When Hossein and Anna took the step to buy a yellow 1936 functionalist house in Lund, they knew they were facing a huge challenge. With a renovation budget of 3.2 million SEK and great ambitions to preserve the funky style, they transformed a run-down house into a modern home for their family. Here’s their inspiring story from episode six, Lund – House Dreams.
Table of contents
The family and their dream
Anna, 38, a nurse, and Hossein, 39, a project manager, had long been looking for the perfect home for themselves and their three children: Olivia, Sam and David. When a friend pointed out a yellow functionalist house for sale, they saw the potential despite its extensive renovation needs. The house’s location in Lund was ideal, and they knew this could be their dream home.
History and first steps of the house
The house, built in 1936, is a typical representative of functionalist architecture. It was purchased for SEK 4,250,000, but the real journey began in December 2016 when Hossein took on the responsibility of renovating it during his paternity leave. With the ambition to preserve the house’s charm, Hossein took on the project with great enthusiasm.
Preserving functional ice - challenges and solutions
Hossein immersed himself in the Funkis style and decided to revive many of the details characteristic of the era, such as skirting boards and door linings. But while enthusiasm was high, time was limited. When he realized that it was more practical to have a carpenter make new details instead of renovating the old ones, he found a balance between authenticity and functionality.
Gert Wingårdh, who guided viewers through the features of the funkis, did note one anomaly – the house’s facade. Originally intended to be white plastered, Hossein and Anna had opted to keep the yellow brick facade, which sparked debate in the program. For Hossein, the brick was an aesthetic strength that he didn’t want to sacrifice to follow the style to the letter.
A major renovation
The renovation involved a total transformation of the house. When the construction project started, it was discovered that the joists were rotten and needed to be replaced. All the electrical and plumbing work also required complete reworking. To ensure good energy efficiency, geothermal and underfloor heating was installed throughout the house.
The ground floor was redesigned to create a modern kitchen and spacious living room. At the same time, original features such as the terrazzo staircase were renovated, echoing the functionalist choice of materials. The family bedroom was placed upstairs, and two brand new bathrooms were added to the house.
Modern functionality in a classic home
Despite the extensive renovations, there were aspects where Anna and Hossein chose a modern solution over the functionalist ideal. A larger kitchen, open spaces and modern heating made the house both practical and comfortable for a family in today’s society.
However, they kept several functionalist details such as tiles in the bathrooms and strip parquet on the floors, creating a harmonious balance between past and present.
Facts about the house
Year of construction: 1936
Size: 148 sqm
Purchase price: SEK 4,250,000
Renovation budget: SEK 3.2 million
Renovation period: December 2016 – September 2017
Energy: Geothermal and underfloor heating
Materials: Terrazzo in hall and staircase, strip parquet floor
Closure
Hossein and Anna’s project is proof of how dreams can become reality through hard work and compromise. With respect for the functional style and a desire to create a modern home, they have given a new life to a classic 1930s house. Their journey shows that building preservation is all about balance – honoring history without sacrificing convenience.
Be inspired by their story and discover more possibilities for your own dream home at Stiligt. Let us help you create something unique and sustainable!
