Women’s Shelter in an Urban Context

The very first shelter was designed to protect its inhabitants from external threats. In cases of domestic violence, the home—the place that should provide safety—becomes the most dangerous environment. Despite legal progress, including new national regulations in April 2024, domestic violence remains a serious issue in Sweden, underscoring the ongoing need for additional shelters. Victims of domestic violence require both physical protection and social support. Despite the benefits of a communal setting, most shelters in Sweden house only 1-4 people, likely to reinforce preexisting isolation.

This project explores how an emergency shelter for women and children can restore the fundamental meaning of home, providing both security and community. Given the presumed preexisting isolation of victims of domestic violence, access to social support and community becomes crucial. Three reference projects were analyzed: two monasteries by Hans van der Laan and a mixed-use housing project by Aldo van Eyck. All emphasize community and integrate enclosed gardens, principles that influenced the design. Protection should not mean seclusion. Therefore, the project is located in an urban context in central Stockholm, where the constant flow of people offers a layer of protection. The shelter is placed between a kindergarten and a residential building, forming a protective city block. A new type of thick wall that establishes a hard contour around the valuable core. Multiple layers of security balance actual protection with perceived safety. At the entrance, a staffed reception marks the first threshold. Further access requires ascending to the next level, with additional security layers such as staffed offices and lockable doors before entering communal spaces. All apartments are oriented towards the garden, with balconies shared between neighboring units. A triangular layout ensures full visibility within each unit while maintaining privacy from the street. Unlike traditional basement laundries in Sweden, the shelter’s laundry facilities are placed on the rooftop alongside a garden, encouraging social interaction in a safe and open setting.