The post pandemic future of Folkets hus as a social meeting point in Swedish small towns

Abstract: Many people in Sweden live in displacement, from refugees, migrants, unemployed, homeless, lonely elderly or other socially vulnerable groups. The current built environment in Sweden, especially the rural environment, is segregating different social classes including people of different ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds. On top of that there is a lack of social meeting points where these different types of people can meet for interaction. A vicious circle of segregation with invisible borders is created. This obstacle makes social sustainability weak. There should be more places like Folkets hus where people are naturally interacting with people of other backgrounds during an activity. This would strengthen Swedish integration and social sustainability. However today most of the Folkets hus are “sleepy” due to the results of Swedish individualism and the aftermath of the pandemic. A new post-pandemic Folkets hus is needed. The question is “how can Folkets hus work as an architectural social meeting point within rural Swedish contexts and contribute to improved integration and help displaced people?” and “what is the future of the post pandemic Folkets hus in Swedish small towns?” Today’s Folkets hus still represents the previous interests from the second epoch of Folkets hus with buildings adjusted for activities based on culture and art through dances, concerts and parties. A change is needed. Folkets hus should reflect the interests of today’s population, not the interests of the people livingin the past. More current interests are nature based due to the results of the pandemic but also health and work-out based due to the Swedish individualism which is representedin the Inglehart- Welzel cultural map. We are currently living in an important tipping point to soon go into the fourth epoch of Folkets hus, the post-pandemic version Folkets hus.