The Rental Palace:A Building by Backström & Reinius and Krupinski/Krupinska

Since its completion in 1937, Tegelslagaren 12 has held a modest yet striking presence in Stockholm's Södermalm district. This brick-and-teak 'rental palace' offers a unique take on functionalism, balancing whimsy with rationality, tradition with surprise. It also marks the beginning of the productive partnership between architects Sven Backström and Leif Reinius and the builder Olle Engkvist, a collaboration that would profoundly shape welfare-state housing and postwar architecture in Sweden as well as internationally.

Originally commissioned and still owned by the same family, Tegelslagaren 12 has recently undergone its first major renovation led by architects Krupinski/Krupinska. This book is a record of a remarkable building and its many makers, stewards and users: a testament to the enduring value of architectural craftsmanship, collaboration, and care.