Old fishing nets, discarded sheets of glass or waste from punched-out sheet metal - can it become the facade of a newly built house? This is what FOJAB is exploring for Parkering Malmö, working on a new mobility house in the Hyllie district.

Parkering Malmö will build a parking garage in Hyllie with a facade in recycled material. FOJAB has been commissioned to design the building and thus find products that can be reused as building materials for the approximately 2,400 square meter facade area. Several demolition projects have been investigated as well as the possibility of using different metal fractions in collaboration with Stena Recycling.

One hope is to use the glass panels that are now being removed from Orkanen, one of Malmö's university buildings. Lund University of Technology has been engaged to carry out tests and investigate whether the glass can be used. The glass will be supplemented with steel skeletons from the manufacturing industry, i.e. the residue left over from punching shapes out of sheet metal. The steel skeleton can be used to create beautiful patterns.

- We have scouted around Skåne to find possible materials and partners. The difficulty is not knowing for sure what materials are available, or exactly what the hole pattern in a metal sheet looks like. This challenges the entire design process," says Anders Eriksson Modin, architect and development manager at FOJAB.

- It's a new way of working, to start entirely from what already exists and find possible areas of use. This places new demands not only on us as architects, but on society as a whole to make different materials more accessible for reuse. We also need courageous clients like Parkering Malmö, who dare to explore new methods of developing circular construction," says Petra Jenning, architect and innovation manager at FOJAB.

- Instead of seeing buildings as a storage of contents, you can look at them as a bank of materials. You have a great value in the building if you use it carefully and can reuse it again," says Annika Fernlund, property developer at Parkering Malmö.

The construction process will be monitored and co-financed by the Vinnova-funded research project "Center for Circular Construction", also known as "CCBuild". The aim is to see how the use of reused building products affects the design process.

The parking garage is expected to be ready for opening in the first quarter of 2024.

Rebecca Saaby Mehlum becomes office manager for FOJAB in Helsingborg. The creation of the new managerial position is part of FOJAB's investment in the Helsingborg market.

FOJAB is one of Sweden's leading architectural firms with nearly 150 employees. The head office is located in Malmö and there are also offices in Stockholm and Helsingborg. FOJAB is taking an increasingly larger place in the Helsingborg market and the surrounding area, a development that is now matched by a strengthening of the management organization.

Rebecca Saaby Mehlum, who has been with FOJAB in Helsingborg since the office opened in 2014, is leaving her position as studio manager to become office manager with a clearer mandate to run the business.

- It is an exciting region to work in! We see a great growth both in Helsingborg and in the surrounding municipalities. By strengthening the management, we can better position and profile ourselves, and we gain clarity towards our customers," says Rebecca Saaby Mehlum, office manager at FOJAB Helsingborg.

- This is a signal to the Helsingborg market that it is important to us. Rebecca Saaby Mehlum and her colleagues at the Helsingborg office have extensive knowledge and familiarity with the Helsingborg region - in Halland and Småland - which we know is appreciated by our customers. Now we give our Helsingborg office the conditions to become even more aggressive," says Daniel Nord, CEO of FOJAB.

For more information please contact

Daniel Nord, CEO
daniel.nord@fojab.se +46 706 87 88 82

Rebecca Saaby Mehlum, Head of Office Helsingborg, Sweden
rebecca.saaby@fojab.se +46 706 81 58 30

Jernhusen has appointed twenty actors with sustainability expertise to assist in the company's climate work. FOJAB is one of those who now sign a framework agreement with the state-owned real estate company.

Jernhusen will halve the use of purchased energy on its properties from 2008 to 2030, and become completely climate neutral in 2045. To achieve its goals, the property portfolio needs to be continuously developed. This may involve investigations in the early stages, detailed planning work, rebuilding and extensions and new construction.

FOJAB is one of twenty actors who have been appointed to support and develop Jernhusen in this work.

FOJAB has long experience of developing station environments and a solid knowledge of sustainability. With over 140 employees and offices in Malmö, Helsingborg and Stockholm, FOJAB can offer a wide range of different skills - an advantage in complex projects and multidisciplinary collaborations.

- We are very pleased to work with Jernhusen and to be able to assist with our expertise. At FOJAB we like to work closely with our clients, because we know that trust and understanding of each other is crucial if you want to achieve a lot in climate work. We enter the collaboration with the hope of exciting projects where we together can take sustainability work to a new level," says Daniel Nord, CEO of FOJAB.

The design of the new Mittuppgången station building at Göteborg Central will be decided in a prestigious architectural competition. FOJAB, in a team with Cobe, WSP and Crowd Dynamics, has been selected to participate in a parallel assignment.

The new Mittuppgången will be the station area's gateway to the north, strategically located at the foot of Nya Hisingsbron. The station building will be the main entrance to the West Link and a link between regional trains, the central station and the city's public transport. The building will also house public spaces and offices.

Jernhusen and the City of Gothenburg are organizing parallel assignments for the design. 28 teams participated in the prequalification and four teams have now been selected to participate in the continued competition. The entries will be presented in December and the winning proposal will be presented in January.

The FOJAB team is led by the Copenhagen-based architecture firm Cobe and includes the consulting firms WSP and Crowd Dynamics. The other qualified architectural firms are Dorte Mandrup A/S, Erséus Arkitekter and Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter AS.

- "It is of course very exciting to be prequalified for this type of key project with great importance for the development of Gothenburg, and a good opportunity for us as an office to establish ourselves in the Gothenburg market. We at FOJAB have good experience of working with the City of Gothenburg, as we developed the urban development program for the station area. The design of Mittuppgången, as one of the most important nodes, will be a natural continuation of that work," says Daniel Nord, CEO of FOJAB.

FOJAB has been chosen to design the new district at Jägersro in Malmö. The most sustainable district in the Öresund region will take shape on the site of the racetrack.  

In the spring, SMT Malmö Exploatering AB and the City of Malmö organized a parallel assignment to develop a proposal for an overall structure for the future district, with room for about 5000 homes. FOJAB and its partners IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Ramboll and Calluna were selected to participate as one of three architectural offices.

- The task was very complex and required both broad competence and long experience. Of the three offices that participated in the parallel assignments, we have now chosen FOJAB's proposal as the basis for further planning," says Ulrika Lindmark, CEO of SMT Malmö Exploatering AB.

The urban design concept focuses on three streets that connect the district with the surrounding areas, meeting in a large central park. An urban street becomes the commercial center of the district with shops, services, bazaars and flea markets. Urban villages with bustling alleys and greenery allow for meetings and local community.

- We particularly appreciate that FOJAB's proposal is so well anchored in the site and in Malmö. We also think that they have succeeded very well in creating a sustainable neighborhood with room for a lot of security and community. They have really succeeded in shaping our vision of Jägersro becoming the most sustainable district in the Öresund region in terms of housing environments, green oases and places for socializing," says Ulrika Lindmark.

- It is with pride and joy that we take on the next step in the development of Jägersro. The structural plan means that several new values, paths and functions will be added to eastern Malmö, which is so much needed and will mean a major change for the city," says the responsible architect Magdalena Hedman at FOJAB.

The structure plan will be processed during the fall and presented to the municipality in December, after which the plan program work will begin. Preliminary first occupancy in the new area is 2028.

The design of the new oncology clinic at Kalmar County Hospital is now underway. FOJAB is designing the new building, renovation and extension, which will contribute to better and more coherent cancer care and more accessible radiation treatment. The outdoor environment is also being designed by FOJAB.

Region Kalmar has agreed to a new building, renovation and extension for oncology and radiotherapy, covering a total of 6300 square meters. The investment amounts to approximately SEK 423 million. The new five-story building contains two new radiation bunkers, rooms for PET-CT, administrative premises and a treatment unit for chemotherapy. FOJAB has prepared the system documents and is now starting the design.

Technology-heavy activities
The technology-heavy operations place special demands on the premises. Radiation guns require meter-thick walls and the PET-CT room where radioactive substances are handled must be separated from other rooms.

- The most important thing is that the logistics work, both horizontally and vertically. The rooms with all their equipment must be well organized - not only individually but also in relation to each other," says Anna Hjort, project manager architect at FOJAB with long experience of working with healthcare buildings.

Welcoming rooms
In addition to being patient-safe and functional, the indoor environment should be comfortable and welcoming. Plenty of daylight and generous views should create calm and provide the opportunity to follow the rhythm of the day and the changing seasons. Colors and materials are also chosen with great care.

- It should be both a good experience for the patient and a good environment for the staff. Functional and beautiful," says Anna Hjort.

Musky greenery
The FOJAB team also includes landscape architects working on the area around the oncology buildings. Malin Ingemarsdotter talks about the design ideas:

- We have worked with John Bauer as inspiration, a bit mysterious and muscular with intense forest-like greenery and rippling water. The three courtyards should be experienced primarily from the inside, and in the evening and at night you can get nice effects through lighting on the walls and in the trees.

The new oncology clinic will be designed in spring 2022 and completed in 2026.

FOJAB is gaining ground in the Stockholm market. In order to better meet the demand and grow further, a new strategic position is created in the office management. Jens Larsson leaves the position of office manager to become market area manager. At the same time, the recruitment of a new office manager begins.

With more than 100 employees in Malmö and almost 20 in Helsingborg, FOJAB is one of Skåne's largest architectural offices. Since the Stockholm office was established in 2013, it has grown steadily.

FOJAB in Stockholm currently employs about 25 people, and its broad expertise allows for assignments on all scales, from urban development to interior design, from early stages to construction documents. FOJAB is currently involved in several of the capital region's major development projects, such as Årstafältet, Barkarbystaden and Norra Djurgårdsstaden.

In order to meet the increased demand, several new architects will be hired during the fall and the office management will be expanded in order to further develop the office. Jens Larsson, the current office manager, has been given a new assignment as market area manager in Stockholm. His task will be to lead and develop the marketing work at the Stockholm office, develop new business opportunities and work long-term to identify new projects and customers.

- Jens knows the Stockholm market well and has an extraordinary ability to see opportunities and find areas of development. With the new management structure, we can gather strength both internally and externally to raise the bar further and become even more visible in an extremely interesting market," says Daniel Nord, CEO of FOJAB.

- "It has been an exciting journey to have the opportunity, during six years as office manager, to drive the development of the Stockholm office to where we are today," says Jens Larsson. "Now it's time to gear up and take the office to the next level. An expansion of the office management can provide exactly the momentum we need to take the next step. In my new role, I look forward to being able to focus even more on growth and project creation and to develop fantastic architecture together with our clients.

The recruitment of a new office manager has begun. The process is led by FOJAB's Chief Operating Officer Karin Fagerberg, who will also act as acting office manager in Stockholm until the new office manager is in place.

For more information please contact
Jens Larsson, Market Area Manager Stockholm
jens.larsson@fojab.se,  +46 761 – 65 61 63

For questions about the Head of Office position in Stockholm
Karin Fagerberg, Chief Operating Officer and Acting Head of Office
karin.fagerberg@fojab.se, +46 705 27 46 15

How do you preserve an old institutional environment while making it relevant to today's needs? In S:t Larsparken in Lund, FOJAB has helped property owner Hemsö to find development opportunities. This fall, the groundbreaking ceremony for a new sports hall will take place.

- 'There is a lot worth preserving in the park, but at the same time we want to develop it so that it doesn't feel like a museum,' explains architect Elise Lindahl. "We have worked a lot with the spaces between the buildings, so that we add qualities without encroaching on the unique environment in many ways.

- FOJAB has made a huge contribution to the vision and strategy work and given us a good foundation to stand on. The fact that we've been able to work long-term for ten years makes it all worthwhile," says Robert Cardell, project developer at Hemsö.

More life and movement

The mental hospital site was established in the 1870s and grew with new buildings almost every decade. Each one is a reflection of its time, but the design is bound together by the characteristic red brick. Since the hospital was closed down in connection with the psychiatric reform in the 1990s, the buildings have gradually been given new content. Today, many independent schools are housed here, from preschool to high school.

- In the strategy work, we identified what St. Lars is and should be, and what holes we need to fill. One such gap was the need for life and movement in the park even in the evening," says Robert Cardell.

This resulted in two detailed plans, which FOJAB assisted Hemsö with, that develop today's - and tomorrow's - businesses.

Housing and public activities

One detailed plan allows for approximately 8900 square meters of housing and approximately 2600 square meters of premises for business, offices and/or education. The site next to the river Höje has been something of a backwater, but the plan develops it into an attractive living and working environment in the heart of the park.

The second detailed plan includes a sports facility, Växthuset, which will begin construction this fall. It will be filled with schoolchildren during the day, but with its large gym and two padel courts, it will also be a draw for local residents in the evening.

The sports hall will serve as an entrance building to the park, lit up like a lantern. It will also be a pick-up and drop-off point for school children who are driven by car to and from the many schools in the area - a logistical challenge today. In terms of design, the building relates to its surroundings with its red brick, but has its own contemporary expression.

- It winks at the park's other buildings, but takes a step further," says Elise Lindahl.

The greenhouse sports facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2022/23.

- We are creating something unique in Malmö, which will be noticed not only in Sweden but also in Europe.
So says Anders Eriksson Modin, architect and development manager at FOJAB, in a conversation about collaboration as a working method to solve climate challenges in the construction industry.

- If you say collaboration, I'll leave.

Anders Eriksson Modin begins our conversation by recounting a memory from Almedalen, a year in which this word abounded in the seminars, lectures and panel debates. Eventually, one of the audience members had enough.

- And sure, collaboration is often seen as the solution to everything. But when it comes to a problem as big as climate impact in the construction phase, which covers an entire industry - then the entire industry needs to be involved in solving it," he says.

The mixture a strength

Local Roadmap Malmö 2030, LFM30, is an initiative for a climate-neutral building and construction sector in Malmö with over 160 affiliated actors. The goal is climate neutrality by 2030 and even higher by 2035, when Malmö's construction sector will be climate positive.

Anders Eriksson Modin runs one of the seven working groups, climate-neutral building materials, together with Pauline Strandberg de Bruijn, materials researcher at LTH. The group also includes developers, contractors, designers, environmental consultants, producers and suppliers.

- The mix is one of the strengths. It is unusual to have the whole value chain sitting at the same table in this way. The more perspectives the better and the more unexpected answers you get. And not least, it gives rise to exciting collaborations," says Anders.

Dissemination of knowledge a key objective

Everyone is an expert in their own field. But together they find new ways to work with different combinations of materials to get the most climate benefit for the money.

- Take a client who wants to build an eco-house. We can investigate whether, for example, wood cooperates with hemp insulation to achieve a reduced climate impact. Perhaps we can apply for innovation support to test and prototype on a small scale, calculate and verify the climate benefits. Without LFM30, there is a high probability that the developer would have done as usual.

The main work of the group is to spread knowledge about EPD data, environmental product declaration, and how to make smart material choices. New knowledge is disseminated through seminars, round table discussions or through memos sent to the affiliated member companies. Some of it is also open for outsiders to take part in.

Climate budget

Sustainability work in the construction sector has long focused on reducing climate emissions in the operational phase. This has come quite a long way. But in the construction phase, on the contrary, climate emissions have increased. The explanation lies, among other things, in a globalized industry and trade.

- We use steel that is extracted in Sweden, rolled in Germany and bent in China," says Anders:

- I would like all projects to have a climate budget, in the same way that a financial budget is set up today. How do you get as much climate benefit as possible? Just as you reason with the business benefits.

High tempo in the group

Interest in climate calculations is growing in the construction industry and many are curious about what is happening in Malmö. LFM30 has developed a method for calculating the climate impact of a building. All members have committed to taking concrete measures to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There is a strong commitment and drive among everyone.

- We know where we are and where we are going, and the pace is fast. In Malmö, forty climate-positive projects will be implemented within just a couple of years. This will attract attention not only in Sweden but throughout Europe. And this is thanks to LFM30. An important key to success has been to get all actors in the value chain to talk to each other.

At Jägersro in Malmö, a new district will be built with room for 5000 homes, workplaces, shops, schools and preschools. FOJAB now presents its proposal for a healthy, urban neighborhood with historical elements in a modern style. 

FOJAB is one of three architectural offices that have been commissioned to develop an overall structure for how the future Jägersro will be designed.

The urban design concept in FOJAB's proposal is based on an easily oriented structure with three streets that are connected to the surrounding city and meet in a large central park. The district is characterized by generous elements of greenery and water, including an eco-pool that can be swum in - an attraction that can attract Malmö residents from other parts of the city.

The urban street becomes the commercial hub of the district with entrance squares for shops, services, bazaars and flea markets. The public spaces are elaborate and welcoming.

Historical structures

Jägersro is a neighborhood that many Malmö residents have a connection to and memories of. In FOJAB's proposal, several of the historical structures are preserved, but they are given a new interesting content and thus help to shape the identity and history of the new district.

For example, the iconic grandstand building can be preserved and transformed into the district's Green Terrace. The so-called Activity Loop is reminiscent of the former racetrack, but has been developed into a movement path with a focus on public health and with generous areas for exercise in various forms. The judge's tower in the center of the area is converted into a teahouse.

Urban villages

- We want to create a nice homey feeling with room for many meetings in the district. We do this through neighborhood units, urban villages, with great opportunities for a local community," explains Magdalena Hedman, commissioned architect at FOJAB.

The urban village is characterized by a coherent building typology, a unifying urban green and a rich internal environment of bustling alleys and greenery. In the urban village there are clear boundaries between public and private spaces.

Sustainable

In FOJAB's proposal, the blue-green Jägerspark is a climate netural neighborhood built to withstand both 100-year rainfall and an increase in average temperature. Greenery on the doorstep encourages sustainable choices. Sharing of box bikes makes it easy to leave your car behind and bring goods from the delivery pool to yourself and your neighbor. The greenhouse can be combined with a study and work hub where it is easy to study or work from home and network across generations. The schools in the district are located next to the park or natural area to the east, providing attractive, quiet and safe environments.

The three proposals are now being reviewed by an evaluation group consisting of the client SMT Malmö Expoatering AB, the City of Malmö and experts. Architects Sweden is leading the evaluation process. A final idea will be presented at the end of the year.

In the heart of Barkarbystaden, a stylish city block will be built with a grand facade and details inspired by the area's old airplane hangars. FOJAB has designed the winning proposal for Wallenstam after parallel assignments.

Barkarbystaden is emerging as a new regional city center in the metropolitan area. The residential block with premises on the ground floor that FOJAB has designed for Wallenstam is one of the most central. It will be the first to greet travelers from the metro.

- It should feel like coming out of the metro in Paris or the U-bahn in Berlin. You should be greeted by a city," says Jens Larsson, responsible architect at FOJAB.

This feeling has set the tone for one half of the block, which faces the square. Here the building is characterized by an urban character, with representative facades and recessed balconies that provide a pleasant rhythm and contribute to the life and movement of the square.

The high plinth floor contains shops and the residential entrances are influenced by Barkarby Airport in the form of hangar-shaped arches. The shape reappears in the crown, but then upside down.

- In FOJAB's proposal, the plinth, body and crown come out very well, which was also a request from the municipality. The three elevated buildings look good in the neighborhood and adapt nicely to the site," says Julia Jakobsson, project developer at Wallenstam.

The second half of the block is characterized by a small scale with simpler facades in warm plaster colours. The two different design characters are held together by a coherent form that is accentuated in two of the corners and in the middle of the square.

The apartments, both rental and condominium, are efficiently planned with furnishings, views and large balconies.

- A good combination of good design and practicality," says Julia Jakobsson of Wallenstam.

Construction is planned to start in the fall of 2022.

From 19th century laboratory to 21st century housing - one of Lund's oldest institutional buildings has been respectfully redesigned by FOJAB. The sale of the apartments, where extremely high demands have been placed on the transformation, is now starting.

In the middle of the Culture Quadrant in Lund, a stone's throw from the Cathedral, is the historic Maria Magle block. In the 13th century there was a church here, for several hundred years after the church was demolished there was a cemetery on the site and in 1863 the Department of Chemistry was built. In 1959 the building was handed over to the Department of History but since 2014 it has been empty.

Sustainable use of resources
- There is not much new construction in central Lund, so this is a fantastic opportunity. A project that takes advantage of the building's potential both in terms of history and location. Not least, it is a sustainable use of resources," says Stefan Andersson, project developer at Midroc, client and developer.

- We chose to work with FOJAB because they have experience of similar projects. It has also been valuable for the project to have the same architect all the way, from the early detailed planning stage to future construction documents.

The building occupies the entire block and is built around a green courtyard. With its yellow brick facade from Lomma Tegelbruk and sandstone plinth from Hardeberga quarry, the building is architecturally representative of the 19th century. The handmade bricks, the regular windows and the tin roof are still there, as are the unusually large number of chimneys, which are reminiscent of a business where ventilation was particularly important.

Proceed with caution
In order for the house to last for another hundred years, a thorough review of the masonry has been carried out, windows have been carefully opened up to window doors and period attributes are being recreated with respect to what the house and the Cultural Quadrant represent. Andreas Blomberg, responsible architect at FOJAB, talks about the work:

- The house has a stripped-down and simple design, which is why it has held up so well over time. We have proceeded carefully and worked with the house on its own terms. The frame is intact and the existing high level of materiality is matched or enhanced.

- For cultural and historical reasons, we do not touch what does not need to be touched. The patina on the bricks can remain, the oxidized surface is both nice to look at and protects the stone. We complete damaged joints with the same ridge joint as originally. Windows are preserved and we supplement with new gates and doors, and glass doors of the same quality and expression.

Elegant forging
The main architectural addition to the exterior is the new exterior balconies, entrance stairs, railings and attic walkway, which are made of elegant black-painted wrought iron.

To enhance the visual and tactile experience inside, the interior is complemented by beautiful original details while adding new modern materials and details of high architectural and material quality.

Components from cultural layers
Josephine Philipsen, landscape architect at FOJAB, is responsible for the outdoor environment:

- We have picked up components from various cultural layers on the site, which return in a new form. For example, there used to be a well in the courtyard, which will be picked up and redesigned as a water mirror. The traces of a church wall will be visible as a coarser line in the pavement. The paving stones will be reused in a new set of stones inspired by motifs on the flooring of the church, solar crosses, found during a previous archaeological survey. The solar cross also appears in the plantings.

Project: Kv Maria Magle, Lund.
Status: Estimated occupation in winter 2022.
Client: Midroc
Architect: FOJAB
Project group FOJAB: Andreas Blomberg, Nina Torstensson, Mirelle Landerberg, Josephine Philipsen.

FOJAB has developed a new concept for designing learning environments. The first primary school to be built entirely according to this approach is Mörrum's new school with exciting architecture on a child's scale and learning environments literally in every corner.

The Knowledge Environments competence area at FOJAB works with schools and learning environments for children, young people and adults. Charlotte Kristensson is responsible for a team with both breadth and expertise that is able to take on projects from the very first phase all the way to the final design.

Participation and anchoring
Being involved early in the process is one of the success factors for building a really good school, says Charlotte Kristensson. In the case of Mörrum, she was involved from the very first idea stage. She investigated Karlshamn municipality's need for premises in a longer perspective, and could then conclude that a completely new school was needed in Mörrum that was better adapted to the business, instead of the many small ones that existed at the time.

FOJAB was awarded the contract and right from the start the team worked closely with politicians, officials, educators and the pupils themselves - another key factor. Building schools is a complex process with many stakeholders and FOJAB's school team works with various process tools for idea development, participation and anchoring.

- We put a lot of effort into developing a project vision that everyone can support. When we present the proposal, everyone is on board," explains Charlotte.

No corridors
FOJAB anchors the design in research on learning and development. In Mörrum, workshops were held with the teachers, where, among other things, knowledge about safe corners was captured. It is about the fact that corners are often appreciated areas in the school, they feel safe, but if they are disturbed by doors where people run in and out, they function less well as a learning environment.

- Architecture matters. The physical built environment is an educational tool and a catalyst for learning and development.

The FOJAB team strives to maximize what Charlotte calls the learning environment factor, making the best use of square meters. "Building houses is expensive, so it's important to minimize any space used for non-essentials.

- Mörrum's new school is the first school we have built completely without corridors! There is a minimum of communication areas, almost everything is a learning environment.

Adapt the space to the activity
The issue of space is not straightforward. A school has to satisfy many needs and often the organization has a long wish list of what the new building should contain. It is not always easy to draw the line, to say what is necessary and what is not. But then FOJAB's architects can help. FOJAB has developed a tool for calculating the need for premises based on the business needs.

- It is a way to optimize the space based on the curriculum and the calculation is usually welcomed by the client.

Safe havens and spatial diversity
Mörrum's new school is a primary school for grades F-6, with room for 550 students. One challenge was that the school should not feel too big. The solution was to break up the large building body into six smaller building volumes with several entrances and dormitories. From the dormitories, you move on to the common areas - in the sock drawer because everything is connected.

- Schools today are often built with a single large main entrance. This makes it a long way for students to get to their homes, and they have to go in and out several times a day. Our slogan was 'When you open the door, you are there'. This provides an immediate proximity between outside and inside, and a much safer environment.

In the traditional school, all rooms are the same size, but in Mörrum there is a wide variety that better meets today's educational needs.

Flexible use of premises is always an important parameter for FOJAB and an important aspect of sustainability. A facility that can be used by several different activities at different times is both economically and climatically smart. In Mörrum, the common premises, such as workshops, kitchen lab and canteen, are located so that they can easily be rented out to associations and other municipal activities in Mörrum.

- Knowledge environments are important meeting places that also contribute to the social sustainability of society.

Joy of movement the starting point
FOJAB is not only designing the school building in Mörrum but is also responsible for the interior design and outdoor environment. The children have drawn, built models and made films that have served as a basis for the landscape architects' work on the schoolyard. Joy of movement is the starting point and is based on research showing that learning is supported by movement. The movement factor, a tool developed by FOJAB together with the Swedish Sports Confederation, is used in the design.

- We always think about the complete learning environment. Mörrum's school is a fine example of the end result when we can work according to all the steps of the process. With cooperation and participation from start to finish, with collaborative solutions for increased sustainability and an experiential architecture that contributes to the children's learning. This will be the jewel in the crown," says Charlotte Kristensson.

Would you like to know more? Feel free to contact
Charlotte Kristensson
charlotte.kristensson@fojab.se, tel +46 727 18 88 44

With high architectural qualities and strong sustainability elements that contribute to community development, FOJAB won the land allocation competition for Mellbystrand's center. The proposal connects to the history of the town and breathes joy and playfulness in both volumes and color scheme.
- We want to bring out the summer feeling all year round," says architect Anders Lundin.

Mellbystrand in Halland was once a thriving seaside resort. The community is built around holiday homes from the turn of the century, with Strandhotellet from 1927 as the social center. But Mellbystrand has recently lost service functions and visitors to neighboring towns and the center is largely undeveloped today.

In 2020, Laholm municipality announced a land allocation competition with a focus on increasing long-term attractiveness and creating environments that add value to the community. The proposal from FOJAB arkitekter and Hamiltone Fastigheter AB received the highest score for both sustainability and design.

- This has been requested for a long time and will lift Mellbystrand back to what it once was, in terms of attractiveness and reputation. New types of housing make it possible for more people to settle in beautiful Mellbystrand, which is very positive," says Mikael Lennung, land and development strategist in Laholm Municipality.

- It's too often said that something is unique, but it's very unusual to be involved in shaping a completely new city center structure. It has been inspiring to work with FOJAB to identify what once set the tone for the site and what can become the new Mellbystrand," says Elijah Hamilton, client and contractor.

FOJAB's proposal Strandparken is based on Mellbystrand's identity as a seaside resort with small-scale detached buildings. The neighborhood is well connected but has a broken structure with offsets towards the main street that provide space for outdoor seating and meeting places. The houses vary in height, volume and color - a playful wooden architecture in a color scale that associates both with history and with summer, sun and sea.

- We were inspired by coastal communities in Denmark and on the west coast to bring out the lively, cheerful and varied character," says Anders Lundin, architect in charge at FOJAB.

Gaps between the houses create visual and physical links to the park below and provide a sense of alleyways as in older small coastal towns. An adjacent square becomes an important part of the connection between the beach, the old beach hotel and the park.

The idea of sustainability is consistent throughout Strandparken. The proposed materials - wooden facades and eco-concrete frames - are durable and hard-wearing, eco-labeled and preferably locally produced. The roofs are equipped with solar cells. Both housing and business premises are flexible for changing future needs. Social sustainability is strengthened by housing in different scales and designs that attract residents of different ages and economic conditions.

In small communal sheds, which mimic the design of the beach's bathing huts, there is space for workshops, greenhouses or bicycle storage, for example, creating opportunities for socializing, sharing and reuse. A path with a wetland for stormwater management makes the neighborhood resilient to potential flooding.

A land allocation agreement and detailed planning work are now pending. Construction is planned for 2023-2024, with occupancy in 2024.

84 apartments and hardly any two are the same. The last apartments in Aromalund, a new residential neighborhood in central Lund designed by FOJAB, are now being occupied. Head of Architecture Joachim Lundquist talks about one of the most exciting residential areas in Lund right now:

- This is a housing project where FOJAB's architectural philosophy - Place, People, Form - has had a major impact. In Aromalund, unpretentiousness, team spirit and great creative freedom have been success factors. And a shared desire to create something out of the ordinary. And the residents have been involved in the idea all the way from the detailed plan to the finished home.

The residential area is located next to King Oscar's Bridge, right where the stone city in the center meets the green residential neighborhoods in the west and where there was once an apple orchard. 67 of the 84 apartments are completely unique in their design. 22 are on one floor and several have a loft. All (except one studio) have at least one balcony or patio. The design of the homes is based on four different characters, based on four different ideas of living:

• Family function contains functional city apartments with large bright entrances.
• Stylish conviviality with large, elegant living areas.
• Classical composition is based on a turn-of-the-century penthouse.
• Creative concept are innovative apartments with a townhouse feel.

Each character has been applied to each of the five different buildings, and is reflected in everything from floor plans and stairwells to patios and the street environment. The neighborhood is varied, but is held together by the fact that the houses go tone in tone, in color and material.

- Working with a strong form is very important for us to create a clear identity. The form should also reflect the content and be based on a clear idea. We see this not least at Aromalund where the exterior and interior interact naturally and where both materials and feelings follow a common thread from the outside in," says Joachim Lundquist.

The first sod was recently turned for the new court building in Jönköping, which will house the Göta Court of Appeal and the Administrative Court of Appeal. After winning a competition, FOJAB has further developed the design.

- A prestigious assignment we are very proud of. Based on a strong idea, we have designed a building with clear character and architectural excellence," says Kjell Adamsson, responsible architect at FOJAB.

The new court building on Slottskajen will accommodate ten courtrooms and around 180 workplaces. The building volume is constructed in different scales and will connect the development along the western shore of Lake Munksjön, where the district court, administrative court and police station will be the closest neighbors.

- The new court will communicate respect and dignity, values that also characterize the existing court building from the 17th century. Through careful design, volume processing and choice of materials, the building is anchored in its local environment," says Kjell Adamsson.

Built to last over time
The façade is designed with light sand-colored ceramic elements. The depth and clear verticality of the facade creates an interesting shadow effect and contributes to the building's sun protection, and the vertical elements also regulate the degree of transparency and privacy. The project has high ambitions in terms of sustainability - the idea is that the court building will last for at least 400 years, just like its predecessor.

- With few, noble and sustainable materials that age beautifully over time, we give the building a long-term perspective and a materiality that is worthy of the important social function of the courts," says Jonas Ruthblad, supervising architect at FOJAB.

A public space with room for privacy
Based on the site's conditions and high demands on safety, function, environment and quality, the building will have a modern design that is well connected to the long history of judicial activities in Jönköping.

- There is a challenging contrast in its desire to be a public function in the city on the one hand and to meet people's need for privacy on the other. The aim has been to create a safe and calming environment for people who find themselves in a situation that can be difficult and stressful. A modern court as a representative of a healthy being requires that the design balances respect and dignity with openness and humility," concludes Kjell Adamsson.

Read more about Göta Hovrätt and the Court of Appeal

Jägersro trotting and racetrack will be transformed into a sustainable and integrated neighborhood, a place for people who value community and proximity to both urban life and nature. FOJAB is one of three architectural teams commissioned to produce the development proposals.

- We are really looking forward to being involved in developing the Malmö of the future," says Magdalena Hedman, commissioned architect at FOJAB.

In 1907, Sweden's first trotting and racing track was inaugurated at Jägersro in Malmö. As time has passed, the needs have changed and in 2018 Skånska travsällskapet decided to build a completely new facility east of the current one. The land was sold to SMT Malmö Exploatering AB, whose vision is to develop the most sustainable district in the Öresund region on the site.

At the beginning of the year, SMT invited a number of architectural firms to analyze the structure of the area and three have been selected. FOJAB, Mandaworks and Kanozi will work in parallel to further develop their proposals.

- The project is a unique opportunity to weave the same southeastern Malmö through new integrating structures such as safe routes and places, attractive buildings and sustainable green and blue structures," says Magdalena.

The assignment will be presented in mid-May, and the proposals will be evaluated by representatives of SMT and the City of Malmö, as well as experts.

- We have put together a hugely competent team with specialists in urban planning, traffic, climate and green issues, a team that is at the forefront of sustainability and urban planning. We will work creatively, idea-based and with a strong focus on the future to create the most sustainable district in Öresund," says Magdalena.

FACTS PROJECT JÄGERSRO

Location: Jägersro trotting track and the parking lot outside.
Area: 40 hectares
Construction start: 2024/2025
Completed: 2040-2050
Content: 4,000-5,000 homes + commercial and public service premises

An undulating sheet metal facade that evokes a frozen, rippled water surface and a vibrant ground floor with a café and gym. The Dockan parking garage in Västerås challenges the standard image of what a parking garage is and should be, and has earned FOJAB a finalist position in the PLATE AWARD 2021.

- It's really great fun, but also a bit unexpected. Traditionally, parking garages are probably not associated with good architecture and are not often seen as inviting and welcoming. We have worked actively to create a vibrant ground floor and a lovely facade - perhaps Dockan can become the natural meeting place of the neighborhood," says Anders Eriksson Modin, responsible architect at FOJAB.

Innovative technology, developed in FOJABlab
The PLATE AWARD 2021 is awarded to an architectural firm that in 2020 completed a building where the possibilities of the sheet metal facade are utilized and maximized based on form, function, innovation and environment. The facade of the Dockan parking garage consists of bent metal cassettes in an undulating pattern. The technique of bending along a curve is a new technique, developed in FOJABlab.

- The idea arose during an internal workshop where we tested bending paper along curves. In close cooperation with a sheet metal company, FOJAB has developed the technology and a digital simulation of the bending process. The result is a three-dimensional, varied and interesting surface. The facade sheet in Dockan is also unpainted, which gives it fantastic reflectivity. "Daylight causes the facade to change from blue and white to a deep dark red at sunset," says Petra Jenning, architect at FOJAB with design responsibility for the metal facade.

Sheet metal bent in place
Sustainability has been one of the guiding principles of the project. In addition to the parking garage offering green electricity charging and encouraging residents in the area to share cars in a collective car pool, the construction process has also focused on sustainable solutions. For example, the plates were delivered in flat packages and bent into their current shape on site, saving many transportation miles.

- Our goal was to create a sustainable building that ages beautifully and withstands wear and tear. A living building that gives something back to the city," says Anders.

Read more about the Dockan car park in Västerås.

"Falkenberg has a new landmark that exudes urbanity and well-studied entrance spaces", the jury concludes and awards Argus, Falkenberg's new knowledge and cultural center, the Architects Sweden Halland Prize 2020. We are of course both proud and happy about the award, says Charlotte Kristensson, Head of Knowledge Environments at FOJAB.

-We have created a living building with room for creativity, curiosity and discovery. The buildings are designed in such a way that there are good conditions for collaboration. Building community properties is an extensive investment, but through collaboration it becomes profitable," says Charlotte Kristensson, responsible architect for knowledge environments at FOJAB.

-"We took a holistic approach to the entire gigantic block in order to establish contact with the central city center and create the city park that Falkenberg residents have lacked until now," says Kjell Adamsson, vice president of FOJAB, who was the commissioned architect.

Sustainable, distinctive and timeless
In the design, FOJAB has placed great emphasis on creating a sustainable and architecturally strong character, a building that is both distinctive and timeless. The sustainability aspect is also emphasized in the jury's motivation: "The building's materials, both exterior and interior, are solid and durable and will stand the test of time. Argus is a welcoming meeting place for all ages that manifests the place of knowledge and culture in Falkenberg.."

Read more about Argus