White Arkitekter AB is an architectural practice founded in 1951 by Sidney White and Per-Axel Ekholm, initially in Gothenburg. Their first key project—Baronbackarna, a residential development—set a precedent for the firm’s persistent focus on social impact and quality of life in the built environment. In the 1960s, White Arkitekter expanded to Stockholm and diversified beyond residential work, moving into master planning, healthcare, and public sector commissions.
Today, the firm is headquartered in Sweden and recognized as the largest architectural office in Scandinavia, employing over 900 staff distributed across 16 offices in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and the UK. The ownership model is collective: over 600 employees are shareholders, which encourages collaboration and employee retention. White Arkitekter is entirely employee-owned.
The firm works across a broad spectrum, from hospitals, residential and commercial buildings to large-scale urban planning and landscape design. Notable recent projects include the relocation of Kiruna city, the Sara Cultural Centre in Skellefteå (one of the world’s tallest timber buildings), and interiors for the Selma Cultural Centre in Gothenburg, where 92% of materials were reused.
White Arkitekter is also active internationally, with work completed in over 50 countries. Sustainability, evidence-based design, and a multidisciplinary approach underpin their activity. Several projects have received awards, including the Väven Cultural Centre and international recognition for their work in integrating sustainability in architecture.