’t working at home, they will never work at work.

In Sweden, we have conditions that give us the opportunity to balance work with family life with subsidised preschools, proximity to everything and not least regulations. The challenges of balancing career with having a family are also enshrined in the Swedish law, enabling us to work without having nannies.

After the pandemic, it has been shown that no matter which country you live in, it has worked very well to work from home. This paves the way for it to be possible in the future to combine a career and high positions with family life. I believe this will change a lot. You should never have to choose between these. It is a matter of justice.