Archives

Public Parklet

Gray becomes green in the city
Landscape
Parks, Play & Public Spaces, Residential environments, Squares & Streets
Client: Tengbom, later donated to the City of Stockholm Traffic Administration
Location: Stockholm
Commission year: 2015
Project type: Temporary parklet
Photographer: Frida Möller

Hello, Public Parklet. How can we demonstrate, in a concrete way, how simple means can be used to create a greener, more sustainable and pleasant urban environment? This was the question posed by some of our landscape architects and urban planners in the spring of 2015. During a seminar at the Stockholm office, they were to present “Green Retrofits”, strategies for transforming grey infrastructure into green infrastructure, and wished to illustrate, in practical terms, how much such interventions can contribute to the public realm.

From these reflections, an idea emerged. What if we could create a prototype of a micro-park – a meeting place for people in the city that simultaneously purifies stormwater and contributes to increased biodiversity? One that improves air quality and offers citizens a place for recreation and rest?

Micro-park on a parking space – Public Parklet

The team worked intensely for a few but productive weeks. On the day of the seminar, it stood assembled outside the entrance to the office at Katarinavägen 15 – “10 smarta kvadrat 2.0”. A micro-park on a parking space – a so-called parklet. Our guests and passing Stockholmers shared the seating in the temporary park, enjoying the sun, each other’s company and the unexpected vegetation in an otherwise rather grey and underused streetscape.

Public Parklet with stormwater management – the first in the world?

By combining ambitions for a more ecologically and socially sustainable city, we can, with simple means, create green spaces that contribute both to increased biodiversity and to encounters between people. Our parklet prototype is also, as far as we know, the first in the world to offer a solution for stormwater management. The idea is based on the functionality of so-called green streets: a swale filled with vegetation along the pavement edge. The delay created within the swale reduces runoff volume, while the vegetation captures environmentally harmful particles, resulting in smaller and cleaner stormwater discharges.

“Many people don’t realise that much of the inner city still relies on a combined stormwater and sewage system. This causes untreated sewage to be released into Lake Mälaren during heavy rain,” says planning architect Fredrik Legeby. “By introducing fixed urban biotopes as a connected system, we could create real benefits. For both the environment and the people living in the city.”

In fact, solutions of this kind may be closer in time than we think

Fewer cars create opportunities

Parking areas that perform ecosystem services. Does it sound utopian? In fact, solutions of this kind may be closer in time than we think. The needs of our streetscapes are changing as attitudes and habits around car use shift. Car pools, “car-to-go” services, rental bicycles and other transport alternatives are increasing. At the same time, technological development is advancing towards smaller and self-driving cars. Fewer and smaller vehicles can reduce the pressure on the city’s parking spaces, which can therefore be given new functions.

Parklets, small public spaces and micro-parks built on parking areas were introduced as a concept in San Francisco in 2010. Today, there are hundreds of them. Several cities around the world have since developed manuals for anyone interested in building a parklet, with guidelines for design, safety and maintenance.

“Sweden is lagging behind when it comes to this kind of sustainable thinking. We believe that micro-parks of this kind are a fully viable idea for the City of Stockholm. We would be happy to carry out pilot projects”.

Fredrik Legeby and Shira Jacobs

The landscape and urban design teams in Stockholm came together to prepare “10 smarta kvadrat 2.0”. They installed it at Katarinavägen 15 in June 2015, and later donated it to the City of Stockholm Traffic Administration.

Contact person

Jenny Söderling

+46 8 412 53 95

Related

Tjejtrappan Helsingborg

More equality with VR and girls
Landscape, Urban Development
Parks, Play & Public Spaces, Squares & Streets
Client:
Commission year: 2018
Collaborators: Rise, Raoul Wallenberg Institute
Location: Helsingborg

How can the urban planning process become more inclusive? And how can the architect’s methods be adapted to encompass the experiences, ambitions and ideas of more groups? With Tjejtrappan, we explored how VR can be used to co-create the city together with a group of girls. Unaccustomed to development plans and sectional drawings.

A public place dominated by one group of people, while others feel frightened, excluded or unsafe there, is neither fair nor sustainable. Yet through architecture and transformed design processes, inclusive environments can be created. In the project “Where are the girls”, we worked together with the City of Helsingborg and fifteen girls from year eight to examine how equality can be embedded in the urban fabric. But designing a new urban space is no simple task, even for an experienced planner – so how could we develop more inclusive processes?

Imagine your favourite public place. Who do you think feels uncertain or excluded there?

Perceived design through VR

During a prototyping process together with the girls, we selected three places they wished to transform. They analysed the sites and devised their own proposals for how the areas could become more inclusive and equitable. Together, we built the girls’ ideas in 3D and enabled the group to experience their own design in Virtual Reality (VR). In this way, they could take part in an iterative, rapid and exploratory workflow to adjust and refine the proposals and narratives they developed. The project resulted in one of the proposals – Tjejtrappan – being realised at one of the chosen locations.

Excluded group gained influence

The project gave an excluded group the chance to influence parts of the city they had hardly dared to visit. To create more inclusive and equitable spaces, we must challenge established patterns of thought already at the planning stage. With the help of VR, we established a quicker dialogue and a co-creative process within the project. Understanding of the proposals increased when participants were able to experience them both as designers and as users. Through our VR method, we also clarified communication within the project. Both within the design team and for the users of the stair. This built engagement and saved time throughout the process. The Tjejtrappan project is part of JämtJämlikt – a certification for equitable public environments.

Contact person

Ulrika Signal

+46 70 827 46 45

Related

Sundholmen

Exotic vegetation on a Swedish island
Landscape
Residential environments, Squares & Streets
Client: AARSLEFF
Location: Limhamn, Malmö
Commission year: 2011
Project type: Residential courtyards and internal streets
Photographer: Malin Ingemarsdotter

On the island (Sundholmen) in Limhamn, we created three residential courtyards and internal streets adjoining newly built multi-family buildings. We also produced complete construction documents on behalf of Aarsleff.

The island of Sundholmen lies in the district of Limhamn in the southwestern part of Malmö municipality. During the first half of the 20th century, various industrial activities were conducted here: shipyards and aircraft production. Two office buildings and one factory building remain today, now housing the local school, a convenience store, and a health and fitness facility. The northern part of the island began to be developed with multi-family housing in the early 1990s, while the southern part was built in the late 1990s. The island is also known for fishing, particularly in the northern section.

Our commission here involved creating residential courtyards and internal streets in connection with the newly built multi-family buildings. After completing the design, we were also commissioned in spring 2011 by Aarsleff, who would be responsible for the groundworks, to prepare complete construction documents.

Here today, figs and katsura grow — species one does not often encounter in Sweden

Sea-adjacent concept with exotic vegetation on Sundholmen

We developed a concept featuring exotic vegetation framed by corten steel in sharply defined lines and edges. The sea-adjacent location, with courtyards constructed on deck structures, presented particular conditions for the project. We created an engaging base structure through generous timber decking with planting beds at varying heights. The striking corten steel is present throughout much of the custom-designed equipment, for example in benches, tree grilles, and trunk guards.

The courtyards are sheltered from weather and wind. This creates unusually favourable conditions for the exotic plants we selected in close dialogue with experts from SLU Alnarp. Today, you’ll find species like figs and katsura thriving here – a rare sight in Sweden.

Contact person

Josefin Klein

+46 40 641 31 18

Related

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

Related

Skogskyrkogården staff building, Mönsterås

In fertile pine forest
Architecture, Landscape
Offices, Parks, Play & Public Spaces
Client: Svenska kyrkan
Location: Mönsterås
Year of completion: 2023
Photographer: Felix Gerlach

In the quiet pine forest just outside Mönsterås, Skogskyrkogården gained a new staff building — a restrained response to practical needs, shaped in dialogue with the landscape and the chapel’s white silhouette. A place for everyday work, and for calm.

When the old staff building had done its time, Mönsterås-Fliseryd parish seized the opportunity to create a new workplace. At the same time, they wanted to strengthen the overall character of the cemetery. Their goal was to build something modern and functional — yet still in harmony with the surrounding landscape.

The new building is designed as an enclosing volume around a sheltered glade – a robust, light-filled courtyard for the practical aspects of the work. The concrete walls bear the imprint of the timber formwork, a tactile memory of the site. The green roof follows the gentle contours of the ground, allowing the building to merge with the landscape.

“The building was meant to remain subordinate to the chapel, yet stand firmly in its own presence. We wanted the house to become part of the forest, not a break in it says.”

Project architect Johan Kjellnäs

Calm for work and mind

Against the backdrop of the pine forest, the small woodland chapel glows white – the main building that, despite its modest scale, commands presence. The new structure accommodates staff facilities, workshop, and storage, as well as a more public section connected to the ceremonial area. Throughout, our architecture is guided by the people who work here – their need for efficient spaces and a safe, pleasant work environment.

The adjacent ceremonial area is a new addition, conceived as a dignified and simple outdoor space for farewells. Here, forest and building meet in a quiet choreography.

“We designed a special screen for the ceremonial area that frames the space and opens towards the tall pines. The gaps in the slats catch the light and let visitors rest their gaze in the forest” explains Amanda Berggren, project landscape architect.

Nature first

Our architects and landscape architects worked closely together throughout the process, united by the intention that the building should reflect the rhythm of the forest – in the vertical rhythm of the timber façades, in the varying heights of the surrounding treetops, and in the interplay of light and shadow.

The glade, the upward-reaching, warmly greying pines, the softly undulating terrain, the heather, the bilberry undergrowth

“The untouched nature is powerfully present and provides a meditative, peaceful backdrop” says Johan. Around the entrances, visitors encounter a clear yet understated design. Shrubs and ground cover plants reinforce the character of the site without disturbing its tranquillity. The inner courtyard has a more functional and pared-back character.

Practical and dignified

With the new staff building, Skogskyrkogården in Mönsterås has gained an addition that embodies the essence of the place. It now offers both a space for work and a setting for ceremony – the practical and the dignified, united in one context.

In 2024, the building received the Mönsterås Timber Architecture Prize. The award highlights the importance of creating architecture that cares. Not just for the natural environment, but also for the people who use it. Ultimately, it’s a recognition of thoughtful design.

Contact person

Elin Lönnbom

+46 708 79 99 12

Related

Trollhättan city park

A makeover for Folkets Park
Landscape
Parks, Play & Public Spaces
Client: Trollhättan stad
Location: Trollhättan
Project year: 2021–2022
GFA: Approx. 17,000 sqm
Photographer: Werner Nystrand

Trollhättan City Park has undergone a makeover. Folkets Park has now become a modern, safe and multifaceted city park, shaped with respect for its history. And not least, beautiful.

“Our aim was to transform Folkets Park into a city park that feels inviting and functional for everyone,” says Ludmila Sandqvist, landscape architect at Tengbom in Gothenburg.

The new City Park emerged by merging the culturally historic Folkets Park with the adjacent oak park Lunnen. A full renovation and upgrade were carried out on site, and the first phase of the City Park was inaugurated in 2022.

A place to gather, rooted in cultural heritage

An important aspect of the design process was to reinforce the park’s role as a gathering place while preserving its cultural heritage. This was achieved by creating a park accessible to all, where several different activities attract a wider audience. Today, visitors can gather in both large and small groups, relax, spend time or play across generous open spaces in the form of lawns, meet friends at the park’s entrance square and enjoy richly planted borders, as well as attend concerts and theatre performances.

Re-use and intelligent water management

Sustainability has been central throughout the development of Trollhättan City Park. The old park benches have been restored and reused.

Photo: Tengbom

“We used materials and solutions that are both durable and elegant,” says Ludmila. “By reusing and thinking smart, we have created a park that is both environmentally responsible and visually appealing.”

We prioritised effective stormwater management with permeable stone-dust surfaces and expansive planting beds. Water is used as a creative element, where stormwater is delayed in open systems. The park faces a high risk of flooding during heavy rainfall. For this reason, we aimed to reduce existing impermeable hard surfaces, primarily asphalt. The planting is a mix of traditional and contemporary species, selected to flower in different seasons and to attract both people and pollinators.

“To ensure the park feels alive year-round, for both people and wildlife, we chose plants that bloom at different times.”

Ludmila Sandqvist

Trollhättan City Park – event-flexible

A new fence now supports the park’s ability to host larger events. Redesigned entrances and circulation make the park feel open and welcoming — even when no events are taking place.

“We wanted to create a park that is flexible and can be used in many different ways,” concludes Ludmila. “At the same time, our ambition was for the park to be a safe and accessible place for everyone, regardless of the time of year.”

Photo: Tengbom

Contact person

Kajsa Crona

+46 727 07 79 73

Related

Storsjö Strand

With a view of the mountains
Landscape
Parks, Play & Public Spaces, Residential environments, Squares & Streets
Client: Östersunds kommun
Location: Östersund
Year of construction: 2019
Photographer: Göran Strand

At Storsjö Strand in Östersund, a new district is taking shape that reconnects the city with the water while opening towards the mountain landscape. Together with the municipality, our landscape architects in Uppsala developed a new outdoor oasis with a focus on social values. It is a welcoming gathering place throughout the year, offering everything from well-considered terrace solutions to generous jetties and sheltered seating.

A sweaty run or a cosy coffee with friends? You choose. Storsjö Strand is designed to support a wide range of activities.

The Storsjö Strand area is a popular destination for both residents and visitors in Östersund. Here, the city meets the lake, and the generous jetty invites people to a shoreline promenade that can be as active as it is restorative. It is easy to reach from central Östersund.

“At Storsjö Strand, we designed the shoreline promenade and developed the surrounding streets,” says Linnea Bohlin, landscape architect at Tengbom. “We placed particular focus on creating spaces for recreation and activity.”

In summer, the jetty reaches all the way down to the waterline, perfect for dipping your feet.

We took the site’s conditions as our starting point, aiming to enhance them in the most natural and inspiring way possible. Through clear terracing, the large jetty extends down towards the water’s edge, while the south-facing seating steps call out to visitors to sit and enjoy the moment.

Green environments and edge gardens

A narrower section allows ground and greenery to emerge, continuing into the built environment. The randträdgård, a long and narrow planting, creates a clear yet transparent boundary against the city’s noise. In turn, it forms a calmer space towards the water where the design of the wall provides seating.

“We wanted to make Storsjö Strand as accessible as possible for everyone,” Linnea explains. “And to shape social spaces for different ages, calm oases for rest and recovery. Everyone should be able to find their place regardless of gender, age or interest.”

Recessed lighting in the jetty creates a beautiful grazing light

Limestone walls embrace the planting areas with edge gardens. The height difference between the promenade’s pedestrian and cycle path and the jetty means the wall can also be used as a seating edge. At selected points, timber additions form more comfortable and accessible seating with supportive backrests.

Ecological and social sustainability

The materials used are locally rooted, not least the Jämtland limestone that reflects the project’s guiding principles: ecological and social sustainability. Good lighting, with illuminated walking routes, is also important for accessibility. Clear sightlines and good visibility create safe environments.

From the south-facing terraces to the wind-sheltered seating along the water, Storsjö Strand invites people in. This is a place to meet — no matter the season.

Contact person

Peter Häggmark

+46 070 342 58 04

Related

Oasen

Where the hospital meets the city
Landscape
Health, Parks, Play & Public Spaces, Squares & Streets
Client: Skåne Region
Location: Malmö
Completed: 2019
Project Type: Landscape
Photographer: Nille Leander

Oasen is part of the new hospital district in Malmö, NSM, where Tengbom has designed both an entrance square and reshaped a culturally significant park. The green park environment is located in the northeastern corner of the area and is connected by a beautiful old avenue of linden trees. From concept sketch to completion, we have been involved from the outset, and the visions for both places are now a reality.

An old wall that once enclosed parts of the area has been demolished, creating light and a visual link to the city. This is particularly evident at the intersection of Södra Förstadsgatan–Carl Gustavs väg, where the new healthcare centre facing the entrance square is located. Large flows of buses and cars pass constantly, as do pedestrians and cyclists who move through and around the area. The space in front of the healthcare centre at the hospital district in Malmö offers rest and calm, with newly planted pear trees, refined ground grilles, and bicycle bollards in a geometric pattern. The new pear trees have been provided with a drained and aerated planting bed to give them optimal conditions for establishment and growth.

Trees as a connecting theme in the hospital district in Malmö

Large existing trees have been essential to preserve and have formed the basis for the design of the projects. The trees are old, tall, and contribute much-needed greenery and pleasant shade. Both the square and the park are intended to offer patients and staff restorative experiences beneath the tree canopies. Tengbom has worked deliberately with evidence-based design that emphasises the importance of greenery for patient recovery as well as for staff wellbeing and recuperation. The trees have therefore been the first priority.

Part of the city

The goal is to make the hospital district in Malmö feel like a natural and welcoming part of the city. A diagonal gravel path cuts through the heritage-protected park. Meanwhile, low granite walls in varying heights frame the green spaces. By lifting the planted areas, we raise their status and reduce wear. As a bonus, the surrounding walls also work as seating. In the southern part of the park, two large bicycle buildings with varied timber façades now stand. Most importantly, they meet the staff’s wish for safe bike parking in this busy area.

Green spaces across Malmö’s hospital district have now been carefully restored. Newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials bring visual richness to the area. Near the old main building, classic pairings like roses and lavender create a familiar yet refined atmosphere. Three older sculptures — two of them once part of the park — have also found new, thoughtfully chosen homes. Each one engages with water, through gently trickling fountains or still reflecting pools. Framed by fresh plantings, they create a quiet dialogue between past and present.

“In the Oasen project, we focused on a careful and sustainable design in an existing setting,” says Malin Ingemarsdotter Jönsson, former lead landscape architect. “Clear guidelines shaped how we handled the spaces between buildings and outdoor areas. These documents had a strong influence on our design. We also had to plan for complex logistics – above ground and below. With culverts, utility lines and everyday movement through the area.”

Consideration for logistics – core business

Art creates encounters

The project also involved relocating a large existing artwork, GAP. We found a natural new site in the southwestern part of the hospital district, beside a main pathway lined with large plane trees. Today, the sculpture stands on a granite terrace. It has already become a place for both encounters and quiet reflection.

Contact person

Josefin Klein

+46 40 641 31 18

Related

Europatour Course Lycke

For everyone who loves golf
Landscape
Sports
Client: Golf of Course Marstrand
Location: Kungälv
Commission year: 2004–2008
Additions: 2015

What does it take to create a course that challenges at an international level yet welcomes players of all abilities? Lycke Golf Club balances precision and playability with a design that harmonises with the natural landscape, making every round unique. Europatour Course Lycke is designed by Tengbom’s golf course specialists.

Lycke Golf Club, with its 18 holes, sits gently beside the nature reserve at Tofta Manor, just north of Gothenburg. As a result, the setting is both peaceful and striking. Moreover, the experience goes beyond the game itself. Thanks to its rare mix of coastal breeze and lush parkland, the course leaves a lasting impression. Long after the final putt.

Europatour Course Lycke in harmony with nature

The course was designed by our golf course architect Johan Henrikson and conceived to offer players a varied and nature-inspired challenge. Generous greens allow for multiple pin placements, while the wind frequently puts players to the test. Although the hazards challenge the skilled golfer, the course is not excessively long, providing a rewarding experience also for high-handicap players. Here, quality and identity take centre stage — not least through the careful adaptation to the surrounding landscape.

Created for championships – and for all golf enthusiasts

The Europatour and international quality

In 2007, Lycke Golf Club hosted the Ladies European Tour, placing the course firmly on the international map. Helen Alfredsson, British Open champion and also a PGLA player, participated in the design process as co-designer, contributing valuable experience, perspectives, and insights. With its focus on quality and a strong connection to the surrounding nature, Lycke has continued to be a destination that attracts golfers from near and far.

Contact person

Johan Henrikson

+46 31 761 64 27

Related

The glass veranda at Vreta Golf Club

On the site's terms
Vreta Golf Club
Architecture, Landscape
Client: Vreta Kloster Golf Club
Location: Ljungsbro
Project Year: 2023–2024
Collaborating Partner: Structural Engineer Patrik Samuelsson, Conlink
Photographer: Patrik Ekenblom

There’s something special about old barns. Especially when they’re allowed to remain exactly what they are – but with new possibilities. At Vreta Golf Club outside Linköping, a heritage-listed barn was joined by a new glass veranda. A discreet addition that leaves the barn untouched.

Vreta Golf Club

Adding something new to something old is a balancing act. When Vreta Golf Club wanted to develop its clubhouse, the goal wasn’t to change it, but to enhance what was already there. With careful interventions and sustainable material choices, the clubhouse has now gained an addition that connects to the building’s history and the surrounding nature.

Understand first, then draw

This is a project born from close collaboration with both the client and local craftsmen. The aim was never to design everything in detail, but to create a building permit document suited to the sensitive environment. Much of it then took shape on site, through conversations and moments of shared inspiration.

Vreta Golf Club

— This wasn’t about designing a new building. It was about understanding what already existed, and making the additions needed – as gently as possible – to create more space for dining and socializing, says Helena Hasselberg, lead landscape architect at Tengbom Linköping.

The clubhouse, a historic barn, is the heart of the facility. By adding a glass-enclosed veranda and an outdoor seating area with a 180-degree view of the golf course, it has undergone a natural evolution. The character of the barn still leads the way, while the new additions blend in seamlessly.

Vreta Golf Club
Illustration by Helena Hasselberg

Old materials with new stories

The material choices pay tribute to the site and its history. The brick floor stretches from the interior out onto the terrace, creating a natural transition between indoors and out. The roof is covered with sedum and also contributes to biodiversity.

Vreta Golf Club
Custom designed fireplace. Photo: Tengbom

Thanks to copper sheeting from Linköping Cathedral, the new bar counter gleams — the client reclaimed and reused the material during the church’s renovation. The beautifully aged metal sparks curiosity. The staircase is also repurposed, built from reclaimed planks from the farm, and the rustic tables carry marks of previous lives. These are the kinds of details that make the new outdoor room feel lived-in rather than brand new.

— The fact that the bar counter is clad in copper that sat on the cathedral for hundreds of years… it really affects the atmosphere here. And it says a lot about the kind of client we worked with, where every detail mattered, and nothing was done halfway, says Helena.

A custom-designed hood hangs above the fireplace in the room, also clad in the reclaimed copper sheeting.

 

A meeting place for more than golfers

The outdoor room is bright, warm, and faces the course. But it’s also meant for those who just want to have a coffee, spend time together, or gaze out over the landscape. In winter, ski tracks run across the fields, and the barn stands as a steady centerpiece all year round.

— We wanted this to be a place where people would want to stay a while. Whether or not they play golf, Helena explains.

Vreta Golf Club Vreta Golf Club

New, yet self-evident

The extension is discreet but changes the whole house. It creates more places to gather, better flow, and a greater sense of community. The barn remains the main character, but now with company that amplifies rather than alters.

Inside, the raw brick floor forms a solid foundation alongside robust furniture, chosen to be used. An acoustic ceiling lowers the sound level and makes the space just as suitable for a glass of wine as for a meeting after nine holes.

New, yet self-evident. As if it had always been part of the whole.

Contact person

Helena Hasselberg

+46 13 35 55 34

Related