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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Älvpromenaden

A waterfront to enjoy
Landscape
Parks, Play & Public Spaces, Squares & Streets
Client: Karlstad
Location: Museigatan, Karlstad
Assignment Years: 2019-2020
Project Type: Design program, request documents for procurement of contractors and construction documents
Photography: Tengbom

When Karlstad Municipality set out to revitalise one of the city’s finest locations, the Älvpromenaden along the Klarälven river, parking spaces and traffic lanes were transformed into an inviting waterfront. A place where people, history, and the river meet. And where you can let your feet dangle from one of the piers.

Stretching between Stadshotellet and Sandgrundsparken, the long quays of central Karlstad tell the story of both past and present. Once a bustling marketplace, the area had gradually turned into asphalt, car parks, and tourist bus stops. Now, the Älvpromenaden was about to reclaim its charm – roads and parking spaces would make way for public squares and pedestrian-friendly streets.

A place to pause and unwind

Our goal was to bring people back to this beautiful waterfront. We wanted to create a space where anyone could stop and enjoy the surroundings – at sunrise or sunset, whether arriving by foot, bike, or car. A peaceful setting that works just as well for quiet moments alone as for spontaneous gatherings.

The piers encourage visitors to get close to the water, while the pergolas offer a sense of shelter and a place to socialise. The seating islands? They’re yours to use however you like.

We put people back at the heart of Museigatan and brought history into the present.

Inspired by timber rafting

The history of timber rafting and the former marketplace, where uniform paving once stretched from the building façades to the quays, served as the foundation for Älvpromenaden’s design.

A cohesive surface was created, unifying cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles under the same conditions, with a shared speed limit of 5 km/h. Square timber beams were incorporated into the paving, piers, pergolas, and seating areas, symbolising the floating logs of Karlstad’s past. Seen from a distance, they almost appear to drift across the shimmering stone surface.

Bringing stone to life

Speaking of shimmer, the team selected granite paving in varying sizes and finishes to reflect light and mirror the movement of the river. High-fired brick restored the pavement, creating a link to old Karlstad. This material choice seamlessly connects the Stadshotellet with the early 20th-century villas along the quay while also defining the boundary between the residential area and public spaces.

History, reimagined

Cultural heritage requires care and consideration. Preserving the biotope-protected pyramidal elms, originally planted in the 1930s, was a key aspect of the Älvpromenaden’s design. The historic cast-iron water pump, once a vital water source for the community, was reimagined as a modern feature. Now, it serves as a playful element for children.

And the statue of Sola i Karlstad? She was given a new, more dignified location.

The story doesn’t end here. We’ve also designed an extension for the historic Karlstad Stadshotell, currently under construction. And just like with the waterfront, the ambition is the same – to honour history while shaping it for today.

 

Contact person

Anders Brandstedt

+46 704 02 79 60

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Mimer’s Staircase

A staircase weaving together the past and the future
Landscape
Culture, Education, Parks, Play & Public Spaces, Squares & Streets
Client: Akademiska Hus, KTH Campus
Location: Osquars backe, Mimir’s Staircase KTH Campus, Stockholm
Assignment years: 2018-2021
BTA: 550 sqm
Photographer: Jansin & Hammarling
Collaborators: Bosse Ericsson, Ahrbom and Partners. Henke Gustafsson, uk, Ahrbom och Partners. Per Tinglöf och Nikki Bone, Ramböll. Claes Reichmann, Reichmann Antikvarier AB. Christer Kjellén, Stenutveckling Nordiska AB.

A staircase isn’t just a passageway — it’s a meeting place, a transition between two places, the bleachers of life. With that outlook in mind, we designed Mimer’s Staircase at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology as a place built around students’ behavior.

A wide bicycle ramp runs along the staircase’s raised terrace.

I think stairs may be one of the most emotionally-malleable physical elements that an architect has to work with. Those are the words of the architect David Rockwell in his TED talk, “The hidden ways stairs shape your life”. At KTH, that theory rings true in every sense.

“KTH has a long-standing, unofficial tradition of students hanging out on the stairs. The students don’t just congregate around designated sitting areas, they also sit along the steps where they have lunch, study and hang out every day”.

Nejra Lagumdzija, landscape architect

Mimer’s Staircase
The staircase’s flat slope and elongated design leave an unobstructed view towards Alfvénsalen, KTH’s largest auditorium.

A staircase designed for hanging out and activities

How do you create a modern, yet classic staircase that complements and celebrates KTH’s rich architectural history and student life?

“Tengbom has a long tradition of working with cultural environments. But this time, we flipped the process and started the project from the user’s perspective,” Nejra Lagumdzija, Pia Englund and Hannah Marschall, the brains behind the project, explain.

Mimer’s Staircase
Together with the landings and the granite cladding along the lower section, the varying facades, terraced ledges, and steps form a quilt-like pattern. This result comes from meticulous attention to detail in every corner, surface, and colour.

Mimer’s Staircase replaces a short, old building between Sing-Sing and the main building that previously blocked both traffic and sunlight. The staircase is a place for hanging out and for creativity and activity.

“The large field at the top of the stairs by Sing-Sing is a heavily trafficked spot, especially for architecture students. They use the field to make large-scale models and display prototypes. They also gather there for meetings and events. We hope that they will use the terraced steps of the staircase as podiums and let activities and events spread across the stairs and down towards Osquars backe,” explains Pia Englund, lead landscape architect.

Attention down to the smallest detail – tradition meets innovation

Every inch of the staircase, which is an expression of Modernism in itself, is built with the highest quality. The Swedish granite anchors the staircase in the country’s historical heritage.

“The KTH campus is filled with amazing masonry. Since the staircase consists only of granite, our design approach has been to mix different types of granite with different treatments and colours, as well as use recycled stone from the campus to really bring the staircase to life. Almost like a colour palette where every hue serves a specific purpose,” explains Hannah Marschall, landscape architect.

Mimer’s Staircase
The overarching design concept, bidirectional angular architecture and funnel-shaped staircase, where the granite slabs connect the two buildings, both recognized for their cultural historical value.

Mimer’s Staircase features four flights of stairs, framed by terraced steps. These steps connect to the buildings on either side at a 90° angle, forming a funnel-shaped stairway. The result is a modern take on KTH’s traditional style, with incredible attention to both shape and materials. We designed the staircase with an elongated and flatter structure to maximize sunlight. This creates the perfect spot for activities, relaxation, and enjoying an unobstructed view of the surroundings and sky.

With a deep focus on materials, craftsmanship, and student life, we have created a place where old and new blend seamlessly.

It represents modern expression, skilled techniques, and timeless design.

Mimer’s Staircase
At night, soft spotlights and recessed lights illuminate the staircase along the lower section.

Awards and recognitions

Mimer’s Staircase got nominated for the Stone Prize in 2022.

Contact person

Jenny Söderling

Studio Manager Landscape
+46 8 412 53 95

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Brunnshög

Living rather than consuming
Architecture, Landscape, Urban Development
Idea & Vision, Parks, Play & Public Spaces, Residential, Residential environments, Squares & Streets
Client: Coop Utvecklingsfastigheter AB
Location: Brunnshög, Lund
Year of commission: 2015
Type of project: Sustainable neighbourhood
Partners: WSP (Innovativ projektledning)
Competences: Urban planning, Landscape, Residential, Retail, Sustainability, Infrastructure

As part of the contest for land allocation in a new district for housing and daily consumer goods, the aim was to create a future-orientated, urban, mixed-use district fully adapted to its surroundings in Brunnshög. The objective is to develop the Brunnshög district, based in Lund, into the world´s leading environment for innovation and research and a showcase for world-class urban development. By adopting a sensible, responsible approach to planning, we envisage a fantastic place in which to live, work and spend time. The vision is to make Brunnshög sufficiently appealing to attract visitors from all over the world. But how?

Situated in the north east of Lund, the new district of Brunnshög is emerging around the two research facilities of MAX IV and ESS. It is envisaged that the area will be home to around 40,000 residents and workers.

Illustration: Tengbom
Illustration: Tengbom

Our vision of a sustainable community

As our society grows increasingly urbanised, we face the considerable challenges posed by climate change, more stringent demands on sustainability, constant time pressure and ill health. Although much of what makes us feel good costs nothing – chatting with our neighbours, daily exercise and a good night’s sleep – this is typically what many of us are lacking. Climate change is posing new, increasingly demanding challenges on the robustness of developments in relation to heat and water. Global warming is an issue many people find difficult to comprehend. What difference does it make if I take a holiday on the local hiking trail rather than travelling to Thailand?

Although much of what makes us feel good costs nothing – chatting with our neighbours, daily exercise and a good night’s sleep – this is typically what many of us are lacking.

Architecture which maximises sensory impression

When devising the concept for the district in proximity to the future square and tramway stop in Brunnshög, it was imperative that its functions and ambitions would meet the high standards encompassed by the Brunnshög vision. Our proposal involves creating a living environment for people and animals, which encourages taking the time to live and breathe, rather than consuming products. Minimising environmental impact by sharing, renting, borrowing or exchanging items. Maximising sensory impression through appealing architecture, which emphasises cultivation, food and dialogue.

Illustration: Tengbom
Illustration: Tengbom

A district focused on the dining area

Our new district, the dining area of the future, focuses on the entire life cycle of food. It covers everything from cultivation to sales, preparation, and food waste management. The area is deeply connected to food and the dialogue around its role in the future of the city. A robust flexibility allows various participants to contribute and interpret food’s significance in different ways.

Our vision with the district is to create a diverse range of urban spaces of different sizes, functions and green structures. We want the buildings constructed here to stand for a hundred years. That is why we chose bricks for the façade, symbolising safety, warmth, identification, power and authority. Steel, wood and glass elements were also added as a clear compliment to the central brickwork. Over time, vines will grow over façades and balconies, becoming an integrated part of the design. The structures withstand use, reuse, and the test of time.

Contact person

Kajsa Crona

Practice Director Gothenburg
+46 727 07 79 73

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Nytorps Gärde

A denser city with a green heart
Landscape
Parks, Play & Public Spaces, Squares & Streets
Client: Stockholm City, Exploateringskontoret
Location: Stockholm
Years of commission: 2013–
Type of project: Parc proposal

Nytorps Gärde is an important green meeting place for the Stockholm suburbs Hammarbyhöjden and Björkhagen. For our task here – to design a park proposal as part of the program for approximately 2 700 new dwellings – we want to look at the districts as a whole and highlight their important green qualities.

Many residents in Hammarbyhöjden and Björkhagen have actively chosen to live here because of the closeness to nature. Now, as the area becomes denser, it is crucial to preserve and strengthen Nytorps Gärde as a green heart. It must continue to serve as a central meeting place for recreation and social life. The denser Stockholm grows, the more essential local parks become.

Nytorps Gärde
Illustration: Tengbom

Over two thousand new dwellings and a more peaceful park space

Our assignment consisted of developing a proposal for the new Nytorps Gärde and making sure that the expanded Hammarbyhöjden-Björkhagen has a well-functioning outdoor environment and green structure. The proposal for the area means that the districts will become denser to the tune of about 2 700 new homes.

The expansion proposal concentrates the new dwellings in three areas. These include Hammarbyvägen, Hammarbyskogen, and western Nytorps Gärde. The open space, which is Gärdet’s most important quality, will be preserved. Most of the construction will be limited to the northwestern section of the field. The program also includes a proposed oak and hazel alley. Alongside this, a forest-edge alley with new biotopes and an activity alley will form the park’s three main streets.

The ambition for Nytorps Gärde is to lift the area, strengthen the connection to the city surrounding it and offer activities, mingling and recreation for all.

Activities for all – regardless of class and gender

Today, the area around Nytorps Gärde have fairly generous activity areas that mainly attract boys. For this reason, we have focused our proposal for Nytorps Gärde and the areas set aside for sports on creating areas that will attract girls from all classes of society and origin to become more physically active. Nytorpsbadet will be extended and there will be a dance and ice rink with mirror walls along the proposed street. We have placed areas for play and movement close to natural meeting spots. These include trampolines and balancing nets, designed to encourage activity without competition.

Nytorps Gärde
Illustration: Tengbom

Inspiration from the Stockholm school

In the 1940s and 50s, Stockholm city actively developed the region’s green parks. It enhanced nature and made it accessible by adding paths, benches, and playgrounds. This approach, later known as the Stockholm school, established parks as central public spaces for socializing, play, exercise, culture, and recreation. The park theatre and park play programs flourished, and comprehensive art initiatives were introduced.

We base our proposals on the values and traditions of the Stockholm school. For Nytorps Gärde, our ambition is to enhance the area, strengthen its connection to the surrounding city, and create spaces for activities, social interaction, and recreation for everyone. We aim to preserve and enhance the existing natural features, such as the forest edges and open fields. At the same time, we introduce new biotopes to enrich the landscape.

Contact person

Jenny Söderling

Studio Manager Landscape
+46 8 412 53 95

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New entrance square at KTH

A meeting place at Campus KTH
New entrance square at KTH 2016
Landscape
Culture, Education, Parks, Play & Public Spaces, Squares & Streets
Client: Akademiska Hus
Collaborative partners: Stockholms stad, Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan
Contractor: PEAB/JVAB
Years of commission: 2010–2016
Type of project: Landscape

In 2015, the School of Architecture in Stockholm moved from their own address to the large Campus KTH. The newcomer was greeted by a new entrance square specially designed for them by Tengbom – a meeting place for the people who study and work on Campus.

For more than 25 years, we have partnered with Akademiska Hus and Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, working on projects such as new constructions and renovations and a vision of an academic country road through campus, that improves creases the road safety and ties together the entire university campus all the way up to Albano. The project on the new School of Architecture included the task of creating an inviting entrance square, a so-called shared space area where the pedestrians have priority and where cars take third place after pedestrians and bicyclists.

KTH
KTH
KTH

Design – new construction meets a classical environment

We designed the square to connect the newly built School of Architecture, by Tham & Videgård, with the existing classical surroundings. The goal was to create a transition that felt both dignified and understated. To let the striking building stand out, we chose a high-quality paved surface. At the same time, the design had to integrate the School of Architecture into KTH Campus. Granite became the main material. It complements the Corten steel façade of the main building. Together, they create a cohesive and unified impression.

“The new entrance offers people a chance to stop and feel that there is a context linking these important buildings together.”

Jörgen Orback, landscape architect

New entrance square at KTH 2016
New entrance square at KTH 2016
New entrance square at KTH 2016
KTH
New entrance square at KTH 2016
Photo: Sten Jansin
Photo: Sten Jansin
Photo: Sten Jansin
Photo: Sten Jansin
Photo: Sten Jansin

An oasis on Campus


Our landscape designers have played a key role in nearly every new construction and renovation at KTH for the last 25 years. Their work includes designing and planning land, yards, terraces, streets, and squares. They have also developed care and maintenance plans. Several of these renovations received the ROT award in 1996 and 2002.

For the entire new entrance area, we have been involved throughout the planning process. From the initial application to the final stages, we have contributed at every step. We have also prepared the necessary construction documents to ensure a seamless execution.

KTH
Photo: Sten Jansin

“KTH Campus covers a vast area, almost like its own little municipality,” says Jörgen Orback. “We designed the square in front of the School of Architecture as an inviting entrance and social meeting place. An oasis for students and staff.”

In 2015, the Kasper Salin Prize, one of Sweden’s most prestigious architecture awards, went to the KTH School of Architecture. For this project, we collaborated with the Royal Institute of Technology, the City of Stockholm, the Student Union, and Akademiska Hus.

Contact person

Jenny Söderling

Studio Manager Landskape
+46 8 412 53 95

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