What is a sustainable office? Is it reasonable from a climate perspective to have your own office space while sitting at home half the time? How can design help increase creativity and efficiency? We had a chat with Anders Eriksson Modin, sustainability manager and architect at FOJAB, about the office of the future.

Spotify is leaving several of its premises in central Stockholm, Fastighetsvärlden reported in March. The reason is partly a financial saving, and partly that the company is generous with teleworking for its employees after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The question of the future of the office has become highly topical after the pandemic. Expecting employers to provide office space for employees who work from home for part of the week is not only bad economics, but also questionable from a climate perspective. Duplicate workplaces take up space, which means a bigger carbon footprint.

How is the office really doing? Are we seeing the death of the office?

- There was a perception during the pandemic that the office would lose its meaning. But I don't think the office is dead. On the contrary, it has never been so important. But it is based on being able to create attractive environments that touch people," says Anders Eriksson Modin, architect responsible for the office business area at FOJAB and head of sustainability.

Designing for creativity
- "The lesson after COVID-19 is that interpersonal encounters are very important for creativity," he continues. "Of course we can work effectively at home, as we showed during the pandemic, but quality suffered. Those spontaneous two-minute conversations are needed to build quality of work and workplace culture.

Forcing employees back to the office is not a good solution, says Anders. "This is an important task for architects: to create offices that people want to be in, where ideas can be exchanged and relationships and trust can be built.

FOJAB's own office in Malmö, Trikåfabriken, where it moved in March 2022, is designed to maximize creativity and social interaction. The entrances, cafeteria and coffee machine are positioned to encourage people to run into each other, chat for a while, and discuss important and unimportant matters. There are sofa groups to have a coffee or work from. Enough space for a Christmas party and after work. The fixed workplaces have been replaced by flexible ones to support an activity-based approach. There are also several separate rooms for meetings and focused work.

- You can get a huge leverage effect and increase the efficiency of the organization by designing the space in the right way," says Anders.

Building on the existing
The sustainable office of the future also means making more use of the existing. The old solution of demolishing and building new is no longer viable.

- We will certainly build new offices in the future, but not to the same extent. We need to develop attractive premises in the existing stock. This can be a challenge, because a large part of today's buildings are actually not very attractive," says Anders, pointing to, for example, low ceilings, poor technical standards, boring material choices and poor locations.

Here the solution is transformation, finding a new content that fits the building.

- Housing works better with low ceilings. Or maybe a hotel, or a logistics center. If you remove a floor, you have very high rooms that can become a library or a concert hall. It's about looking beyond the challenges and embracing the opportunities.

A long-term idea
Those who renovate rather than demolish to reduce their carbon footprint often face a dilemma.

- As soon as you renovate something, the new construction requirements apply. "We shouldn't question the fire regulations, of course, but should we really have to tear out an entire office interior from the 1960s because the doorways are a few centimeters too narrow," says Anders.

He would like to see some kind of reasonableness clause in the Boverket's rules for renovations.

- 'Just because you meet all the requirements doesn't automatically make it a good building,' Anders points out. "We sometimes use the word checkbox architecture. It's our responsibility as architects to make sure that we don't just check off the requirements but also have an idea of what the building is for, what the benefits are for the people who have been shown there and how the building can live for a long time. Then it becomes truly sustainable.

Not a student corridor and not private apartments, but something in between. The Villa at Helsingkrona nation in Lund is now being inaugurated with 65 new student apartments, according to a concept developed jointly by FOJAB and the nation.

Helsingkrona already has traditional corridor rooms with shared kitchens in the "Huset" from 1958 and proper student apartments in the newer "Tornet", designed by FOJAB and completed in 2015. Recently, however, there has been a growing desire for a different type of accommodation. After the pandemic, there was also a pent-up need for social interaction.

- Collective housing was what most people wanted. Therefore, together with FOJAB, we wanted to develop an environmentally and economically sustainable accommodation, which could serve as a complement to our immensely popular corridor rooms, says Sigge Meurling, curator at Helsingkrona nation.

New concept
This led to the new concept home 'Friends for Life'. The form of housing is most similar to large apartments with a modern mix of private and shared spaces. The typology is new in Lund and the only built example in Sweden is in Vallastaden in Linköping.

The villa at Helsingkrona Nation is an eight-storey building with a ten-room apartment on each floor. On the top floor there is a smaller version of the large apartment with five rooms. Each student has their own bedroom, toilet and shower, but shares the kitchen, dining area and living room. The generous common areas with spectacular ceiling heights are integrated into the layout in a completely different way to the traditional student corridor. There are balconies with growing spaces and a communal rooftop terrace with views for miles. On the ground floor, a restaurant serves as a soft interface between the students and the rest of the city.

Reduced use of materials
The design of the Villa encourages meetings and interaction. But just as important as social sustainability is economic and ecological sustainability.

- The large apartments are extremely compact and weighted in favor of the common areas. In this way, we can minimize the building's footprint and material consumption and thus construction costs and rent. We believe that students today prefer to pay for high-quality, efficient space with smart solutions and solid materials that last over time," says architect Mats Norrlid of FOJAB.

Cool features
The Villa has several clever features such as site-built furniture, recessed lighting and smart storage to minimize wear and tear when moving in and out, requiring less new purchases for new students.

- We have always felt that FOJAB has been good at realizing the special conditions and requirements of student housing. This applies to everything from the choice of materials to unique solutions that cannot be found in ordinary residential buildings. The architects absorbed our experience and had many ideas themselves, as they had worked with student housing before," says Philip Ohlin, construction foreman at Helsingkrona nation.

From idea to final inspection
FOJAB acted as general consultant and responsible architect for Helsingkrona nation throughout the project and was responsible for keeping the consultant group together, from the detailed plan to the procurement of the construction contractor. Then as a design responsible architect all the way to the final inspection.

- "We would never have gotten this far with the project if we hadn't been able to combine a fantastic collaboration with Helsingkrona with the confidence to keep the project together from start to finish," says architect and general consultant Mattias Hedberg Ek at FOJAB.

Upgraded technology
The construction of the Villa was accompanied by an extensive overhaul of the existing 1950s house designed by Sten Samuelsson. Technical installations were replaced and the two buildings were technically integrated to meet modern operational and energy requirements. In this way, Helsingkrona Nation can further reduce its climate footprint.

Facts and figures
Area: Approximately 2500 m² BTA
Number of residents: 59-65 students
Helsingkrona's Head of Mission: Peter Runnerström
Responsible architect and general consultant: Mattias Hedberg Ek, FOJAB
Assistant responsible architect: Mats Norrlid, FOJAB
General contractor: Thages

An extraordinary terraced house. FOJAB won the contract to design seven exclusive homes for CA Fastigheter next to a newly constructed canal in Lomma.
- We have made a modern and optimized interpretation of the old large villa, says Mikael Pettersson, responsible architect at FOJAB..

Sales have started for Trident Row - six townhouses and one detached house being built on the edge of Lomma harbor. It is a place rich in contrasts between buildings and nature, land and water, new and old. The houses have been designed to maximize the qualities of the site, firmly rooted in Lomma's history.

- FOJAB's proposals in the parallel assignments really floored us! The project is extremely well designed and well thought out based on the site's conditions. I dare say that these seven homes are unprecedented in all of Skåne," says Remus Cismas, regional manager for CA Fastigheter in Skåne.

The perception of space has guided the design. The dwellings are not perceived as terraced houses, but as independent houses with light from all directions, long lines of sight to the surroundings and free passage from the street to the garden and down to the private boat dock by the canal that connects to the Höje river.

- "We have worked on the placement of the volumes and facade openings so that you can move in and around the house and get the feeling of spaciousness and privacy of a villa. And the best possible light conditions from morning to evening, both indoors and outdoors," says architect Mikael Pettersson.

The choice of materials and detailing draws inspiration from the older history of the site and Lomma as a brick-making town, rather than from the newer buildings in the nearby harbor. The beautifully crafted brick facades in various shades of yellow relate to the street houses in the center. The mullioned windows are reminiscent of old factory buildings.

- Trident Row is exclusive in scale and volume management, but at the same time low-key and genuine with a connection to the old. It will be a worthy representative of the municipality," says Mikael Pettersson.

Construction is expected to start towards the end of the year, and it is expected to take around 18 months to complete the villas and the associated canal.

From March 1, Anders Eriksson Modin is Head of Sustainability at FOJAB. Petra Jenning, former innovation manager with a strong focus on digitalization, takes over the role of development manager.  

- When we look to the future, there are two trends that we know for sure will affect us greatly. Sustainability is becoming increasingly important, not least through new regulations. And digitalization, where the rapid development of AI is something we all have to relate to. FOJAB has a strong position in both sustainability and digitalization, but we do not settle for that - with these appointments we can become even more aggressive, says CEO Daniel Nord.

Anders Eriksson Modin is an architect and has worked at FOJAB since 2007. He has lived with sustainability issues in various projects, collaborations and networks for a long time. He is well aware of the customers' challenges and works innovatively to move the entire industry forward. Among other things, Anders leads the working group on sustainable materials within LFM30 (Local Roadmap Malmö 2030) and sits on the board of Solar Region Skåne. He has worked extensively on the question of how mobility can become part of sustainable development, and how architecture can serve as an effective tool in the climate transition.

- There is currently a strong focus on ecological sustainability based on climate footprint and biodiversity. We notice it everywhere in the debate, political directives, new rules and laws and how it affects the entire construction industry. This is good and important, but we must not forget about social sustainability, because without that aspect the result will not be good. It is not easy to measure soft values such as identity, inclusion, community and gender equality, but we know how important it is to create long-term sustainable places. And of course we need to take economic sustainability into account, because without that aspect the projects will not happen," says Anders Eriksson Modin.

At FOJAB, sustainability is closely linked to the development and innovation work, where digitalization is a common thread. The changes that are now being made are also part of strengthening the work to create synergies between architecture, sustainability and innovation - an ambition that can be found in the new business plan.

The new Development Manager Petra Jenning is an architect and has worked at FOJAB since 2012. In recent years, she has had the role of innovation leader with a strong focus on digital development. Petra is frequently engaged in expert panels and discussions, not least on AI. Petra also sits on the advisory board of Svensk Byggplåt and is the leader of the theme area "Innovations and new applications" within Smart Built Environment.

- I see great opportunities for architecture with the digital development, but also challenges that we need to keep up with. Here, FOJAB will be involved in influencing where we are heading," says Petra Jenning. "We also have a strong commitment to research and development projects that we want to strengthen further. To meet the challenges of our time and create the sustainable and inclusive societies of the future, we need to build deep expertise, but also create new collaborations between different actors and professions.

Pontus Tebäck of FOJAB wins the 2023 Lund Urban Design Award for an apartment building in central Lund. The five-story building is a modern interpretation of classic ideals that fills a gap in the city in an exemplary way, according to the jury. This is the ninth time the prize has been awarded to a FOJAB building.

The award-winning house is located in the middle of the cultural-historical quarter with the Museum of Culture area across the street. Since the 1950s, the site has been undeveloped and used as a parking lot.

The new house is in keeping with its surroundings - an Art Nouveau house from the turn of the century on one side and a two-storey house from the 1860s on the other - but has its own unique character. The façade is in light smooth plaster with elements of granite, sandstone and copper, and oak in the entrance areas. Facing the street are balconies with tight wrought iron railings.

The jury writes in its justification:

"Lund city center has been enriched with another beautiful building when a former vacant lot on Stora Algatan was filled with new and useful content.

The new residential building, with its fine design, elaborate details and beautiful choice of materials, has been integrated into a neighborhood with very high cultural values and the building has naturally landed on the site.  

The street façade's harmonious proportions and adapted scale meet the different volumes of the adjacent buildings in a fine way. Classical ideals have been interpreted in a modern way with consistently high architectural quality, from plinth to ridge.

In a very limited space, new centrally located housing has been created and a wound in the urban fabric has been healed. The building is an example of how a gap in the city can be transformed and filled with life."

Pontus Tebäck received the award at the City Council meeting on February 29.

- It is a great privilege to contribute a new warehouse to a city fabric that dates back thousands of years. The building is the result of several years of teamwork in which a large number of people have contributed: a large number of fantastic colleagues at FOJAB, an unusually committed group of developers open to unorthodox solutions and an urban planning office that had the best interests of our common urban environment in mind at every stage," says Pontus Tebäck.

This is the ninth time the Lund Urban Design Prize has been awarded to a FOJAB-designed building.

- The house on Stora Algatan is an elegant example of a sensitive yet idiosyncratic approach to classical ideals. We are delighted that Lund Municipality is highlighting it and we are so proud of the award! Lund is a city that is close to our hearts because it was here that FOJAB started 52 years ago, and that makes the award feel extra special," says FOJAB's CEO Daniel Nord.

Facts and figures
Project: Kv Sankt Mikael 16, Lund
Architect in charge: Pontus Tebäck, FOJAB
Client: RO Properties and Hexiron
Size: About 3000 m²
Completed: 2021

Lund urban development award
The purpose of the prize is to reward architects or other building operators who have made a meritorious contribution to the development of the cityscape in Lund municipality. Particular consideration shall be given to architectural efforts that combine the development of the cityscape, beauty values, a well-designed living environment and good function.

FOJAB's proposal will form the basis for the development of Berga trädgårdsstad, a new district in Eslöv. Three architectural offices were invited to develop proposals for the first phase of Östra Eslöv in parallel.

Based on Eslöv's identity, the task was to develop a structure for the new district in the form of a garden city with a focus on sustainability. The total area is 37 hectares and the current phase covers 45,000 square meters.

The garden city developed in the UK in the early 20th century as a response to overcrowding and ill health. The idea was to combine the best of urban and rural life in a planned and welcoming area. Among the most famous examples in Sweden are Gamla Enskede in Stockholm and Änggården in Gothenburg.

The winning proposal for Berga Garden City is characterized by sustainability, social community and good architecture. Åsa Samuelsson, architect at FOJAB, describes the key ideas:

- Our proposal is based on the small-scale urban nature of the garden city with a variety of green spaces and meeting places. Here it is easy to live a sustainable everyday life with generous cultivation opportunities, convenient bicycle paths and proximity to everyday functions such as preschool, recreation and services. We want to build on the local commercial functions and create a small district center that will be a new clear entrance to Berga garden city.

FOJAB's proposal will form the basis for the continued development of the structure plan for Berga Garden City. Among other things, the structure plan will provide a picture of how the entire area should be developed and form the basis for future detailed plans in the area.

Elegant and tasteful. Locally rooted with an international touch. Timeless, authentic and personal. Lisa Mannheimer, interior designer at FOJAB, describes the vision for Daniel Berlin's restaurant Vyn.

After an architectural competition, FOJAB was chosen to develop a design concept for a restaurant with an associated hotel and food bar on a converted farm in Österlen for restaurateur Daniel Berlin. FOJAB was then commissioned to continue working on the interior design by interior designer Lisa Mannheimer in close collaboration with Daniel Berlin.

- "Daniel's vision is to create a place for a complete experience, where of course the restaurant, food and service are in focus, but where the interior becomes an important part of the overall experience," says Lisa Mannheimer.

The hotel has 15 rooms, including two suites. The restaurant can seat 30 guests. There is also a food bar and a separate dining room for private parties. The material palette consists of beautiful, robust natural materials such as oak, limestone, linen and wool, chosen to match the location and the character of the buildings. The interior should last a long time, both aesthetically and functionally; sustainability is a given.

The walls are plastered white, the floor of wide oak planks gives an exclusive, friendly feeling. The wooden floor is also positive from an acoustic point of view, as it dampens sound in a natural way. In the ceiling of the former barn, which is now the restaurant's lounge, you can see the old shingle roof, which has been replaced in places with new shingles.

The interior feels warm, comfortable and personal. Art plays a prominent role, with the works of artist Ellen Ekh appearing in several of the rooms. Craftsmanship is a common thread throughout Vyn, where the food craftsmanship in the kitchen is reflected in the carpentry and details of the interior. The furniture for the restaurant is specially designed for Vyn by designer Anton Björsing, and manufactured in the Gärsnäs furniture factory a stone's throw from Vyn.

The new Studenternas, which opened in 2021, has quickly become a popular meeting place for Uppsala residents. Now the FOJAB-designed football stadium has been awarded the Sports Arena of the Year 2023 prize.

The arena is part of the development of Södra Åstråket along Fyrisån in central Uppsala. FOJAB has assisted the municipal company Sportfastigheter in the work of creating a more popular and safer arena area while giving the arena access to more services - an active and attractive meeting place that never closes.

In addition to the football stadium, FOJAB has designed new parts of the bandy stadium and two new squares. There is also a café and restaurant, gym, shops, health care, conference activities and office space. The greenery and parkway have been reinforced and the spaces between the buildings have been designed for various activities.

Studenternas has room for up to 10,500 spectators at all-Swedish matches. The arena space with its glulam stands is dense and enveloping, so that the audience feels close to the pitch and gets a strong football experience.

FOJAB has extensive experience in designing sports halls for school and leisure sports as well as large-scale sports arenas with high complexity of audience flows, food logistics, security and technology. An example of the latter is Malmö FF's home arena Eleda stadium.

- Halls, arenas and outdoor environments for physical activity are important hubs in the city with great potential to contribute to city life both in everyday life and at events. "We are so pleased with the award and that the people of Uppsala appreciate their home arena. Then we have succeeded," says Daniel Nord, CEO of FOJAB.

The Sports Arena of the Year prize is awarded by Sport & Affärer. The jury's motivation for the 2023 award winner reads:

"The interest in Sirius football is greater than ever, which is largely attributed to the new arena, Nya Studenternas. The arena, which was completed during the 2020 pandemic and inaugurated the following year, has quickly become an important meeting place for Uppsala residents. The average attendance was once again beaten last season, reaching over 6,000 spectators per match with increasing ticket revenues for the club. The fact that the stands are built in glulam instead of concrete is sustainable both economically and environmentally, while creating a welcoming atmosphere for the audience."

So a dark and dry sports hall could become more lively. And two dead street corners could be transformed into a hassle corner and a chill corner. In FOJAB's office, a group of high school students are presenting their proposals to Malmö's city architect Finn Williams and municipal councillor Stefana Hoti on how to improve their local environment.

When FOJAB moved its headquarters in Malmö to the Möllevången district two years ago, it was important for the architectural firm to also become an active part of the area.

- "There's a lot to like about Möllan, but there's another side too, with social challenges and segregation that we didn't want to ignore," says Haydar Alward, an architect at FOJAB, who together with his colleague Kristina Kember considered how FOJAB could be a positive force in Möllevången.

Open the door to architecture
They ended up with the collaboration project FOJAB + Möllevångsskolan = true. It's about getting young people to discover what can be achieved in a city with the help of architecture and making it easier for children to have an impact. And about opening the door to the architectural profession.

- Not all children in Malmö have the same opportunities to realize their dreams. If you are not privileged enough to have contacts, your dreams can feel very distant. Not everyone needs to become an architect, but everyone should feel that it is possible," says Haydar Alward, who has worked on these issues in several schools and neighborhoods in Malmö, both privately and on behalf of Malmö's city planning office.

Right to be listened to
Kristina Kember is an architect and architectural educator with a particular interest in how to give children a better voice in urban planning processes.

- 'Children have a legal right to be listened to in matters that concern them, including the physical environments in which they live,' she says. But for this to happen in practice, children need to be invited and given tools to help create their living environments.

The children's perspective needs to be included all the way from planning to implementation of projects, Kristina points out:

- Those involved in designing a place want to use and care for it, creating a sense of pride and identity. Children have a lot of clever, creative ideas that adults can't think of, so places are also more unique and work for more people.

Seeing the environment in a new way
Elisabet Niskakari, a librarian at Möllevångskolan, jumped at the chance to collaborate. The idea coincides with the school's compensatory mission and her educational mission as a librarian to increase student motivation. On six occasions, ten pupils from year 9 have met the two FOJAB architects to, as Elisabet Nisikari puts it, activate their eyes.

- We talked about which places we like in Malmö and why, formed high, low, different sized rooms in the courtyard, talked about materials and their different properties," says Haydar.

It didn't take long for young people to start looking at their surroundings in a new way.

- "I had never thought that you can change society through architecture," says Bianca Keza Memari, one of the students. "That you can use color to draw people's attention to a certain place, so that more people see it, and thus make it safer.

In pairs, pupils were asked to choose their own places to look at. They thought about what is good and bad about the place, what works and what doesn't, who uses it, how it feels to be there - and how to make the place better. They have received guidance in sketching their ideas and finding reference images. With the help of FOJAB's model builder Magnus Nilsson, they built models that they then developed in different ways.

Feedback from decision-makers
Throughout the project dialogue has been very important, and that students would have the opportunity to get feedback from and discuss further with those who make the decisions.

The project therefore ends with the pupils presenting their proposals to Malmö's city architect Finn Williams and city planning councillor Stefana Hoti: How the entrances along the street closest to the school can feel safer and become less of a haven for criminal activity. How two boring corners that today are not directly used by anyone can become nice places for the middle school students to hang out, something that is currently missing in the schoolyard. How to use architectural means to make pupils more motivated for sports lessons. In the last proposal, the students wanted to give the music room more of a music studio feel.

QR codes invite the audience to look around the models. The city architect and the municipal councillor for urban development are impressed:

- You convey an important insight: that a place works differently for children of different ages. We architects need to get better at thinking about this and not just say "the child perspective is handled, check it out".

- Here, some would say that surveillance cameras are the solution to insecurity. But you present completely different measures based on what you see people using the place. That's why it's so important that we get your perspective!

- I like the way you talk about "the little extra". As an architect, you often end up having to justify why something should be extra. You convey very well what the details do for the feeling of a place.

Tools to influence
Finn Williams and Stefana Hoti agree that the city needs to get better at capturing children's perspectives. Many children - or adults for that matter - do not know that they have the opportunity to influence. This is where the work done by FOJAB is important, according to Stefana Hoti, by giving students at Möllevångskolan the tools to raise and conduct a dialog on these types of issues.

She promises to try to connect the students at Möllevångskolan with those who have the mandate and opportunity to implement the ideas she has just been presented with. Because it is rarely a single actor, the children are told. It can be private property owners, city properties, the property and street office, the cultural administration ...

- Even if not all of your ideas can be implemented here and now, they may become reality when we build other schools," says Stefana Hoti.

The students are struggling, but not impossible:

- "I think I speak for all of us when I say that the important thing is not that this is done in our school," says Angelina Vargas. "But the best thing you can do for us is to visa that our opinions are important, not just say it.

Everything to gain
Involving children in urban planning has many benefits, says Kristina Kember. 'It gives you confidence to feel that your opinion is important and children become more aware of their rights as citizens.'

- But the built result will also be better. The city will have more site-specific places to meet and move around, it will be more playful, green, safe and cared for. We have everything to gain!

Interest in building new buildings in the 'old style' is growing among politicians and decision-makers. Perhaps it is time to broaden the perspective and see what can be done to actually preserve the older buildings that already exist? In Helsingborg, the Mariatorget housing association is working with FOJAB to restore an entire block dating back to the late 18th century.

The block, which faces one of Helsingborg's central pedestrian streets, shows traces of five of the city's history: The city structure dates back to the Middle Ages. A half-timbered barn from the late 18th century represents the old craftsman's town. There are plastered two-storey houses from the early 19th century. Industrialization is manifested by several grand turn-of-the-century brick houses, and the 1980s by postmodern residential buildings.

- Older buildings are an important part of our collective memory. It gives us a link back in time and a strong sense of place. In a city like Helsingborg, where many older houses were demolished from the 1960s onwards, it is particularly important to preserve what actually remains," says Karl Johan Kember, an architect at FOJAB, responsible for the area of building conservation and an expert on cultural-historical buildings.

An economic benefit
A project of this kind requires careful preparation and extensive expertise in the building techniques of the different eras. On the other hand, the benefits of renovation are significant, both in terms of cultural history and sustainability, challenging the common notion that building new is the most profitable option. The older building materials are chosen to last a long time. There are windows that have been in place for 120 years - compared to today's plastic windows, which have an estimated lifespan of around 40 years.

From an investment point of view, it is also good business to restore period buildings - older properties that have retained their character command high prices. Maintaining the period character of the buildings and the vibrant, colorful urban space they provide in the form of shops, cafes and restaurants on the street level also makes the city more attractive to residents and visitors alike.

Close cooperation
The restoration of Brf Mariatorget will begin in the spring. The project has been preceded by a close collaboration between the property owner, HSB, the city architect and the city antiquarian in the city of Helsingborg and FOJAB.

- This collaboration has ensured that the project has been well established in the city from the outset, and there is great interest among those who live and work in the buildings. The opportunity to work with an entire neighborhood - and in this case one of the city's most beloved pedestrian streets - is a real privilege. It becomes clear what we architects can actually offer in terms of preserving and developing existing buildings, and how we can highlight their values and qualities," says Karl Johan Kember.

Keep as much as possible
The project began with FOJAB producing a cultural environment document with advice and recommendations for the renovation. It describes everything from the history and development of the properties to their current technical status. The aim is to build on the specificity of the buildings in question and retain as much of the old material as possible. Windows and window sections will be renovated, tiled roofs will be rebuilt, balcony tiles and natural stone plinths will be repaired and supplemented, and all wrought ironwork will be reviewed. Characteristic features that have deteriorated over the years, such as front doors, roof drainage and sheet metal work, will be replaced with high quality, contemporary solutions.

Contemporary color palette
When restoring older buildings, the aim is usually to restore the original colors, but in Brf Mariatorget all the original plaster had been demolished and the paint scraping only provided knowledge of the color scheme of the last decades.

- The houses will be replastered with lime mortar and since we have the privilege of working with the entire street section, we have been able to choose colors that both suit the individual houses and work well together. The color variation will be preserved, but instead of today's strong facade colors, we will work with lighter tones in pink, yellow and gray-green, among others. The joinery, on the other hand, will be painted in strong colors: iron oxide red, chrome oxide green and ochre yellow," says Karl Johan Kember.

At FOJAB, we work for long-term sustainable development and are convinced that architecture can help solve societal challenges and create added value for everyone.

We are proud of the progress we are making, but we are also aware that much more remains to be done. We want to share our ambitions while being open about the areas where we and the rest of the industry are still falling short. In our sustainability report, we tell you how we are tackling the great challenge of our time in projects and collaborations. Read and be inspired!

You can read and download the report here:

Printable pdf

From a niche architectural office to a full-service agency with projects in almost all of Stockholm's development areas, FOJAB's Stockholm office celebrates ten years and sets a turnover record.

FOJAB has been present in Skåne for more than 50 years, while the representation in the capital is more recent. The Stockholm office's first decade has been characterized by strong development and is now crowned with a turnover record despite the recession and grim times in the construction industry. Turnover for the Stockholm office is just over SEK 44 million, an increase of 45 percent from the previous year, thanks to new and ongoing projects, particularly in the business areas of housing, urban development and community properties such as knowledge environments.

- "We have been spared the gloomy developments in the industry, but of course we are still affected when our customers and colleagues are struggling. We try to help and support by being proactive and creative," says Ylva Åborg, office manager at FOJAB in Stockholm.

FOJAB's Stockholm office has changed a great deal since its inception ten years ago. The number of employees has grown from around ten in the early years to 35. Initially, the focus was mainly on urban planning, housing and landscape. The offer has grown to include offices, commercial premises, community properties, knowledge environments, real estate development and interior design.

- It was a conscious effort that made us a full-service office," says Jens Larsson, who was office manager 2015-2021 and is now market area manager.

But breadth would be nothing if it were not paired with excellence. FOJAB is associated with high quality architecture, research-oriented collaborations and innovation that drives sustainability efforts in the industry forward.

- We have recruited very talented employees and there is an enormous amount of combined expertise within FOJAB. Our customers should be able to trust that they can come to us with just about anything and always have access to the foremost expertise. We are scattered but still cohesive - and always deliver architecture at a high level," says Jens Larsson.

FOJAB is now represented in projects in most of the Stockholm region's development areas, such as Lövholmen, Marievik, Årstafältet, Hornsberg, Ulvsunda, Riksby, Barkarby and Slakthusområdet.

- We have fantastic customers who have given us the opportunity to work on very nice projects that contribute to building the city," says Ylva Åborg.

In addition to Stockholm and Malmö, FOJAB is also present in Helsingborg and Gothenburg.

A safe, pleasant and functional environment for patients and staff. A first sod has been taken for the new oncology clinic at the County Hospital in Kalmar. FOJAB has designed the new building and outdoor environment together with the developer Region Kalmar.

The new clinic for oncology and radiotherapy will contribute to better cancer care and more accessible radiotherapy in Region Kalmar County. FOJAB has been responsible for the design of buildings and the outdoor environment, and the construction documents are now ready.

Demolition work and preparations for the project have already been done and foundation laying has begun with Byggdialog as contractor.

The project covers approximately 6,900 square meters. A brand new six-storey building contains, among other things, two new radiation bunkers, rooms for PET-CT, administrative premises and a treatment unit for chemotherapy treatment. A new, more visible and attractive entrance to the oncology clinic improves accessibility, safety and the visitor experience.

– It is an unusually complex assignment, says responsible architect Henrik Laurino. We have a technology-heavy business that places special demands on the premises, and technically advanced equipment that affects both the frame and installations. In addition, it is cramped on the site where the new building is to fit in and connect to other buildings at different heights. Far-reaching coordination is needed between many parties, including internationally. But we have a strong care team at FOJAB, both on the building, landscape and interior design side, with great experience of complex programs and large projects.

In addition to being safe and functional, the indoor environment must be experienced as pleasant and welcoming. A main thoroughfare runs through the hospital, overlooking a series of green rooms. The area is now enhanced with new beautiful outdoor environments, as three more farms are provided with greenery.

Malin Ingemarsdotter is a landscape architect with extensive experience in care projects and is responsible for the design of the courtyards:

– Everyone knows and agrees that greenery plays a role in patients’ well-being and recovery. Here, we have been able to make something beautiful out of the small farms that provide a visual connection to the business. We have worked closely with the building architects and with a client who recognizes the value of greenery.

The clinic is expected to be completed in 2026.

On December 5, a groundbreaking ceremony is held for the new district court in Vänersborg. The court building will be a sharply cut volume that signals authority and dignity, but also humility and openness.

The 6 850 square meter building will house both the District Court and the Land and Environment Court. It will house approximately 130 workstations, 11 courtrooms, including two security rooms, a reception area with security control, public areas, staff offices, and transportation and detention rooms.

There is a strong focus on safety and integrity, with separate entrances to all rooms and separate flows throughout the building, including separate escape routes. The building is also prepared for possible future expansion in such a way that safety zones and flows are ensured.

FOJAB are the architects of the new court building, Hemsö is the property owner and developer, the Swedish National Courts Administration is the tenant and Serneke is the contractor.

- "It is very positive for both the process and the end result that Hemsö and Serneke see the value of retaining all the expertise throughout the project. We as architects formulate the basic idea and are responsible for the design, but it is through the commitment and cooperation of all parties involved that we together ensure the quality of the end result," says Kjell Adamsson, commissioned architect at FOJAB.

The district court is located at the southern entrance to Vänersborg, just where the block structure of the city center meets the lush park environment. The new building will be part of a context with older institutional buildings and contribute to the transition between the stone town and the park.

The design language is basically simple with a few character-building touches. The copper-green ceramic panels of the facade are slightly curved, creating effective shadows - a bit like the ripple of water on Lake Vänern. Large expanses of glass expose the building's interior and are alternated with dense sections, well balanced to manage views, privacy, daylight and the high environmental ambitions. The plan is to certify the building according to Miljöbyggnad Silver.

The new court building will be completed in 2026.

Increased online shopping, cheaper robotics, post-pandemic, war, climate crisis - right now many companies have to adapt their operations and facilities to changing conditions. So says Anders Lundin, architect and head of the Industry competence area at FOJAB.

Architects are problem solvers, dealing with complex relationships is part of everyday life. For those who design and develop industrial buildings, this is clear. There is a strong focus on space efficiency, logistics and safety - but increasingly also on creating attractive and climate-friendly working and outdoor environments.

The aim is to have rational and robust buildings that can last for a long time and change as the business requires.

Sorting out old sins
Along the way, you may need to untangle old knots.

- Industrial buildings have often been rebuilt and added to as new needs have arisen and without any strategy other than what is best in the moment. In the end, they have become so entrenched that it is difficult to move on. The business cannot develop further without taking a holistic approach to the property," says Anders Lundin.

This is where the architect comes in with his expertise and skill, sorting out old sins and seeing new development opportunities.

- We analyze the business and the potential and limitations of the property. We ensure current needs, but also future ones. We draw up a plan for gradual expansion, which the company can hold in its hand when new needs arise. And, of course, we also look at the operation and maintenance of existing buildings, such as re-roofing, and suggest how this can be done without disrupting production.

- Security has emerged as an important issue in the last year following revelations of industrial espionage and we are working proactively with shell protection, locks and protection zones.

The office as an attraction
FOJAB can assist in all stages such as the basis for new detailed plans, project planning for rebuilding, extension or new construction, landscape and interior design. The latter - office interiors - is something that is increasingly being talked about in the industry as well, says Anders.

- Every company wants to attract and retain the right skills, and it has been recognized that the office can be a magnet for the workforce. This is where we turn to FOJAB's interior designers, who work extensively on creating high-functioning and attractive offices.

The outdoor environment has also long been overlooked in an industrial context. Anders is trying to change that.

- Everywhere has been paved by mistake. We want to minimize the amount of hard surfaces so that the business can function, but keep as much as possible green for the sake of stormwater and biodiversity.

Perfect for greenery
Rooftops are an obvious place for solar cells, says Anders. And now the regulations are finally starting to catch up, making it profitable to produce more electricity than your own consumption. Previously, it has been difficult to sell the surplus electricity.

The large, often windowless facades are perfect for climbing greenery that absorbs solar heat in summer and insulates in winter. Plus, the greenery creates better air and looks nice.

The contribution of architects' climate expertise is often welcome.

- Many companies today have climate requirements not only for production but also for buildings. Here we can help to reduce the climate footprint with climate-friendly materials and smarter energy consumption, for example how to reuse waste heat from production.

Major changes affecting
It is not only the climate crisis that is causing major changes that may need to be met with renovations, extensions and new buildings. Several other factors in the outside world have caused many companies to review their operations right now. Increased online shopping creates a greater need for warehouses and transshipment centers. Deteriorating supply chains during the pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding the war in Ukraine are causing industries to move their production home. In particular, US companies have left China. This is made possible by cheaper and more accessible automation and robotics.

Anders can see three categories of businesses that use FOJAB. Firstly, public companies that work with large infrastructure investments for water, electricity and sewage. Production companies that must relate to new consumption patterns and geopolitical conditions in the world. And real estate development: adapting existing buildings to new tenants. Here it is mainly small industry that needs new premises for various reasons.

- We are a holistic partner that ensures operation, maintenance and future development opportunities.

It is now complete, the new court building for the Göta Court of Appeal and the Administrative Court of Appeal in Jönköping. Strong character and high functionality guarantee a long lifespan. 400 years, at least, is the plan. FOJAB is behind the design.

After 373 years in the court building at Hovrättstorget in Jönköping, it was time for Göta hovrätt to move to more appropriate premises that meet today's security and technical requirements.

FOJAB, which has extensive experience of working with legal buildings, has designed the new building for the Court of Appeal and the Administrative Court of Appeal on the shores of Lake Munksjön. It should function at least as long as the old one, an ambition that is reflected in the choice of materials and the careful design.

The aim has been to create a modern and beautiful building that balances respect and dignity with humility and openness.

- A court building must be able to handle two conflicting objectives. On the one hand, its activities must be public - openness is one of the foundations of our democratic society. At the same time, individuals' desire for privacy must be respected. We wanted to create a safe and peaceful environment for people who may find themselves in a difficult and stressful situation," says architect Kjell Adamsson of FOJAB.

The court building connects the buildings along the western shore of Munksjön and the entrances open up towards Bastionsparken and Hamngatan. Around the building there is room to stay and move, which creates life and movement in the place, while the design of the facade limits the insight so that the need for privacy is met. The facade consists of light sand-colored, ceramic elements that provide an interesting shadow effect and also contribute to the building's sun protection.

The seven floors accommodate ten meeting rooms and around 180 workplaces, as well as areas for visitors. The interior materials - stone and wood - are reminiscent of the Småland forest. Two continuous atriums with glass walls provide daylight far into the building and create a harmonious environment.

Sustainability ambitions are also reflected in the building's energy storage system, where cold water cools the building in summer and the heated return water warms it in winter. In this way, energy consumption can be reduced by 15 to 20%.

The court building is certified according to Miljöbyggnad level Gold.

With the increasing focus on energy and climate issues, there is a growing interest in how best to build more energy-efficient buildings and also to adapt existing buildings to climate change.
- "The energy issue affects all parts of the building and the earlier in the process the issue is raised, the more likely we are to achieve really good results," says Helena Bülow-Hübe, environmental and energy manager at FOJAB.

FOJAB has been offering specialist expertise in energy calculations since 2011 and today the demand is greater than ever.

- When the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning changed its regulations in 2006/2007, the industry became seriously aware of energy issues. Since then, new requirements for energy and environmentally certified buildings have driven both knowledge and willingness to act. Today, many clients want to build more energy-efficiently than the building standards require - a very positive development. The recent energy prices have of course also increased the focus on the subject," says Helena.

Light penetration versus indoor climate
Headed by Helena Bülow-Hübe, FOJAB offers a range of services - from energy coordination, energy calculations and advice to specialized calculations such as daylight, indoor climate and thermal bridges.

- The architect's 3D model of the building is an important basis for our work. It allows us to evaluate a variety of things, such as how much daylight is let in and how the solar heat will raise the temperature in different rooms, but also the building's total energy use and climate impact based on different material choices," says Helena.

Today, many people want generous amounts of light, which can conflict with a building's energy performance and a comfortable indoor climate. In simple terms, a window emits ten times more heat per square meter than a wall surface. However, they also let in solar heat, which means that large windows can create heat problems and unhealthy indoor temperatures in summer.

Climate change adaptation against heat waves
- This is a problem that will be accentuated with a warmer climate. This became clear not least during the hot summer of 2018 when an excess mortality rate was observed," says Helena.

She has noticed a marked increase in interest in climate adaptation of housing in the existing stock. Together with the City of Helsingborg's property management, Helena Bülow-Hübe has investigated the possibilities of improving the indoor climate in nursing homes and LSS homes so that they are better equipped for new heat waves. Both existing solar shading and the possibility of introducing cooling in existing buildings have been reviewed.

- "We don't normally cool our homes today, but it's starting to be discussed more and more, and in the long term it may come. It is sensitive, of course, because we have clear energy requirements. Comfort cooling will increase energy demand, which may have to be compensated for in some way. Some players have already introduced cooled supply air in nursing homes, while it is not so common in ordinary apartment buildings. Part of our mission, both in terms of new construction and climate adaptation, is to provide advice on windows, glass and solar shading in order to solve this problem, as well as various conflicting requirements.

Cost-effective early decisions
Energy coordination is about controlling and managing the energy work so that the building actually achieves the energy targets set by the client. A wide range of decisions must be made during the design phase, many of which are directly related to the future energy performance of the building. These can range from insulating the cold outdoor and exhaust air ducts that run in shafts through the building, to how windows should be fitted or how much insulation should be placed beyond the edge of the floor. Details that create larger or smaller thermal bridges depending on their design.

- Seemingly small details have a huge impact on the end result, something that designers and project managers don't always think about. That's why it's so important that we get involved early in the process. With our expertise, construction companies can avoid expensive rework later on, and when decisions are made at the right time, they don't always have to increase production costs," says Helena.

Interest in niche knowledge is growing
Helena Bülow-Hübe is a civil engineer and has a PhD from Lund University on the subject of windows and energy balance. In addition to assignments for FOJAB's customers, she is also a frequent lecturer at Swedish Energy Education.

- Here you can really see how interest in these issues is growing. In 2021, we decided to hold a course on "Cold bridges in energy calculation and design", but because the topic is so niche, we thought it would attract quite few participants. This year we are holding the course for the eighth time and all sessions have been fully booked.

- "I think this is due to an increased awareness in the industry and a great willingness to plan ahead. People know that new requirements are coming - not least in connection with the EU's green taxonomy - and they want to be prepared and increase their knowledge of sustainability and energy planning in various ways," says Helena Bülow-Hübe.

The building permit has now been granted for Södertälje's new landmark, designed by FOJAB. The hotel by Lake Maren is an important piece of the puzzle in the development of the center and should feel like Södertälje's new living room.

Marenplan is a favorite place for many Södertälje residents but has not been used to its full potential for many years. The city has therefore identified the area around Maren as a priority development area. FOJAB has assisted in the work with a new detailed plan for Marenplan and the design of a new hotel with outgoing content on behalf of Stadsrum Fastigheter.

At Marenplan, the changes are already underway. The piling has been completed and work on casting the base plate for the hotel has begun. And now the last building permit has been granted for the design of the building that will make Marenplan an attractive meeting place for Södertälje residents and visitors. The hotel is strategically located at the end of the Storgatan shopping street and will be a natural link between the city, Marenplan and the waterfront.

Great emphasis has been placed on creating openness, movement and safety. The three lower floors of the hotel are public and a terrace open to the public runs around the building. The ground floor houses three restaurants with outdoor seating facing south towards the water. On the floor above is a larger restaurant with space for the hotel's conference guests, and the third floor is intended to be used as a restaurant and event venue with terraces overlooking Maren. There are also fantastic views from the sky bar.

- The hotel will be a new landmark in one of Södertälje's most popular locations. "We have worked extensively on the building's design and layout in relation to neighboring properties and the interaction with the public environment. The hotel should both represent its time and take into account the existing urban environment," says Per Aage Nilsson, responsible architect at FOJAB.

The Marenplan hotel is expected to be completed in 2025.

Thirteen architectural firms submitted tenders to design the new cultural school in Karlskrona. FOJAB - the architects behind the award-winning Argus cultural center in Falkenberg - won the tender together with acoustic consultants Brekke & Strand.

The new cultural school in Karlskrona will include halls for choir, orchestra, dance and theater, a recording studio, classrooms, ensemble rooms, staff areas and recreation rooms. The new building in the vicinity of Handelshamnen will replace the current premises which are not fit for purpose.

FOJAB has good experience of designing cultural centers and other community buildings with complex content. Its track record includes the award-winning Argus knowledge and culture center in Falkenberg and the recently completed civic center in Kävlinge.

- "We look forward to starting the cooperation with the municipality," says Stefan Johansson, responsible architect at FOJAB. "We have carried out several projects in Karlskrona and Blekinge, including the World Trade Center on Trossö and the high-profile new school in Mörrum. Right now, work is underway on a new neighborhood on Pottholmen in Karlskrona, with housing, care homes and a mobility house. A lot of exciting things are happening in Karlskrona, it's a fun city to work in.

It is hoped that the new cultural school will be completed in 2026.

Kävlinge Town Hall is now complete and ready to receive citizens, officials and politicians. Everyone should feel welcome, which has been a motto in the work on the building. FOJAB is responsible for both architecture and interior design.

Kävlinge's new town hall is an important piece of the puzzle in the development of the new district Stationsstaden, and is strategically located right next to the railway station. The building will be an inviting meeting place for the whole town and houses the town library, most of the administrative offices, the town council hall, a wedding room and meeting rooms of various sizes.

The inspiration for the exterior design is drawn from Kävlinge's history and long tradition of industrial and symbolic buildings.

- The new municipal building is a robust, solid four-storey brick volume with well-crafted details. On the long sides, the facade is folded, which provides an interesting shadow play for passers-by, while daylight reaches further into the building and creates a pleasant working environment," says Charlotte Kristensson, architect in charge at FOJAB.

Openness to citizens and opportunities for collaboration between different municipal functions have been key words in the work on the municipal building. The location and accessibility have been maximized through the placement of the various activities and through flexible use of space. The library is located on the ground floor, with large glass sections that provide good contact with the shopping street outside, with window niches large enough to sit in. The council chamber on the third floor also has large windows that advertise the building to the other side, to the trains and the surrounding landscape.

The large council chamber can be divided for smaller committee meetings and opened up for a large number of participants and visitors. On the third floor there is also a generously sized lunch room in connection with adaptable work and meeting areas, and on the roof a terrace with a magnificent view.

Levels one and two consist of workplaces for municipal employees. The starting point has been that the design should meet a future way of working with efficient and attractive office spaces.

Inside, a sober material palette of stone, wood and textiles is used throughout. The interior color scheme is drawn from the colors of nature around Kävlinge - the sea, the river Kävlingeån, the open landscape - and creates a calm atmosphere.

- "A municipal building has to function over a very long time and we have been keen to use durable materials and furniture that can be used, reupholstered and supplemented," says Lisa Mannheimer, interior designer at FOJAB.

Kävlinge's new municipal building will be certified with Miljöbyggnad Gold, the highest environmental certification.

The City of Reykjavik aims to set a completely new standard in urban development with the Keldur district. The Swedish architectural firm FOJAB with the consultant Ramböll won the open international strategic development competition with their proposal Crafting Keldur - Where Art, Science & Recreation Unite.

The task in the international competition was to create a development strategy for the Keldur district in eastern Reykjavik. Currently, the area is primarily rural, but it has been identified as a development zone and will be serviced in a few years by a high-quality bus rapid transit system connecting it to the city centerand other hot spots in the Reykjavik capital Area. According to the City of Reykjavik, the new neighborhood should be characterized by walkability, energy transition, healthy mobility, circular thinking, green buildings and infrastructure, and carbon sequestration.

Out of around forty submissions in stage 1, five teams were selected to further develop their ideas in stage 2. FOJAB and Ramböll secured victory with a proposal based on social diversity within a dense and flexible urban structure with proximity to nature, the university, and the city center.

- Starting with climate neutrality and climate considerations places special demands on urban planning. The kind of dense mixed-use development we arrived at is quite uncommon in Iceland. The architecture in our proposal adheres to a human scale - three to five stories - but is dense and connected enough to create a vibrant and dynamic city, said Magdalena Hedman, partner and teamleader at FOJAB.

The jury was particularly impressed by the fact that FOJAB's proposal is firmly rooted in the local context and takes advantage of the landscape's greenery and water features. The efficient use of land, innovative mobility ideas, and a flexible neighborhood structure were also appealing. The strategies for achieving a social mix were considered compelling as well.

- The winning entry in the competition is a very good answer to our needs and requirements in a new urban quarter in Reykjavik. An urban district, close to nature, with three Bus Rapid Transit (Borgarlína) stations as the backbone of sustainable urban transport. We look forward to the further development and deeper design of an excellent proposal in the planning process ahead, said Thorsteinn R. Hermannsson, Director of Development at TfCA, Transport for the Capital Area.

The next step will be to further develop the winning proposal into a development plan and physical plans.

The City of Reykjavik wants to set a new standard in urban development with the Keldur district. FOJAB and Ramböll won the open international competition with their proposal. Crafting Keldur - Where Art, Science & Recreation Unite.

The competition brief was to produce a development strategy for the Keldur district in eastern Reykjavik. Within a few years, Keldur will be served by a high-quality bus transport system connecting the district with Reykjavik city centre and other important locations in the capital area. According to the city, the new district will be characterized by sustainable mobility, circularity, energy transition and climate-neutral construction.

Five teams were selected from around forty proposals received in stage 1 to develop their ideas further in stage 2. FOJAB and Ramböll won with a proposal based on a social mix in a dense and flexible urban structure close to nature, the university and the city.

- Starting with climate neutrality and climate considerations places special demands on urban planning, and the kind of dense mixed-use city we ended up with is unusual in Iceland. The buildings in our proposal stick to a human scale - three to five floors - but are sufficiently dense and cohesive to create a vibrant and dynamic city," says Magdalena Hedman, commissioned architect at FOJAB.

The jury is particularly attracted by the fact that FOJAB's proposal is clearly anchored in the site and that the landscape's conditions with greenery and water have been taken advantage of, that the land is used efficiently, by good ideas about mobility and a flexible block structure. The strategies for achieving a social mix are also considered convincing.

- The winning proposal responds very well to our needs and requirements for the new urban neighborhood in Reykjavik. An urban district close to nature, where the three stops of the Borgarlína express bus will be the backbone of sustainable urban transportation. We look forward to the further development and deeper shaping of an excellent proposal in the upcoming planning process," says Thorsteinn R. Hermannsson, Development Manager at TfCA, Transport for the Capital Region.

The next step is to further develop the winning proposal into a development plan and physical plans.

The first sod is now being turned for Godsfinkan 3 in Malmö's urban transformation project Södra Nyhamnen. FOJAB has designed the residential block that will be the first encounter with the city for those arriving by train from the north: two towers of nineteen and sixteen floors respectively.

- We have wanted to take advantage of the unique qualities of the site; the proximity to both the city and the harbor, Bangårdsterrassen and Carlsgatan boulevard and the unobstructed view of both Malmö and Öresund," says Stefan Johansson, architect at FOJAB.

The block, which FOJAB has designed for Malmö's municipal housing company MKB, is made up of three buildings - nineteen, sixteen and seven floors respectively. It houses 192 rental apartments, 7 premises, garages and outdoor environments. The building is made of sustainable materials with great care for details and material encounters to create a long-term beautiful environment.

The aim has been to create homes characterized by a balance between function, beauty and a sense of home, with space-efficient apartments and low operating and management costs.

The light gray bricks, masonry with a relief effect around wall openings, in combination with mullioned railings, give the building a classic, well-proportioned expression. The three buildings are designed as a whole but with individual detailing. Great care has been taken with details and materials to create a long-term beautiful environment. The apartments are well planned and designed to make the most of the view.

Lövholmen in Stockholm is to be transformed from a largely closed industrial area into a vibrant district and natural continuation of the inner city. In its role as structural architect, FOJAB has contributed to developing the ideas and principles that form the basis of the detailed plan, which is now out for consultation.

Lövholmen is part of Liljeholmen in central Stockholm and is identified in the master plan as one of the city's development areas. A new district will emerge here with around 1,800 homes, preschools, cultural activities, offices, services, squares, a park and a quayside.

On behalf of and in close cooperation with the city planning office, FOJAB has worked with the city and property owners to develop a structural plan and the architectural principles that will form the basis of the design.

With its older industrial environments, Lövholmen is a place with high cultural values. The buildings that are preserved become the area's value carriers that tell the story of the place, of how the industrial city of Stockholm has grown.

- "The overall idea behind the structure plan is to highlight the groups of buildings of cultural and historical interest that are being preserved and to create a framework around them in the form of new city districts," explains Magnus Lundström, responsible architect at FOJAB. He continues:

- The added city blocks together with the preserved buildings and the new public spaces form a whole that gives Lövholmen a strong identity of its own. But the area will also interact with surrounding neighborhoods in scale and character and become a well-composed element in the city's new silhouette.

Stockholm is characterized by its neighborhoods with different identities and characters, and Lövholmen will continue to be its own enclave in the mosaic that makes up Stockholm and carries the city's identity.

Lövholmen is currently largely closed to the public and an overall goal is to make this central place in Stockholm accessible. The design of places and paths therefore has as high a priority in the plan proposal as the buildings. A path runs through the district with a string of attractive small and large urban spaces. A large waterfront area is created with afternoon and evening sunshine, with a bathing jetty and space for various events. A quayside promenade runs along Liljeholmsviken, making it possible to walk along the Mälar shore all the way from Danvik to Vårby.

User dialogue and consultation are all well and good, but how do we ensure that local perspectives are included in the traditional urban development process and can influence the development of the city? What do we, architects and urban planners, know in depth about how those who live, work and spend time in a district experience their surroundings? What emotional values are linked to a particular place and what shapes its identity?

"Möllan Voices - Empowering the Local Perspectives" is our contribution to Malmö in the Making, the City of Malmö's initiative to explore what the city's spaces, architecture and culture mean to the people of Malmö and how we can shape the city's development together.

Methodology development - Möllan test bed
We have used the district of Möllevången as a test bed and explored alternative methods to give residents and workers in Möllan the opportunity to have a voice and influence urban development in their area.

With the help of the companies Perspetivo and Maptionnaire, we have developed a methodology for collecting information, thoughts and ideas that differs from the traditional survey. The aim is to create a better basis for architects to take in and understand an entire neighborhood and the different perspectives that exist there.

Experience the interpretations
"Möllan Voices" is about bringing new forces into the urban development process, so we have also let different creators interpret the answers from the survey. The works are exhibited for all to see during four Fridays in September at FOJAB's office at Friisgatan 28 in Malmö at 14-17:

1/9: AI Interpretation using ChatGPT and Midjourney

8/9: Photographers Emil Bjerenius and Linus Åkesson

15/9: Artist Sara Almosaibi Jasas

22/9: Designer Li Odén

Welcome to the Architecture Salon
We also invite you to an Architecture Salon on 27/9 at our Malmö office (Friisgatan 28) on the theme of culture, knowledge and urban development, where we will discuss the method, the result and the creators' work. The panel includes Anna Jonsson, associate professor and organization researcher at the Department of Business Administration at Lund University and SIR, Stockholm School of Economics Institute for Research, at the Stockholm School of Economics.

Mingle and exhibition from 17.00, the panel discussion starts at 18.00. Everyone is welcome, please register here.

Falling electricity prices and rising interest rates are a scourge not only for individuals, but also for municipalities, regions, government agencies and other property owners with large property portfolios. In this situation, it is particularly important that space is used efficiently and effectively. There is a lot of money to be saved here," says FOJAB's Charlotte Kristensson, the architect behind the Strategic Occupancy Planning service.

Many municipalities are currently facing the same kind of problem. They have buildings from the 1960s and 70s with major maintenance needs. Premises are used incorrectly or too little. Rented premises are not adapted to the activities. Schools are located in the wrong places in relation to the number of pupils.

As the economy gets tougher, there is little room for new construction. It is also important for climate reasons to make optimal use of the existing stock. Municipalities have to prioritize hard and many are now reviewing their needs. Which premises should be used, which additions are needed and where, which are left over and what do they cost? It can be a tricky puzzle to solve.

Basis for decision
FOJAB's strategic occupancy planning provides politicians with a complete and transparent basis for long-term decisions. The customer is guided to a comprehensive solution and efficient utilization of their property portfolio. Charlotte and her colleagues at FOJAB have helped numerous municipalities over the years, often involving schools, preschools, cultural and leisure facilities.

So how does it work?

An important starting point is to create a common picture of the conditions, something that is not entirely obvious where many administrations and people are involved. A real estate manager has his own perspective, a head of education or a principal has others. The architectural team comes in as a neutral party and guides the organization through an efficient process. Existing premises are analyzed based on parameters such as suitability, operation, renovation needs, etc. Conditions such as student numbers and political decisions are taken into account. The wishes of the activities are reconciled with the objectives of the curriculum.

- "FOJAB has developed a unique method where we can see how much space is needed in different subjects to achieve the curriculum objectives," explains Charlotte Kristensson.

Maximizing use
Precise figures make it easier to maximize the use of each school room. With smart scheduling, the after-school program may be able to use the home economics room or the craft room at certain times. Or rented out to an external party. The figures are also a good help when weighing up different interests.

- It can be difficult for an official to resist principals and others who are pushing for more resources for their particular school. If you can point to accurate figures, it becomes easier to achieve an equal school for all pupils in the municipality. It is a question of justice.

Knowledge of long-term effects
The analysis leads to a number of policy options. Following cost assessments, the evidence is ready to be presented to decision-makers. This may involve rebuilding, demolishing and building new buildings, or relocating activities. The data also gives politicians more knowledge about the long-term effects of different decisions. Charlotte gives an example:

- One municipality wanted home classrooms for secondary school pupils, as well as for primary school pupils, in order to provide peace and quiet and improve academic performance. With the projected increase in pupils, such a decision would mean expanding the school in a number of years.

- "We don't interfere with what you choose to do," says Charlotte. It's a political question of how to prioritize. But we highlight and clarify the needs and conditions so that politicians can make informed decisions and avoid costly changes.

Many uses
It's unusual for architectural offices to offer this kind of study, but it's an added value for the client, says Charlotte. As an expert in knowledge environments, after analyzing Karlshamn municipality's need for premises, she was able to take the work further and design the new school in Mörrum, which was found to be needed. For other types of premises, FOJAB has experts in offices, housing for the elderly, sports halls, etc. who can assist with their knowledge.

Because even though most of the clients so far have been municipalities, there are many others who could benefit from strategic occupancy planning. Charlotte takes universities and colleges as an example. The influx of students is at a record high, while the cost of premises is rising. FOJAB is currently developing a method for calculating the degree of utilization of university premises in the same way as for schools.

Reducing costs
- By optimizing their use, universities can reduce the cost of their existing stock. This, in turn, can provide the financial space to develop new types of high-quality teaching environments that are better suited to the needs of today's students," says Charlotte:

- Any organization with a large number of premises and facing major changes, whether growing or shrinking, will benefit from strategic space planning. Take, for example, government agencies or our regions where there are businesses that are expanding rapidly and flagging that the supply of premises is a major problem. We can help there!

FOJAB is helping Hemsö develop a new sports facility in Bromma with a focus on girl-dominated sports. The ambition is an ice rink for figure skating and a gymnastics arena for team gymnastics.

There is a great need for ice rinks in Stockholm and Hemsö's ambition is to build an ice rink for figure skating with a foyer and stands for around 400 people, with a gymnastics arena for team gymnastics on top.

The sports facility is planned to be approximately 16,000 square meters BTA and will be located right next to Bromma Airport. FOJAB has assisted Hemsö with the work in the early stages, detailed planning and design of the building. The plan proposal has now been submitted for review.

- We have worked closely with the Swedish Figure Skating Association and the Swedish Gymnastics Association to understand their conditions. Just as important as the building meeting their sporting requirements and wishes is that it should be socially well-functioning," says architect Anna Belfrage.

Many of the children and young people come straight from school, train in long sessions and spend a lot of time in the sports hall. Making life easier for them and their parents has therefore been an important focus. There should be a place to do homework and eat snacks or heat up their evening meal - a bit like a leisure center. Directly adjacent to the sports hall there will also be parking spaces where parents can easily and safely pick up their children after training.

The sports facility will be located right next to one of the runways at Bromma Airport, which has clearly influenced its design. The height of the building varies from 11.5 meters on one side to 25.5 meters on the other - a result of the fact that it must not obstruct air traffic.

- We have used the height differences for the different needs of the activities. For example, gyms and changing rooms do not need as much ceiling height as exercise rooms with trampolines," says Anna Belfrage.

Great care has also been taken to make the large building fit into the urban context of the city. The rear has a folded facade to avoid interfering with air traffic control radio waves, and the fold follows around the entire building at ground level to create life at street level. On the two longest street facades, one of the folds becomes slightly deeper and cuts through the building, breaking up the large volume. The notch also marks the entrances.

Upstairs, the facade is clad with a wooden grid for variety and rhythm. Large windows provide a view and insight where passers-by can suddenly see a gymnast doing a flip inside the hall. A gymnastics hall on top of an ice rink means special conditions in the form of large spans. FOJAB has worked with Tyréns to optimize the design and minimize the amount of steel. The gymnastics floor is suspended in floor-high trusses with halls inserted in between. It is a solution that provides significantly thinner floors and leaves a lot of room volume for the activities.