Client:Hellasvägen Invest AB through Daniel Svensson at Energy Service Management
Location:
Höör, Skåne
Assignment years:
2019-2020
Phase:
Ongoing
Collaborators:
Oevis
Imagine designing an entire neighbourhood around a single oak tree — and naming it after that tree. That’s exactly the vision for Ekstaden, a new district in Höör, Skåne. Tengbom has developed a proposal that transforms an industrial area into a thriving residential community.
Ekstaden creates a small-scale, dense, and green neighborhood where social sustainability holds high importance. The street space and other public areas support walking, play, and relaxation through thoughtful design.
Once a hub for metalworking industries, the Hällbo area is transforming into a vibrant part of Höör, with social sustainability at its core. The district’s varied small-town character will feature open green spaces and intimate streets, encouraging interaction, strolls, and play.
“Children should be able to kick a ball just outside their door. Here, you can enjoy small-town life without moving to a suburban villa.”
Anders Nilsson, Urban planner
In the heart of Ekstaden, a green and leafy urban park sits at the center of a pedestrian-friendly strip with residential entrances and commercial spaces. In the southern section, townhouses with small outdoor areas line the park, allowing residents to step directly into the greenery. This thoughtful framing creates a secure and vibrant atmosphere. Illustration: Olof Eriksson, Oevis.
Small-town charm in every detail
The design of Ekstaden draws inspiration from central Höör, ensuring it feels like a natural extension of the surrounding landscape. Existing streets and pathways will seamlessly continue into the new district, leading to inviting public spaces and green areas.
To maintain a human-scale environment, buildings will range from two to four storeys, with the top floors set back to create a softer skyline. Historic trees are carefully integrated into the design, enhancing the district’s leafy character. With its proximity to the historic Gästis area and the Kolljungabäcken stream, Ekstaden is more than just built around an oak — it extends and enriches the region’s cultural and natural heritage.
With its location near the train station, Ekstaden is the perfect home for young families commuting from Malmö and Lund.
Lower buildings to the south provide better light in the courtyards.The houses have a varied design to create a varied, lively feeling.The elevated ground floors in particular will be perfect premises for shops and restaurantsIn order to create a greener urban environment and a visual connection between the street and the courtyard, green areas are placed in each block.
Collaborators:
Serneke, Älvstrandsbolaget, SOM Architects, Entasis, Semrén & Månsson
As Gothenburg continues to grow, Lindholmen has become one of the city’s most talked-about urban development projects. Not least because it will soon be home to the tallest skyscraper in the Nordics — Karlatornet. Tengbom has supported the City Planning Office throughout the process, contributing to the masterplan for Karlavagnsplatsen.
Lindholmen is being developed into a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood, featuring housing, offices, schools, healthcare, retail, and hotels. The new developments align with the “Vision Älvstaden”, reinforcing a more urban and interconnected Lindholmen.
Tengbom’s extensive role in Karlastaden has included shaping planning conditions, contributing to the formal planning documents, and developing a quality programme for public spaces and neighbourhood design. We have also conducted social and child impact assessments.
Photo: Zynka
A new urban district takes shape
The overarching ambition has been to seamlessly integrate the new district with surrounding areas and services, significantly enhancing connectivity and fostering vibrant community interactions. Instead of solely facing the Göta River, Lindholmen will become part of a broader urban fabric stretching towards Kvilletorget and the rest of Hisingen.
Karlastaden – designed for accessibility
“We have placed great emphasis on ensuring that public spaces are prioritised between buildings. The design of streets and squares at Karlavagnsplatsen plays a key role in making the area accessible to everyone,” says Ylva Ralph.
This means minimising traffic within the blocks and ensuring that all areas are usable for people of all ages and abilities. Green spaces and play areas have been incorporated into both private and public spaces — even on rooftops.
A blueprint for sustainable neighbourhoods
Sustainability has been central to the planning process, with a strong focus on social, economic, and environmental factors. Karlastaden follows the BREEAM Communities certification to uphold its original vision of sustainability at every stage of development. The goal? To make Karlastaden a benchmark for innovative and sustainable urban design.
Client:Riksbyggen, MIdroc, Nordr, Lunds kommun, LKF, LKP
Location:
Margretedal, Lunds kommun
Project years:
2017-ongoing
Assignment:
Parallel mission for the Margretedal quarter
Can the warmth of home life be extended into the streets? Tengbom’s proposal for Margretedal reimagines the urban space — creating entirely new social arenas.
Tengbom and Margretedal go way back. In 1999, we won an architectural competition to transform this former industrial area in Lund into a residential neighbourhood. Nearly 25 years later, the city has evolved, and so have the needs of its residents. Increased traffic on Södra Vägen and an open structure that no longer serves the area mean it’s time for a new approach.
The vision? Bold and compact. Three architecture firms, including Tengbom, joined the challenge of proposing a new structure. The goal was to create central-city living with high residential quality, striking architecture, lush greenery, and a rich cultural environment.
The park houses feature lightweight materials and sit among abundant greenery, creating an experiential and varied urban space. The block remains open while maintaining a sense of enclosure through the surrounding street areas. Hardebergastråket transforms into a scenic promenade that enlivens the neighborhood.
Architecture that fosters new connections
As a city with a constant influx of visitors, Lund demands a strong contextual approach. Our ambition is to create a district with great social qualities — a place that actively encourages encounters between people.
“It’s about finding architecture that solves multiple challenges at once. We don’t want to compete with the old town centre; we want to contribute something with its own identity. A forward-thinking concept that brings added value to the neighbourhood.”
Our proposal makes the city more accessible — imagine a lively, green street where paths cross, dogs play, and neighbours stop for a coffee. The urban environment is designed with variety in mind: a vibrant social thoroughfare, intimate alleyways, and private retreats.
The building scale in the alleys and the generous forecourt area create space for spontaneous encounters and interactions among neighbors.
Neighbourhood life, designed for well-being
Developed in close collaboration with Lund Municipality and the developers, our design prioritises quality of life. A mix of housing sizes creates diverse living opportunities, while varied building heights and a carefully designed roofscape enrich the overall experience. Many buildings will also feature private or shared rooftop terraces — perfect for gardening or spontaneous gatherings.
The angled and narrowing alleys reduce noise from the south while creating a comfortable scale and climate within the streets. In the park buildings, private balconies pair with a shared rooftop terrace, keeping outdoor space always within reach.
Harmonious tones of brown and beige define the neighborhood. Shared outdoor areas blend with private residential courtyards, terraces, and individual outdoor spaces.
Type of project:
Urban Development, Process support
Competences:
Urban Planning
Norra Djurgårdsstaden is one of Europe’s largest areas of urban development, with plans to construct 12,000 new homes and 35,000 new jobs among other things. In 2013, we were given the task by Stockholm City to be the process support for the development of a new vision and urban construction strategies for the development of a world class sustainable neighbourhood.
Stockholm is on track to become a city with a million inhabitants as early as 2024. To accommodate both new and existing residents, the city must continue to evolve. To meet the growing demand for homes, jobs, services, public transport, kindergartens, green spaces, culture, and sports, Norra Djurgårdsstaden is taking shape as a new district with a strong environmental profile.
Illustration: Tengbom
Development over thirty years
Norra Djurgårdsstaden runs all the way from Husarviken to the north, over a large port area to Loudden to the south. If you had been here during the last few years, you would not have been able to miss the vibrant creativity we are experiencing. The planning of the new area started at the beginning of the 2000s and the development will continue in stages up until approximately 2030. In addition to 12,000 new homes and 35,000 jobs, a modern port and other strategic infrastructure such as a new tramline is created.
Support for the development of vision and strategy
Early in 2013, we were given the task by Stockholm City to be the process support for the development of a new vision and urban construction strategies for the development of Norra Djurgårdsstaden. Urban development processes are often both long and complex particularly when it comes to large projects such as this. A clear vision helps increase the quality and experience of the city. Just like other large cities, Stockholm has an important task to present solutions for a growing population. At the same time, it must reduce energy and resource consumption.
Through the dialogue, we find the answers together
To run processes in collaboration with our clients is amongst the most fun and rewarding things we know – it is through the dialogue that we together can develop and define both targets and strategies. In this case, we organized several large workshops and dialogue sessions both with participants from Stockholm city and invited guests including industry colleagues from OMA (Netherlands) and Gehl Architects (Denmark). Together, we tested the usability of the defined urban construction strategies and developed the vision for Norra Djurgårdsstaden.
No two projects are the same – and the same goes for the process to reach the goal. To engage the participants and drive the project forward in the best possible way and also to develop as useful a material as possible. We developed several new workshop exercises during the course of the project.
No two projects are the same – and the same goes for the process to reach the goal.
Working towards the same goal
Out of the process and our collaboration with Stockholm city, a fantastic vision emerged with concrete urban construction strategies for Norra Djurgårdsstaden. Based on the material, we developed vision documents, illustrations, graphic documentation and workshop materials. In conjunction with this, we also worked on a renewed environment and sustainability program. With great care we continuously insured that the two projects could be woven together in a common direction and a well-established vision.
Illustration: Tengbom
Vision Norra Djurgårdsstaden
Norra Djurgårdsstaden will be developed into a vibrant and sustainable world class port city. A city which attracts the most skilled people and the most successful companies in the world. The vision for a sustainable and climate-smart urban environment will drive the development of innovative environmental technologies. This will transform Norra Djurgårdsstaden into a hub for the businesses of the future.
The five overriding urban construction strategies
A living city
New homes and jobs are coexisting side by side with new construction, adjacent districts and infrastructure. Our city– 24 hours a day – every day.
Accessible and close by
Here, we are creating a dense and accessible city that provides the basis for sustainable modes of transport. Both on foot, by bicycle or public transport.
Responsible for climate and resources
Contribute to the development and market Swedish environmental technology in Stockholm, Sweden and abroad. Just like other large cities, Stockholm has an important task to present solutions for a growing population. At the same time, it must reduce energy and resource consumption.
Let nature do its job
Improved existing and new green areas offers human well-being and an effective circulation. Thoughtful green spaces provide a functioning ecosystem, year after year.
Enthusiasm and learning
When citizens engage in various forums, they become motivated, which in turn strengthens place attachment and identity.
Competences:
Urban development, landscape, housing, building preservation, 3D/visualisation
Härmälänranta is a brand new district taking shape in the city of Tampere, Finland, driven by the objective to have the strongest environmental profile in the country. Our urban development mandate has resulted in a shorter planning process and a more flexible zoning plan – vital components for a district in which quality is paramount.
Beside the water, a couple of kilometres south west of central Tampere, Skanska Kodit is engaged in the development of the new environmentally profiled district of Härmälänranta – a natural step in the city’s climate programme, the aim of which is to achieve carbon-dioxide neutrality. In addition to 1,500 residences, the area will be home to a mix of commercial and public services, workplaces, public parks and squares, a beach and piers combined with developments of cultural-historical significance.
Illustration: Tengbom
A clear identity
We envisage Härmälänranta as a vibrant urban district with a clear identity. The area is situated in a historically significant part of Tampere, and integrating existing developments of cultural-historical importance with the new, urban environment is paramount. Our proposed new development encompasses several different functions, sites and housing, combining a variety of volumes, topologies and styles. In the centre of the area, we are proposing an activity link, that is, a central thoroughfare incorporating various public functions that links Härmälänranta to the surrounding districts. Moreover, the beaches are made accessible through promenades, piers and visiting places as well as restaurants and retail outlets.
We sought to discuss quality ahead of quantity.
Effective processes and flexibility
Our urban development mandate has been stimulating and far reaching. In addition to performing analysis and conceptual work, we have devised a master plan that includes the configuration principles that form the basis of a new zoning plan. We also drew up a design concept for the first four districts, based on the master plan, and carried out a special study of the proposal’s tall buildings.
Illustration: Tengbom
Within the scope of our master plan, we have also devised a model for surface water management in the area and carried out a sociotope study of the area’s public spaces.
Early in the project, we partnered with Skanska Kodit to present our vision for Härmälänranta to the Municipality of Tampere. Recognizing the area’s potential, we saw fantastic opportunities for development. Moreover, we prioritized quality over quantity from the start. We created a platform to preserve the fundamental qualities of a long-term development. By pursuing a shared and ambitious goal for Härmälänranta, we significantly shortened the planning process. This approach also resulted in a zoning plan with greater flexibility than usual.
It is necessary to have insight into the wide range of perspectives within the project. Not only the client or developer’s, but the users’, that is, those living and working in the new area.
Insight into the complexity of urban development
Taking on an urban development project requires a deep understanding of conditions, challenges and opportunities. It is necessary to have insight into the wide range of perspectives within the project – not only the client or developer’s, but the users’, that is, those living and working in the new area.
Illustration: Tengbom
Urban development projects come with the challenge of creating a vibrant, mixed-use city within a relatively short timeframe. To address this, we have defined guidelines for each stage of the project. These so-called design codes ensure quality, flexibility, and long-term sustainability. With great care, we have successfully driven this process forward. Rather than controlling every design detail, we have focused on defining the necessary functions and qualities. This approach ensures that the urban environment aligns with the shared vision for Härmälänranta.
Sustainable district creates inspiration worldwide
Architecture, Urban Development
Idea & Vision, Plan & programs, Process & Dialogue, Residential, Urban planning
Client:The City of Stockholm
Year of commission:
1997 – 2007, 2013 - 2016
Partners:
Several
Developer:
The City of Stockholm, Erik Wallin, Stockholmshem, Riksbyggen, Einar Mattsson
Skills/studios:
Urban Development, Housing, Helsingborg, among others
Development of the internationally renowned Sustainable City district (Hammarby Sjöstad), one of Stockholm’s largest urban development projects with a strong environmental profile, got under way as early as 1990. We’ve participated on large parts of the project over the years, including work on the in-depth master plan, several zoning plans and many other construction projects.
Sustainable City spans the area around Stockholm’s Hammarby sjö (Lake Hammarby), covering Södra Hammarbyhamnen as well as parts of Södermalm. By 2017, the district will expand to include around 11,000 residences, housing over 25,000 inhabitants. The district forms a natural expansion of Stockholm’s inner city area, something that has influenced its architecture, infrastructure and urban development plan.
Photo: K-A Larsson
The Olympic village dream
From the start, planners envisioned the new district as an Olympic village. The idea was to create a sustainable neighborhood over the worn-down Hammarby harbor and industrial area. This development could have supported Sweden’s bid to host the 2004 Olympic Games. However, events took a different turn. By then, the vision for Hammarby Sjöstad had already taken shape—an environmentally friendly inner-city district offering modern housing for thousands of Stockholmers.
Photo: K-A Larsson
Photo: K-A Larsson
Photo: K-A Larsson
From master plan to GlashusEtt
Our involvement in the development of Sustainable City stretches all the way back to 1997. Among other things, we have worked on the in-depth master plan for the entire area and several zoning plans, including documentation, as well as the detailed planning and configuration programme for over 2,400 apartments as well as public spaces, workplaces, amenities and much more.
We’ve also designed GlashusEtt, the City of Stockholm’s first environmental information centre, which has generated a great deal of attention, both in Sweden and globally, since it was opened in 2002. The centre provides information about the Sjöstad environmental programme, among other ventures, with considerable dedication, and has inspired other cities around the world to follow a similar path.
Photo: Björn Lofterud
A transparent building controls and showcases key elements of the area’s environmental technology. In the cellar, it houses an automated vacuum collection tank and a rectifier station for the Tvärbanan link. The building operates through a complex environmental technology system. It uses impulse-controlled heat pumps, ventilators, convectors, and blinds. A biogas boiler, weather station, and solar cell technology are also integrated into the system.
The ultimate objective was to reduce total environmental impact by 50%, in comparison to a typical area constructed at the start of the 1990s.
Photo: K-A Larsson
The Hammarby model
The development of Sustainable City transformed the vision of a sustainable urban district into a detailed environmental program. The ultimate objective was to reduce total environmental impact by 50%, in comparison to a typical area constructed at the start of the 1990s. However, more stringent environmental demands required a completely new set of solutions. This included a closed-loop system – the Hammarby model – with solutions for energy, waste, water and sewerage.
Kasper Salin Prize winner in 2005
In 2005, Hammarby Sjöstad (Sickla Quay, Sickla Canal and Sjöstadsparterren) received the Kasper Salin Prize, one of the finest distinctions in Swedish architecture. This prize also recognised our involvement in the urban development plan for Sickla Quay. Here is an excerpt from the award statement:
”In recognition of an expertly integrated district in a beautiful city space, where urban intensity contrasts with soothing greenery and water. Through a sound balance between content, scale and infrastructure, a human touch has been harnessed in a large, complex context.”
At the end of 2009, we won the contract to design a 2.4 km² area in Wuxi, a city of five million residents west of Shanghai. The task also included a detailed study of a 30-hectare focus area, developed from our perspective on sustainable urban planning, Sino-Swedish Eco City.
Hammarby Sjöstad is the example
Sino Swedish Eco City is, just as the name says, a city construction project in partnership between Sweden and China. The focus of the green city concept is on sustainability and environmental compatibility using Hammarby Sjöstad amongst others as an example. In addition to urban planning and studies of the focus area, our task also included the development of an environmental program with guidelines for the energy consumption, waste management, water management, traffic environment, landscape design and environmentally friendly construction – everything that forms part of an integrated system focus.
Illustration: Tengbom
To bring the plan to life, delegates from Government Offices, the Swedish Trade Council, Wuxi City, and the Municipality of Södertälje formed a working group. They identify Swedish clean-tech companies and select the best solutions for the district. KTH Energy Technology and the Energy Agency work alongside the Government to promote Swedish environmental technology. They have created two tools that focus on holistic systems, innovation, and ambitious energy and climate targets.
Illustration: Tengbom
Award-winning project
In 2011, we won one of the most prestigious architecture awards for our work on Sino-Swedish Eco City. The project received the MIPIM Future Project Award in the category Big Urban Masterplan. The following year, it was selected for the Sustainia100 list, which highlights 100 ideas for sustainable development. The list serves as inspiration for decision-makers and changemakers. It presents a clear vision and model for building a sustainable future together.
Through partnerships like these, we get the opportunity to discuss the importance of sustainable urban construction on a global level, which is both exciting and incredibly important.
Illustration: Tengbom
The Swedish model in Asia
Urbanisation in Asia is accelerating, bringing both challenges and opportunities. Developing new areas requires a strong focus on environmental impact. With experience from projects like Hammarby Sjöstad, we share insights on sustainable city development. Sino-Swedish Eco City is one example where this knowledge comes into play. Swedish design and architectural tradition is often linked to functionalism, holism and sustainability. This makes it an important part of the conversation. Partnerships like these allow us to engage in global discussions on sustainable urban development. It’s an exciting exchange, but more importantly, a necessary one.
