Tenhults Naturbruksgymnasium

Located in the scenic Tenhult Valley near Jönköping, Tenhults Naturbruksgymnasium offers students the chance to combine their secondary education with a passion for animals. The school provides training in equine care, animal care, agriculture, and horticulture, with 220 students, 80 teachers, and on-site accommodation for those who travel long distances. Graduates go on to work in veterinary clinics, zoos, kennels, pet stores, or further their studies at university.

A school designed for animal lovers

A modern home for a diverse animal family

In 2023, the school opened its newly designed animal care facility, created by Tengbom. The facility includes modern, tailored spaces for various species, spacious classrooms, and a dedicated veterinary treatment room. Today, it houses hundreds of animals, including rodents, rabbits, birds, fish, snakes, lizards, turtles, snails, and spiders.

“Previously, the animals were kept in old buildings near the former headmaster’s residence,” says Sandra Skoglund, lead architect. “The facilities were outdated and no longer fit for purpose.”

To improve animal welfare and create a more functional, accessible, and well-adapted learning environment, the school needed a new, purpose-built facility. The first phase focused on birds, reptiles, and fish, but future expansions may add more buildings.

Aviaries for birds – and a tropical habitat for reptiles

The school’s new aviaries provide large, enclosed spaces where birds can fly freely. The roofs are covered with protective netting to keep them safe from predators. Exotic species, including macaws, cockatoos, and budgies, now enjoy both indoor and outdoor environments, moving between spaces through a small hatch in the exterior wall.

One aviary is designated as a quarantine space for isolating sick birds. Special attention was given to materials and design to accommodate the birds’ natural behaviours.

“Birds love to peck at walls, floors, and other surfaces,” explains Sandra. “We had to carefully select materials that could withstand constant interaction.”

For tropical species, including snakes, lizards, frogs, and exotic fish, we designed a tropics-inspired habitat with space for terrariums and aquariums.

Traditional farm aesthetics with modern functionality

Working closely with Region Jönköping, we developed a design that is both visually in tune with its rural surroundings and highly functional as an educational facility. The buildings resemble traditional barns, with a contemporary edge.

“The deep red façades and natural colour palette connect the facility to its rural setting,” says Sandra.

Balancing modern standards, animal welfare, and human needs while ensuring the buildings blend into the landscape was a challenge. Since the structures are classified as agricultural buildings, installation systems had to remain visible rather than concealed.

“Daylight, temperature regulation, and natural rhythms must work for both animals and humans.”

A functional, future-proof design

The facility also includes classrooms, staff areas, and dedicated spaces for cleaning and care. Since animals need attention every day of the week, we designed two separate kitchens for preparing different types of animal food—from insects for the reptiles to seeds for the birds.

Technical rooms are placed on the upper floor, above the animal spaces, to optimise the use of space while ensuring that ventilation and heating systems do not disrupt the animals or the architecture. External staircases lead to the upper levels, allowing storage for cleaning and feeding equipment underneath.

Built for sustainability

Tenhults Naturbruksgymnasium now has a future-proof animal care facility, offering a healthy, functional, and adaptable environment for both students and animals.

“Easy access to outdoor areas is essential,” says Sandra. “A school dedicated to nature should maintain a strong connection to the outdoors, following the rhythm of the seasons.”

The buildings feature timber frames and wooden façades, with solar panels on the roofs. Integrated into the existing environment, the new facility feels both modern and natural, fulfilling both functional and sustainability goals to meet Miljöbyggnad Silver certification.

Awards and Recognitions

Tenhults Naturbruksgymnasium got nominated for Rödfärgspriset in 2024.