Accumulator tank Helan & Halvan

With its distinctive silhouette – a slender building volume leaning against the large cylinder – Helan & Halvan balances function, equilibrium and expression in one gesture. The façade in corrugated steel sheeting connects to Gothenburg’s industrial heritage, while the two volumes form an artistic composition. The new accumulator tank will be both an important part of the city’s energy infrastructure and a future landmark as Gullbergsvass transforms into a dense urban environment.

“Working in the boundary between the technical and the aesthetic is something I truly appreciate. Here there is an opportunity to let a necessary building become something that also tells a story about the place and the city’s development,” says Joao Pereira, lead architect at Tengbom.

Gränslöst byggtänk

Behind the design stands Marcelo Dantas, an architect based in Portugal. For the continued development he collaborates with Tengbom, where Joao Pereira leads the work in Sweden. Together they merge two architectural traditions, with the project illustrating how international collaborations can enrich Swedish architecture. When perspectives, climate and culture meet, new ways of thinking about the city’s buildings emerge – even those rarely seen on postcards.

“When I read about Lilla Bommen and how the building went from controversy to icon, I realised that our accumulator tank will also evoke emotions.”

Marcelo Dantas

The idea behind Helan & Halvan

“The building’s large scale and inevitably cylindrical form risked becoming yet another massive industrial structure in Gothenburg’s landscape. That is why the idea was born to create a new volume composition that integrates the system’s stairs and pipes into a second cylinder. Smaller in diameter but taller than the main volume, it leans against the large cylinder and leaves a trace of tension and playfulness – an association to the classic duo Helan & Halvan,” explains Marcelo Dantas.

He also explains that the city of Gothenburg inspired him through its character and history:

“One of Gothenburg’s qualities is a spirit that is both critical and demanding, but also humorous and open to difference. When I read about Lilla Bommen and how the building went from controversy to icon, I realised that our accumulator tank will also evoke emotions. The hope is that Helan & Halvan, through its form and materiality, will in time become an equally natural part of Gothenburg’s cityscape.”

A meeting between two architectural traditions

Joao Pereira describes the collaboration with Dantas as both natural and instructive. He saw early potential in the winning competition proposal and reached out to Marcelo.

“I became very interested in the proposal and simply invited myself into the collaboration. It was a bold move, but I knew it aligned with his interests – even if he might not have been fully aware of all the challenges ahead,” says Joao.

Joao believes that the Portuguese expression often centres on achieving much with modest means.

“Budgets in Portugal rarely allow for expensive materials or complex forms. One is forced to be pragmatic and work with what is available. Here, Marcelo has used the everyday material of sinus-profiled sheet metal but elevated it by giving the technical stair a clear architectural role. It is an example of how simplicity can become beauty.”

Every country has its particularities

The project Helan & Halvan also reflects the differences between the Portuguese and Swedish construction processes. For Joao, international collaborations are about learning, translating and building understanding:

“Every country has its particularities. It requires flexibility and openness. But in the end, it is always the interaction between people that creates the architecture.”