2022 became the year when we finally could see each other again (IRL). But also, a year ripe with new and global challenges. A massive thank you, therefore, to each and everyone of you for everything we’ve accomplished together this year and for your commitment to facing our challenges together.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: 2022 has been a challenging year. A year marked by war and disregard for human rights. By climate change. By segregation and inequality. By inflation, energy crisis, and increasing interest rates. Not even the soccer World Championship managed to play its way out of 2022 without conflict.

Now you might think, “wow, this is one heavy Christmas greeting”. And yes, you might be absolutely right. But now, let’s take a few minutes to consider where in all of this we might have the power to affect change. Where can we make a difference? At the COP24 climate conference in Katowice, Poland, in 2018, Greta Thunberg said:

“A lot of people say that Sweden is a small country, that it doesn’t matter what we do. But I think that if a few girls can get headlines all over the world just by not going to school for a few weeks, imagine what we could to together if we wanted to.”

And that’s just it, right? Standing at the crossroads between “there’s no point” and “every little helps” we always want to choose the latter. Because it’s easy to feel small and insignificant when faced with all of our current challenges. But if there’s one thing we know, it’s that when we work together to build a better society, we can make all the difference in the world.

For example, we can transform and preserve buildings and spaces instead of tearing them down. Reuse instead of buying new. Develop inclusive urban structures. Create places that look beyond our differences, as well as housing that counteracts segregation and strengthens the local community. Deconstruct outdated norms and build for increased safety and security. Allow older generations to live with dignity and younger generations to find affordable housing. Design healthy and space efficient workspaces. Invite the public into learning spaces designed for equality. Develop tools that help us make sustainable choices. And, of course, create beautiful architecture that enriches our communities as well as our lives.

We agree with Greta. No one is too small to make a difference. And we also know that the better we are at joining forces, the stronger and wiser we become together. This knowledge drives us forward every day.

So thank you again for all of the ideas, perspectives, discussions, collaborations, and conclusions of this past year. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all, until we meet again to take our next collective steps together!

This year, Tengbom’s Christmas gift comes in the shape of a donation in support of UNICEF:s efforts to help the children and families of Ukraine.

Merry Christmas!

With only a few days left until Christmas, all of us at Tengbom want to thank you for this past year. 2021 has been marked by many challenges. But more than that, it’s been a year full of innovative collaborations, of a strong sense of community, and of hope for the future.

A Swedish Christmas greeting from all of us at Tengbom

At Tengbom we are driven by making the world a better place. We know that the only way for us to do just that is to collaborate – to gather as many people, skills, experiences, and perspectives as possible. Together we have the power to create the kind of future that we believe in. That is why we want to thank each and everyone of you for all of your hard work this past year.

Don’t you agree that 2021 was the year we became experts in meeting and collaborating in new ways? In spite of restrictions, bad internet connections, and echoing Teams voices, we’ve gathered for project meetings, creative design processes, new sustainability solutions, and digital celebrations of all that we’ve accomplished together. Through it all – and because of it all – we’ve learned to shape the digi-physical reality that is our only way forward.

Don’t you also agree that the main take away from 2021 is a sense of belief in the future? We hope so. Because this is it – the time for change is most definitely now. We sense a great power hidden within this realization, a power that surges through our current collaborations. While climate issues have finally been given a permanent place on the agenda, our collective focus on health and wellbeing is growing exponentially. In the new year, we’re looking forward to everything from climate declarations and life cycle analysis, to our first pilot certifications aimed at creating the right conditions for social equality in our cities. Step by step we’re also learning to decrease our own carbon footprint, while continuing to compensate for the factors we’ve yet to tackle.

As usual, Tengbom’s Christmas gift comes in the shape of a donation. This year we’re supporting UNHCR’s efforts to help all those families around the world most affected by the climate crisis. Please read more on UNHCR’s website about how you and your company can support their work. Because if our experiences from these past few years have taught us anything, it is this: that we can accomplish anything if we do it together.

Thank you again – see you in January!

When Tengbom designed NEO and Technology & Health we featured two spherical lecture halls, but there was no technical solution as to how the shape would actually be realised. By means of parametric design and the material Butong, a complex design proposal became a reality.

The requirement was to design an exterior that reflects the high-tech, digital “state of the art” interior. It also needed to have the ability to both reflect light and absorb sound. The result became the almost futuristic elements of the world-leading Life Science cluster at Karolinska in Huddinge outside Stockholm.

From charcoal sketch to complex formability

The architect’s charcoal sketch was the starting point. With
the help of Computational Design, the vision for the auditoriums was realised. Through a close collaboration with Lars Höglund, founder of Butong, and our digital expert in ArchTech & Future, the complex shapes were developed based on a parametric model – with only a series of charcoal sketches as the foundation.

“We have long had our eyes on Butong as a new opportunity in our façade projects. It is a fusion of bubble wrap and concrete, which forms a malleable and semi-transparent 3D structure.” Anna Morén Sahlin, responsible architect.

The shape was created from a variety of mathematical parameters that can be rendered in 3D, which creates flexibility in the shape that continues until the final pressing of the production button. The finished solution required approximately 3,500 unique parts for the frame and mould, with minimal tolerance over the double curved surfaces of the mould.

When Butong met parametric design, the positive effects were numerous. In addition to being able to design complex environments, zero intermediates and minimal material consumption were required, which was good from both a sustainability and cost saving perspective.

“Through the ability to adjust all parts of the casting together with the customer, we were able to implement the project in a time-efficient manner and directly generate finished production files for manufacturing,” says Shahrokh Kamyab.

“We work regularly with plant walls and especially green façades, but in the hands of Tengbom our material became something completely different. There was the formability and permeability of light and sound at the centre. This solution could not have been generated in any other way than with digital fabrication and parametric design,” says Lars Höglund, founder of Butong.

Congratulations to Simon Malmström and Janica Wiklander from our Gothenburg office for receiving an honourable mention in The Swedish Lighting Award for their lighting design for The Copper Tent in Haga Park in Stockholm.

This year’s edition of this prestigious competition was celebrated in Berns Salonger in Stockholm on September 5, 2017. Among the three projects that reached the final was the team that put The Copper Tent in the limelight with its new atmospheric illumination. The project was carried out under ÅF Lighting’s flag by lighting designer Simon Malmström and architect Janica Wikander, both working currently at Tengbom, as well as Mona Hellman and Lars Ocklund. In good company of the winning contribution by Humana, and BKS Architects, the team behind The Copper Tent received a praise for its outstanding work.

“The sober design is done with a fine balance. The character of the building has been cleverly emphasised by the well-tuned light – in harmony with the very dark surroundings. The result is so natural in the historical environment that it appears that the lighting was made with the illumination of the foregone era”, wrote the jury.

Lighting is a crucial ingredient of the architectural process since it breathes life into the places we reside in, both indoors and outdoors.

“Our goal with this project was to create a safe, accessible and appealing space, even after the night fall. That’s something we want to continue with at Tengbom” explains Simon.

Tengbom designed the Alingsås district court’s zinc-clad extension with respect both to the people and to the democratic rule of law. Now the building has gone through to the next round in the prestigious WAF Awards, competing against projects from all over the world.

The original district court in Alingsås is a characterful brick building from the late 19th century, designed by Adrian Crispin Pettersson. Last year saw the completion of an extension designed by Tengbom. Now it has beat formidable competition to maintain its place in the prestigious WAF Awards in the Civic and Community category. It goes without saying that we are extremely pleased and proud.

Social institutions such as the court system are the backbone of our country, and as an architectural office we believe it is important to give form to them in such a way that shows respect for the people who work there, the rulings made and the democracy that we all enjoy.

The extension, with its precise appearance and innovative use of zinc plating, previously won the Metal Prize.

Please find more info about the project here.