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Djäkneparken sports hall

We borrowed a piece of the sky
Architecture
Education, Sports & Health
Client: Norrköping Municipality
Location: Norrköping
Project years: 2023-2026
What: Competition-winning proposal for a new sports hall
Visualizations: Play-Time

When the ground runs out, you have to think vertically. In Djäkneparken in Norrköping, we designed a sports hall for a site already full of activity. We thought: more surfaces, a better schoolyard, and a point of orientation in the city. Not an object in a park—even if it happens to be precisely that.

In the middle of the lush urban park, you find Djäkneparken School. Here, children balance play, lessons, and rest throughout the day. And this is where the new sports hall will be located. From the competition stage, our ambition was for the building to feel like a natural element of the schoolyard.

It was not only about adding a new function. Equally important was to build on the already vibrant place. To find thoughtful ways of creating new conditions for play and movement. The building would frame the street space, become part of the cityscape, and make the area more usable for more hours of the day.

— There was a clear idea that the sports hall should become a natural part of its surroundings. Not an object in the park, but something that belongs there, says Joao Pereira, lead architect and office director at Tengbom in Linköping

Competition concept

In the competition proposal, we formulated the idea: a timber building with a sports hall, stands, and an active roof park that returned space to the city. After the win, the work continued and the idea was further developed.

The program was adapted to the school’s specific needs. The structure was adjusted. Together with the client and the city architect, we refined the design.

— After the competition, the real work begins. That is when the ideas must function in practice and hold all the way to built reality,

says Jonatan Svensson, architect.

A significant change can be seen in the façade. The arches now open outward instead of terminating downward. This gives the building a calmer meeting with the street and a stronger connection to the adjacent buildings. In our competition proposal, we envisioned a timber structure. In the continued work, it was replaced by concrete—a change that emerged at the intersection of budget, technology, and feasibility.

— But several core ideas remain: how the building meets the ground, how the façade filters light, and how the building relates to the park’s green spaces, explains Jonatan.

The content also changed. From a larger sports hall with stands, the hall was refined to meet the school’s needs. This affected both scale and use.

— This is the stage where the project truly lands. We need to be responsive to the site, the financial framework, and how the building will actually be used in everyday life. At the same time, we cannot lock ourselves into today’s solutions—how we use our buildings today will not look the same in 15 years, says Joao Pereira.

Hold on to what carries

At every stage, as architects, we ask: what matters most here, and how do we arrive at a collective solution? For us, it was about holding on to what carries the project—the relationship to the site, movement through the building, and the connection between inside and outside.

— The roof park is a good example. It creates new open spaces in a dense urban environment and ensures that the building not only occupies land but also gives something back, says Jonatan.

At the same time, the hall becomes something of a crowning element. It frames, orients, and activates the area.

Life on the roof

During the day, students move between the schoolyard and the hall. During lessons, the hall fills with bouncing balls and high energy. We also hope that some students stay a while after school—perhaps in the break areas facing the street.

On top of the roof, there is a world of its own, with a running track, play areas, and spaces for socializing. A perfect between-classes oasis.

Inside, the materials and structure reinforce the experience. The wood provides a warm and clear framing of the activity, while the large open spaces make it easy to adapt the hall to different uses.

The value of what is used

For us, the project and the architecture ultimately come down to what they add to everyday life. More space for movement. A better-functioning schoolyard. A place that is used every day—by students, teachers, and others moving through the area.

Djäkneparken sports hall is the result of many decisions, adjustments, and priorities. From competition proposal to completed building.

— It is very satisfying as an architect to see your vision realized. Not identical to the initial idea, but still true to what made it worth building, concludes Joao Pereira.

The procurement of the contractor has now been completed, and the project is ready to move into the construction phase.

Contact person

Joao Pereira

+46 708 79 99 38

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Henriksdalskolan

Home-like
Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape
Education
Client: Vellinge Municipality
Location: Vellinge
Completed: 2025
Category: Architecture, interior, landscape
Photography: Mads Frederik

How large can a school become without feeling large? What happens when a preschool to grade 9 school is divided into smaller buildings, courtyards, and pathways? At Henriksdalskolan in Höllviken, architecture, interior design, and outdoor environments shape a cohesive everyday life—rooted in traditional building culture and village structure. And with a sense of safety throughout.

When we were commissioned to design a new school in Vellinge, the goal was clear: the school should be a safe and welcoming place—both during and after school hours. A municipal framework for increased safety in and around school environments became an important starting point in the design process.

— Our goal was to create environments where students and staff feel safe, included, and involved. Using our methodology Socially sustainable living environment, we were able to define and follow up on social values throughout the entire process, says Ellen Persson, lead architect at Tengbom in Malmö.

Dividing the large

So how do you make a larger school building fit into a small-scale context? The detailed development plan provided a long, linear building volume to work with. We chose to break it down and divide it into smaller buildings and clearly defined parts, allowing the school to feel more like a cluster of buildings than a single large one.

The materials, in turn, anchor the building to its place. Brick and wood reference the surrounding environment and help the building settle naturally into its context.

The design draws on the Scanian building tradition with a courtyard structure of four wings. This creates sheltered courtyards with protection from the wind and clearly defined spaces for staying and gathering. At the same time, they open toward the flat landscape, making the site easy to read and navigate.

Learning in motion

All learning environments were planned with flexibility in mind. The spaces were designed to evolve over time and adapt to different pedagogical needs without losing clarity. Circulation routes, niches, and shared areas function as natural meeting places for teaching, collaboration, and rest.

— Each classroom, group room, and break area has its own identity, yet they are tied together by a common thread in materials, light, and proportions. This creates environments that feel both cohesive and varied, says Kajsa Larsson, project architect.

A schoolyard for everyone also includes our flying companions.

Materials with meaning

We carefully selected materials and colors to create a calm, durable, and legible environment. The foundation consists of natural materials and muted tones.

Three thematic landscape elements—beach, heathland, and pine grove—recur in the color palette and material choices. This gives each part of the school its own character while maintaining a coherent whole.

— We are particularly proud of the wood paneling and how it contributes to a robust, sound-absorbing, tactile, and beautiful indoor environment, Kajsa continues.

Creative schoolyard – also for bats

The client’s intention was for the schoolyard to become an integrated part of the community. No fences or walls exclude—everyone has access to the yard after school hours.

An ambitious lighting concept was developed to ensure the schoolyard felt safe even in the evening. But adjustments were needed. Existing bat colonies risked being disturbed by the planned lighting, so the concept was adapted to suit the bats’ sensitive navigation abilities. A schoolyard for everyone also includes our flying companions.

One step ahead throughout the construction phase

It is during construction that many aspects are put to the test. Decisions must be made quickly, and new questions arise along the way. Being involved throughout the entire construction phase and working proactively ensured a highly successful result.

— By being present on site weekly, we were able to address questions immediately and, through close dialogue with the client and contractor, find solutions that were both cost-effective and well-functioning, concludes Kajsa Larsson.

Contact person

Josefin Klein

+46 40 641 31 18

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Sandhagen, Fjällbacka

Functionalism and salty swims
Architecture, Interior Design
Residential
Client: Brixly
Building type: Multi-family residential building
Tenure: Condominium apartments
Residential floor area: 150–170 m²
Completed: 2024
Photographer: Felix Gerlach

From iconic seaside restaurant to residential building rooted in the functionalism of the 1930s. We designed seven apartments on the site once occupied by the well-frequented Badis. But traces remain — in the architecture, in the volumes, and in the relationship to the sea. Now the Fjällbacka archipelago comes alive again.

Badis was built in 1937 and for a long time was a natural meeting place in Fjällbacka. The restaurant attracted both local residents and summer visitors from afar. Perhaps you have heard the stories of Ingrid Bergman’s summers on Sweden’s west coast.

“We wanted to design a building that feels entirely at home in Fjällbacka while also bearing traces of the site’s history. By interpreting the functionalist architecture of the 1930s, we were able to connect to Badis without copying it,” says Annelie Drackner, lead architect at Tengbom’s Gothenburg office.

When the area was to be developed again, the ambition was to build on what characterizes Fjällbacka in particular. The new building is located directly by the quay at the harbour entrance, with sweeping views of the archipelago and the community’s distinctive buildings.

Recast functionalism

The design draws on the architecture that defined the original seaside restaurant. The vertical rhythm of the timber façades, large expanses of glazing free from muntins, and shallow roofs all clearly reference functionalism, though in an interpretation that belongs here and now.

The division into two volumes also remains in the new building. The southern part is marked by a rounded central section—a form that echoes Badis’s distinctive silhouette.

Architecture facing the sea

The apartments are planned to make the most of the views over the harbour entrance and the archipelago. The building’s first floor is located just over seven meters above sea level, providing unobstructed sightlines towards the water from every level. Each apartment has its own boat berth directly adjacent to the newly laid quay below.

The materials have been selected for quality and long service life. Kitchens and storage solutions are custom designed and crafted in solid materials, with each home adapted to the needs of its residents.

The timber façades, large expanses of glazing free from muntins, and shallow roofs all clearly reference functionalism

A building that carries on

Designing something new on a site that many people already have a relationship with requires sensitivity to what was there before, but also the courage to carry it forward in a new way. For us, Sandhagen became exactly that—a project in which the memories of Badis were allowed to accompany something new. Where life now continues to move between house and sea.

Contact person

Annelie Drackner

+46 708 88 20 91

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Ämbetsbyggnaden Gamla Hovrätten

Court out, school in
Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Landscape
Accessibility, Building Preservation & Restoration, Education, Parks, Play & Public Spaces
Client: Statens fastighetsverk
Location: Jönköping
Photographer: Tengbom
Heritage consultant: Anders Franzén, Länsmuseet
Awards: Category winner in Good building conservation, Jönköping Urban Design Award 2025

Once a closed government building in central Jönköping. Today a modern upper secondary school with architectural traces from the 1870s. So how do you avoid conflicts between contemporary technical requirements and historical values? Ämbetsbyggnaden has the answer.

When the Göta Court of Appeal and the National Courts Administration moved out, the culturally significant 19th-century building stood ready for new chapters. The ambition was clear: without erasing the building’s identity, it would be transformed into an upper secondary school. The formerly enclosed office and archive environment would become an open setting for teaching, activity and shared spaces. Naturally, with high demands for functionality, accessibility and a well-functioning everyday environment for students and teachers.

With great anticipation, we embraced the challenge.

Preserve as far as possible!

Ämbetsbyggnaden’s character as a “house in park” guided the entire process for both our architects and landscape architects. The exterior was preserved as far as possible, while necessary additions were made to ensure safe access for all. A ramp, new stairways and evacuation solutions were carefully designed to merge with the façade and feel inherent to the site.

House in park

Inside, visitors encounter interiors bearing traces of the 1940s renovation. The entrance hall, stairwells and corridors with plastered ceilings and fixed bookshelves have been left untouched. Here, students move between classes in spaces that still tell the story of the building’s former life.

— The starting point was to preserve the exterior as far as possible, says Gunilla Gustafsson, lead building architect for Statens fastighetsverk at Tengbom in Jönköping. At the same time, the building must function as a school today, which means making the right interventions in the right places.

Thoughtful solutions behind the scenes

Transforming a listed building into a school involves numerous considerations. With the school’s — and self-evident — requirement for good air quality, ventilation became one of the greatest challenges. To avoid extensive interventions in floor structures and exposed ductwork, air-handling units were placed in the basement and attic. The building’s solid brick structure contributes to a calm acoustic environment, complemented by carefully integrated acoustic measures.

— There is often a clash between modern technical requirements and historical values, Gunilla explains. Our task has been to find solutions that work in everyday use without taking over the rooms.

The park that returned

Outside the building, the southern part of the site has been transformed and given new significance. Today, Hovrättsparken once again unfolds here, restored with inspiration from how the site appeared around 1870. For students and teachers, the park is an outdoor room for breaks, conversation and study — and for the city, a green space once again accessible to the public.

— The upper secondary school gives generations of students the opportunity to discover the site’s history and use the park in their daily lives. In addition, the former office parking area has been removed and the park restored to its original condition with new tree and shrub plantings, says Gunilla. The park restoration was carried out by landscape architects Anders Brandstedt and Linda Grimheden at Tengbom in Stockholm.

“A textbook example of restoration and adaptation of a listed building for new use. A careful and highly competent renovation of the Göta Court of Appeal archive building from the 1860s, where the 1940s interior forms an intriguing point of departure for the school’s interior design. The transformation of the park contributes to the urban realm, and the elegant exterior additions have been executed with great respect for the original.”

Jury statement, Jönköping Urban Design Award 2025

Ämbetsbyggnaden winner of the urban design award

The work on Ämbetsbyggnaden demonstrates how a listed building can be adapted to contemporary needs with respect, care and precision. It also shows how architecture can provide young people with an environment that both functions well and feels meaningful to inhabit.

— The positive collaborative climate within the consultant team contributed to the excellent final result, with my colleagues Jakob Ideskog, Saskia Jäkel and Hanna Ernlundh forming the core of the team.

Ämbetsbyggnaden is certified according to Miljöbyggnad Silver and was category winner in Good building conservation at the Jönköping Urban Design Award 2025.

Contact person

Matt Patterson

+46 36 440 90 81

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Bottnarydsskolan

It should be easy to be small
Architecture
Education
Client: Jönköping Municipality
Location: Jönköping
GFA: 3 622+1 548 sqm (school + sports hall)
Project years: 2020-2025
Collaborators: AFRY, SWECO, WSP, Billingham & Flygare, Ramboll
Photography: Felix Gerlach

In Bottnaryd, a new primary school is taking shape — a school that might as well have stood here for generations. The surrounding nature and everyday life set the tone. The forest framing the site, the villages the students come from, and the natural architecture already present in the community.

When planning the new school, the challenge was clear: a relatively small site but with great responsibility. About 240 children will spend their days here, many of them bussed in from various locations. This required a structure that is intuitive from the very first step — clear entrances, smooth internal circulation, and a natural connection to the adjacent sports hall.

A sense of home on the schedule

The two buildings that make up the school and sports hall are designed to feel both new and familiar. We drew inspiration from the old 1950s school and the surrounding houses. Gabled roofs, brick, wood, and a scale the residents of Bottnaryd recognize. By breaking the buildings into smaller volumes, they become easier to comprehend — both from the outside and the inside. Corridors are shorter, pathways more legible, and daily life, hopefully, easier to grasp.

— We want the children to feel at home quickly. That’s why we worked with clear building volumes, fine, honest materials, and welcoming entrances. The reused brick is essential for the identity. It carries a story the students now get to continue.

David Christoffersson, project lead at Tengbom

The red brick around the school’s façade has its own story. It is reused, with variations and traces of its previous life that no newly manufactured façade could replicate. Together with the timber structure of the sports hall, it gives the school a warm, grounded personality. A building that changes with the light and the seasons.

Bottnaryd
Bottnaryd
Landscape architects for Bottnarydsskolan are Billingham & Flygare
Bottnaryd

Order with care

Inside, the same idea continues. It should feel safe, logical, and inviting. Students enter through two dedicated stairwells and reach their classroom wings without hassle. The spaces are flexible and ready to adapt to the pedagogy — not the other way around. As it should be.

The materials were chosen with care. Light plywood and ash give the rooms a warm stability, and each classroom wing has its own color scheme in deep, nature-inspired tones drawn from the ancient forest outside. Running in the hallways, wet mittens, eager backpacks — the surfaces here are made to withstand everyday life while dampening sound. A robust, warm foundation for learning and living.

Corridors are shorter, pathways more legible, and daily life easier

Art for the imagination

In the stairwells, materials take on another dimension. Artist Emma Löfström based her marquetry on the school’s plywood. The forest inspired the patterns and motifs. The idea is for the artwork to become a natural part of the children’s daily movement through the building. A quiet companion that tells of the place and also opens the door to imagination.

— For us, it was crucial that the school would naturally settle into Bottnaryd. Wood, brick, and solid materials create both calm and long-term sustainability. I like how the playful courtyard, the artwork in the stairwell, and the two building volumes together form a whole the children can make their own, says David.

As a testament to the thoughtful material choices and design, the school has been nominated for the Jönköping City Planning Award.

Contact person

Matt Patterson

+46 36 440 90 81

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Accumulator tank in Karlstad

Heat takes form
Architecture
Industry
Client: Karlstad Energi
Location: Karlstad
Project year: 2024–ongoing

As Karlstads Energi advances towards a fossil-free future, the city also gains a new landmark. The new accumulator tank at the Heden plant will serve as much a technical hub as a visual symbol – shaped with great care for function, context and expression.

The accumulator holds 35 million litres of hot water, enabling the storage of surplus heat and balancing energy use throughout the day. It is a central component of Karlstad’s district heating system, but also a clear symbol of the city’s energy transition.

From chimney to contemporary marker

Visualization of the new accumulator tank

Even though the building has an advanced technical purpose, the architecture has been equally important. Beyond designing a building that performs well (of course), our team at Tengbom’s Karlstad studio also wanted to create a building that conveys something about Karlstad’s past and future.

“We wanted to create a building that clearly signals energy, yet respects its setting. Its scale and simple form evoke silos, chimneys and other historic industrial structures in Karlstad. At the same time, it carries an expression that resonates with the present,” says Anki Haasma, lead architect at Tengbom.

When Karlstad Energi built the third stage of the Heden plant in 2011–2015, we participated as architects. Photo: Anders Lipkin.

Industry as a design language

The design draws on the industrial character of the existing plant. The new tank is clad in an external lattice of vertical aluminium profiles that both accentuate its height and create a rhythmic pattern. This rhythm references the site’s architectural language – the vertical lines of nearby silos and sheet-metal façades – and lends the building a sense of movement and energy.

“The repeated form and the sense of height, what we call verticality, create a clear connection to the site’s character. The building has an elegant lightness despite its massive volume,” Anki explains.

Technology for humanity

At the base of the tank, the expression softens through a wave form inspired by the roof of the CHP plant. The form symbolises a new wave of renewable energy in Karlstad – a gentle movement connecting the technical with the human.

The top and the lattice are equipped with RGB lighting that can change with the season or event. From the blue accent colour that characterises the facility today to light themes for Pride, Christmas or the Pink Ribbon – the lighting makes the building a living part of the city’s pulse, especially after dark.

Infrastructure

Climate-friendly architecture

Industry

A building for recognition

We chose materials with long lifespans and minimal maintenance, in line with Karlstad’s climate goals and Tengbom’s local climate contract. When the tank is completed in 2028, it will be an everyday yet hopefully valued part of the city’s energy landscape – a building demonstrating that technical facilities too can evoke feelings and spark discussion.

“This is a building that must operate every day for many years to come, while also serving as a clear and beautiful component of the city’s energy landscape. For us, it is important that technical buildings are also designed with intent. That it is not only about function, but about creating something people can understand, recognise or even grow fond of”.

Anki Haasma

Visualization of the new accumulator tank

Contact person

Elin Larsson

+46 702 75 67 66

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Accumulator tank Helan & Halvan

Building with double passes
Architecture
Industry
Client: Göteborg Energi
Location: Gothenburg
What: Accumulator tank
Project year: 2025 and ongoing

When Göteborg Energi announced an architectural competition for the design of a new accumulator tank in Gullbergsvass, the assignment attracted more than 80 proposals from around the world. The winner was Helan & Halvan, a proposal by the Portuguese architect Marcelo Dantas. We joined forces with Marcelo and are now continuing to develop the project.

Helan & Halvan, visualization by Marcelo Dantas.

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.”

“Proposal for the expansion of the City of Gothenburg prepared by the Committee in 1863” Building Committee, Gothenburg.
The industrial area Gullbergsvass in 1935. Photo: Oscar Bladh (Regional Archives for the Västra Götaland Region and the City of Gothenburg).

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.”

Visualization of Helan & Halvan seen from the Hisingsbron.

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.”

Contact person

Joao Pereira

+46 708 79 99 38

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Nederman The Clean Air Company

Where the air is the main character
Architecture, Interior Design
Industry, Offices
Client: Wihlborgs fastighets AB, Veidekke
Location: Helsingborg
GFA: 26 000 m²
Project years: 2022–2024
Photographer: Felix Gerlach

It begins with an idea so self-evident that one almost forgets how unusual it is: clean air. In Helsingborg, Nederman, a world leader in industrial air filtration, has built its new home. Here, the company gathers its entire operation – 26 000 square metres of technology, craftsmanship and human consideration.

When Tengbom was commissioned to design the new facility, the task was not solely about efficient logistics and flows, although that is of course always essential. It was also about ensuring that the building itself reflected the company’s vision of clean air and sustainable development. The building brings production, storage and offices together with an innovation centre featuring a showroom, test environments and training areas.

“This is a facility designed not only to drive innovation and efficient production but also communication and togetherness – from the precise and high-performing to the open and welcoming. We wanted to design a technical and work environment with the human being at its centre, where all employees meet in a meaningful way,” says Patrik Ekenhill, lead architect at Tengbom.

Technology’s social hub

At the heart of the building, a central atrium opens up. It is generous, warm and bright, with timber staircases and seating that encourage movement and pause rather than performance. Here, people from offices, production and storage come together to share coffee, ideas and everyday life. The atrium is bathed in daylight, with stairs and tiered seating that invite people to stop and talk.

“The entrance hall is our social focal point. This is where Nederman’s identity becomes physical – where technology meets the people who work here,” says Maeva Chardon, project lead interior architect at Tengbom.

From darkness to clarity

The architectural expression follows the same process as Nederman’s products: filtration. The dark metal façade represents industry, strength and precision. Inside, you encounter a brighter environment – timber, greenery and open spaces that bring a sense of balance. A movement from gravity to clarity. From machine to human.

Thanks to an intelligent design and procurement strategy, 85 per cent of the furniture was reused

Nederman’s new facility was nominated for Helsingborg’s urban design award. From the jury’s motivation:

“The building takes its starting point in Nederman’s identity and translates the principles of air purification into architecture. The dark external metal shell meets interiors of light natural materials, where timber and greenery create a sensory and warm environment. The entrance hall functions as an inclusive heart where all employees meet – regardless of role – and where community, transparency and movement are key values.

With BREEAM certification, a solar park, 85% reused interior fittings and a focus on long-term robustness, the project is a model for the circular construction of the future. Nederman’s new facility is an example of how industrial architecture can be both efficient and beautiful – where technology and humanity meet in balance. A building that reflects the company’s vision of clean air and sustainable development.”

Surrounded by greenery

The surrounding greenery is the site’s great asset – something we chose to strengthen rather than change. The building is embedded in a green forecourt: meadow areas along the streets and more planted zones by the entrance. The dark façades meet the greenery in a calm and understated way, while the long window bands offer generous views across the production hall – towards the trees in the north and the sunlight in the south.

The three office floors enclose a green courtyard with daylight, outlooks and shelter. Here, a wind-protected microclimate emerges where one can take a break or move work outdoors for a moment. The timber façades in the courtyard, together with the warm interior of the entrance hall, create a soft contrast to the dark exterior. The building is also green in operation: a solar park on the roof helps make the facility partly self-sufficient. The entire project is BREEAM-certified, level Very Good.

Beyond hierarchies

Around 250 people work at Nederman. No one has a better view than anyone else. Offices and production sit side by side with shared dining areas, a gym and terraces.

“We want to be a ‘Nederman Home’ where every employee has their place and where the environment reflects who we are. Light, air and natural materials help us feel well and work better,” says Nederman’s CEO Sven Kristensson.

New pulse in the neighborhood

Where an anonymous and worn-out industrial area once stood, there is now a workplace pulsing with energy. Nederman contributes a new rhythm to the district – a new era from industry to environmental technology company.

“The property is designed so that everyone who works here has the same access and status. It is an inclusive environment that I believe is vital for well-being in a company,” says Benjamin Ulfgard, Wihlborgs.

Contact person

Josefin Klein

+46 40 641 31 18

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Mariedal

Refined conference facility
Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Interior Design
Building Preservation & Restoration, Culture, Hotels & Meetings
Client: Jönköping University & HÖFAB
Location: Jönköping
Project year: 2014–2015
Project type: Conference facility
Developer: Högskolefastigheter i Jönköping AB
Photographer: Patrik Svedberg

On a rise along the eastern shore of Munksjön stands Mariedal – a stately merchant’s villa from the 1850s, today used as a conference facility by Jönköping University. When the time came to refurbish the premises, the ambition was to create an inspiring environment for contemporary needs while carefully preserving and accentuating the building’s historic qualities.

An unpolished gem on historic ground. Högskolefastigheter i Jönköping were fully aware of what they were entrusted with at Munksjön. Mariedal was erected in the 19th century as a country retreat for the merchant Westman and his family. The property is sought after for both its heritage and its location. But time had left its mark, not only through wear, but also through the gradual refurbishments that had taken place over the years, giving the building a patchwork-like character.

When it was once again time for renewal, the intention was to adopt a holistic approach and bring forward the original qualities of the property. Tengbom was commissioned to restore and furnish the premises for modern needs. The assignment presented a challenge, requiring us to adapt the building for accessibility while recreating a classical aesthetic using historic materials and a coherent character.

The goal? To take a firm design approach and, with clear strokes, transform a rather tired and worn interior into a positive experience. We developed many bespoke solutions and also improvised new ones during construction, as the client identified additional needs along the way.

Modern interiors with an aesthetic that looks back

We decided early on to focus on the aesthetic of the period during which the building underwent its most extensive renovation, around 1912. Inspiration was drawn from signatures such as Waldemarsudde and Ellen Key. The rooms were given rich colour palettes and wallpapered with intricate botanical patterns. Based on our colour proposal, Statens konstråd selected appropriate artworks for the interiors. In the hall, for example, hangs an impressionistic oil painting whose expression is heightened by the dark colour scheme.

We gave each room its own character. In the upper salon, calm and cool tones set the mood, with dark blue and plum-coloured textiles. In the kitchen, we painted the walls in terracotta and added a diagonal chequered linoleum floor.

Bespoke details complete the impression

To create the right atmosphere, we designed key pieces like a plant stand, an easel for a digital screen, and a display cabinet with mesh panels. As the project evolved, we added smaller items too — the original candlesticks, waste bins, doorstops and tablecloths didn’t match the concept at all.

Form and function for the future

Sustainability was also a guiding value in the work with Mariedal. In addition to choosing natural materials and eco-labelled furniture, we made a considerable effort to assess what could be reused. We prioritised alterations to prominent public areas and preserved existing building components that were in acceptable condition. From a sustainability perspective, it is not justifiable to remove functioning equipment, ventilation, flooring and similar elements.

One can also speak of sustainability in stylistic terms. Within the university sector, there is neither the budget nor the rationale to continually adopt new design trends. For that reason, we selected products that we believe to be both timeless and functional.

At Mariedal, much of the work centred on refining the old and, with fairly modest means, achieving significant transformation in both aesthetics and functionality.

“We worked closely with the client and the developer throughout the project. It was a creative and exciting process for everyone involved,” says interior architect Ulrika Tjernström.

“Jönköping University had high ambitions for Mariedal but were accustomed to the standard solutions typically used in the university sector. Our interior concept deviated from that, yet they embraced it completely. The developer, in turn, faced the challenge of realising all the crafted details the premises required.”

Tengbom is proud to have contributed to what is hopefully a long refinement process – one that has begun in the remaining historic buildings around the central lake in Jönköping.

Contact person

Matt Patterson

+46 36 440 90 81

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Strandängen, Ormhuset

New housing in harmony with nature
Architecture, Landscape
Housing, Parks, Play & Public Spaces, Residential environments
Client: Vätterhem/Skanska
Developer: Vätterhem
Location: Outside Jönköping
Project type: Residential area, apartments and terraced houses with private ownership
Year of commission: 2016
Photographer: Felix Gerlach

At Strandängen, four kilometres from Jönköping beside the shores of Lake Vättern, a new residential district is taking shape. The first phase, Ormhuset and its surrounding environment, was awarded Jönköping Municipality’s Urban Design Prize 2015 in the category “Good Architecture”. In the forthcoming second phase, block structure and natural values are central.

In 2010, Vätterhem invited entries to an architectural competition for a new district just outside Jönköping. Our proposal “Gläns över sjö och strand” won both categories – an overall design concept for the area and a detailed proposal for how the first phase could be developed. The entire district will comprise approximately 1000 homes.

A sustainable district in dramatic natural surroundings

Our vision has been to create an ecologically, socially and economically sustainable district. The proposal includes, among other elements, low-energy buildings, cycle-adapted energy supply incorporating solar collectors, and systems for stormwater and wastewater management. We wish the architecture to make the most of the site’s exceptional location beside Lake Vättern, the dramatic character of the undulating terrain and the distinctive quality of the light. To ensure that Strandängen becomes a district for all, we have also designed a variety of dwelling types, with clearly defined groupings of buildings in different scales.

Close collaboration between client, building and landscape architects

Our building and landscape architects have worked to realise the vision in close collaboration with Vätterhem. Views towards the water, the ravines, the vegetation, movement routes, public spaces and several culturally significant buildings are preserved and highlighted as essential elements of the district’s identity. The area contains valuable natural features, such as a ring of old trees. Overall, there are many fine old oaks that we wished to protect. The water is made more accessible, partly through the addition of a cycle route along the shoreline.

Ormhuset awarded for good architecture

The first phase, the multi-residential building Ormhuset, contains around eighty homes. The building takes its name from the way it curves in response to the site’s topography. We have also echoed the area’s elevation changes in the building’s volume, which varies between three and seven storeys.

A large portal opens the long façade, creating a sightline towards a beautiful old chapel that remains in the area. The apartments have remarkable views over Lake Vättern and central Jönköping.

Ormhuset was completed for occupancy in autumn 2015. Shortly thereafter, the building received Jönköping Municipality’s Urban Design Prize with a diploma in the category “Good Architecture”.

Ongoing development around Ormhuset

Adjacent to Ormhuset are the so-called cultural and street buildings, which unify the district’s urban structure. The area also includes 14 terraced houses, and together with Vätterhem we have maintained a high level of ambition for the architectural quality of these homes as well. The design links the terraced houses to Ormhuset through shifted volumes, while the façade material is replaced with slate.

Inside the terraced houses, we have created open, luminous spatial sequences. The kitchen and dining area form the heart of the home, connected both to the outdoor terrace and, via the staircase, to the upper floor. On the second floor, the visible construction of the sloping roof lends character to the rooms. There is also a roof terrace.

Phase 2 is situated in the northern part of Strandängen. Here we have developed a detailed plan adapted to the character of the area. Towards the railway, we aim to create a buffer zone with a denser, higher, block-like structure. Towards the forest, the scale of the development decreases and becomes more open.

“In the entire area, ‘green fingers’ run through the built environment, and along the central street the intention is that you should be able to experience both nature and architecture”.

The architects

Contact person

Matt Patterson

+46 36 440 90 81

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