Atlas, Southern Center in Gothenburg
Modern roots
In what was once a classic industrial area just outside central Gothenburg, you’ll find Södra Centrum. When we set out to develop new housing here, it was important to preserve the area’s industrial character – roots should never be neglected. At the intersection between 1950s buildings and old factory structures, we designed the residential block Atlas.
Where Södra Centrum is now taking shape, there once stood a brewery. Later came a carpentry workshop and several car repair garages. It is these latter 1950s buildings that formed the basis for the color and material palette of Atlas. Inspiration for the industrial character of the buildings was drawn from the site’s history, the client’s vision, and the neighboring former industrial quarters. This is clearly reflected in the exteriors – not least in the hand-laid brick façades.
“The houses have a simplicity that is consistent, allowing the material to speak for itself,” says Jesper Kryander, project director at Tengbom. “The few details that exist were developed through the brickwork, with reliefs, continuous glass partitions in the stairwells, and unpainted metal elements.”
The old factory buildings had a warm sandy yellow tone, a hue that we carried into the new brick. It also harmonizes with the surrounding 1950s and 1960s buildings. The block follows the local development plan, forming a slightly curved horseshoe shape.
“It’s a densely developed block, and we wanted to bring a sense of calm through our design language.
Jerker Kryander
Tall portals for evening sun
To reduce the overall scale of the Atlas block and define three distinct building volumes, we raised the portals to create generous entry spaces leading into the courtyard. Together with lighting designer Simon Malmström, we designed the entrance lighting to reinforce the spatial character and evoke a sense of security. The buildings vary in height from six to eight stories. They contain 146 apartments ranging from one to four rooms with kitchen. The lowest building to the west allows extra afternoon and evening sunlight to reach the balconies and patios of the inner courtyard. On the ground floor facing the street, there are commercial spaces.
A playful nod to numbers
One slightly unconventional feature of Atlas is its unified signage design at the entrances. Instead of traditionally mounted signs, there is a designated area beside each door where tenants paint their logo or address number.
“It’s a small nod to the old industries where companies painted their names directly on the brick,” says Jerker. “The brick surface is smoothed with sack-spackling, making it easy to repaint with a primer when the premises change tenants.”
From space-efficient homes to garden houses and guest rooms
Although much attention was given to the façades, the apartments certainly weren’t left behind. On the contrary, they are carefully designed, space-efficient, and offer generous storage. The block includes several smaller apartments to meet demand, as well as larger terrace apartments on the top floor. For residents in smaller units, the housing association offers a shared guest apartment for overnight visitors. Adjacent to the block is also a garden house with a sauna and a small gathering space that residents can book. Outside the garden house, a shared pergola-covered patio invites relaxation.
Powered by VR
VR to communicate the vision
An important takeaway from the project was the collaboration with JM in using VR sketches. Weekly sketch meetings helped the project move forward without misunderstandings or the need to backtrack.
“We used VR early in the process, involving the client’s project leaders, design coordinators, marketing team, and interior design lead in the creative work,” explains Jerker. “By working together from the start, we avoided later revisions. Often, ideas have to be scaled down or compromised in later stages. But since everyone was included from the beginning, we didn’t have to.”
One example is the two-story-high portals facing the courtyard.
“Usually, this type of portal is only one story high,” says Jerker. “We knew we’d be removing some apartments by increasing the height, but when we presented the proposal in VR, the spatial experience we wanted to convey became clear. Without the digital tools, before materiality is introduced, it can be harder to communicate the sense of volume. Here, we could identify the value early.”
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The original façades have strong character, bearing the kiln marks of their making. To carry the heritage forward while adding our own imprint, we chose, together with the City Planning Office, a red brick façade that ties together the old and the new.
Over the years, architects have extended the building — always with respect for the original. In the 1970s, architect Åke Ahlström (1918–2001) added a new southern wing. Then in 1976, a western wing took shape toward the northern part of Saltmätargatan. This extension brought in a modern auditorium and the technically advanced KAW lecture halls. Interestingly, Tengbom also designed this addition — now under the name Tengbom Architects, Sweden’s oldest architectural office and a direct continuation of the practice Ivar Tengbom founded in 1906. That the same office shaped both the original and its later development nearly a century apart says something rare. It shows how architecture can become a conversation across generations — built not just in brick and wood, but in ideas.
A subdued material palette of concrete, wood, and zinc conveys a sense of permanence and warmth. The cast-in-place concrete, with exposed aggregate, creates a living surface where shadows shift across the façade throughout the day. Vertical wooden panels in heat-treated pine provide a soft contrast to the concrete, while the sedum roof and solar panels add sustainable qualities.
