A new district means new waste, and planning for its management must start early. Instead of hiding the problem, Järfälla’s terminal uses an efficient underground vacuum system, transporting waste discreetly beneath the streets. But this is more than just a technical solution — it’s a building that earns its place in the ambitious Barkarbystaden.

Järfälla Municipality wanted a facility that matched the high standards of the surrounding architecture. As lead consultant, Tengbom ensured a thoughtful design, with quality materials and careful attention to detail.

Timeless details built to last

The result is a pared-down brick building, where faceted bricks form subtle patterns along the long façades. Some of the recesses remain open, while others are filled with mortar, creating either a smooth grid effect or striking diagonal patterns when snow settles in the cavities during winter.

The terminal was designed to blend naturally into its residential surroundings while still having its own distinct identity. Through careful detailing, it signals the importance of waste management in a modern city.

“Managing waste properly is crucial today. In a way, this building is like the church at the centre of the village.”

Krister Bjurström, Lead architect

With room for future expansion, the terminal is built to serve the district for years to come. But longevity is about more than just capacity — it’s also about material choices and timeless design. Achieving an elegant, simple form requires a deep understanding of the underlying technology, making close collaboration with industry experts essential.

A shared vision for the city of tomorrow

There’s no manual for designing a facility like Järfälla waste collection terminal. Instead, it was a journey taken together with the client, ensuring a clear vision from the start — one that shaped the end result and kept costs in check.

With shared ambitions and a commitment to sustainability, something as unglamorous as a waste collection terminal has become a landmark for the neighbourhood. Winning Järfälla Municipality’s honorary award seems like proof of that.

Is it possible to create a waste vacuum system to be proud of?

It was an exciting challenge we took on, to create the waste vacuum terminal in Stora Ursvik. We wanted the building to add aesthetic value to the area and become an appreciated part of the surroundings for the residents. It also had to be efficient both from a functional and environmental perspective.

Based on our vision, rational volumes emerged with few but clear effects produced. Industrial architecture with unexpected elements. The sloping façade of the largest volume covered in sheet metal contrasts with the adjacent volumes, that we covered in concrete and decorated in part with a shadowy forest motif. Offsets on the façade, a minimalist window distribution and a beautiful chimney in Corten steel plate gives a strong character to the building. It is exciting for a viewer to see both close up and at a distance.

The first BREEAM-certified industrial building in Sweden

A plant wall for cleaner air

The most effective contrast however, is probably the 250 m2 plant wall which covers the largest volume on one side. The wall consists of more than 2 000 plants and the irrigation is controlled from London using sensors. The green wall, meant to compensate for the land used also extends the life span of the building, filters pollution and cleans the air around it.

Photo: Åke E:son Lindman

Photo: Åke E:son Lindman

Photo: Åke E:son Lindman

BREEAM-certified – and odour free

The waste vacuum terminal is the first BREEAM certified industrial building in Sweden. Fully functional, the system will serve approximately 6 000 flats. Through underground pipe systems several hundred meters long, food waste, packaging and paper is transported to the waste vacuum system from the homes surrounding it. The system is a closed one that keeps out both pests and insects. It does not smell either.

The building in Ursvik is normally unmanned and fully controlled by computers. The containers are emptied once a week. Heavy waste and recycling transporters use the nearby E18, keeping local traffic to a minimum. As a result, the streets become safer for both adults and children.