Felles house, Vallastaden
A vision of diversity and community
Just west of central Linköping, Sweden, the new district Vallastaden is emerging. The entire district is based on an idea of variation, creativity and social sustainability. In every neighbourhood there is a common community hall that acts as a natural gathering place for the residents. The vision of the vibrant and colourful Vallastaden and the community halls is fantastic. Naturally, we wanted to be a part of it – with Felles house.
When completed, Vallastaden will consist of approximately 1,000 homes with different types of ownership. No two houses can be the same, based on the vision of diversity that Linköping’s local council hope will reflect the various backgrounds and experiences of their residents. Variation permeates the entire district – the planning of the area, the sale of the plots and the wide range of developers and architects.
No two houses can be the same, based on the vision of diversity that Linköping’s local council hope will reflect the various backgrounds and experiences of their residents.
The community hall – a natural gathering point
Vallastaden is split into blocks, so called lots, a concept inspired by how the land was divided in a medieval village. The idea was to make both seclusion and togetherness possible. To offer the residents a natural gathering point, community halls will be built in every block. ‘Felles’ comes from Danish and Norwegian and simply means community. We have created a vision for the community hall in the block ‘Inspirationen’ – The Inspiration.
An experimental gem with a common greenhouse
Like all the others, our community hall serves as an experimental gem for the entire block. This project gives us the chance to push creativity and create something unexpected. We play with angles, off-set volumes, and the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Windows are placed playfully on both walls and the roof to enhance this effect. Inside, different functions coexist—a living area with space for a sauna and spa, a party hall, and a workshop with direct access to the yard.
On the ground floor we have designed a 250 m2 greenhouse with a micro climate similar to that of southern Spain. This could house a winter garden for common horticulture. All around the area, there are green spaces and places where both residents and visitors can hang out.
The dream of a home designed by oneself
But the community hall in the block “Inspirationen” is not the only one we have been involved in at Vallastaden. In the district’s first construction community, our own Muhammad Al Zoghbi, architect and resident in Linköping has created his own designs for four townhouses with large roof terraces. He will be one of the residents himself. The inspiration comes from the Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí, the brain behind world renowned construction projects such as Sagrada Familia and Casa Milà in Barcelona. Take a closer look at Vallastaden, and listen to Muhammad’s thoughts on the project, in the film clip above.
