Every year, Region Skåne awards the Skåne Architecture Prize to recognize and reward good built environment in Skåne. The winner of this year's award was the MAX IV synchronized light facility. This means that we at FOJAB arkitekter share the prize and honor with Snøhetta, who acted as landscape architect, and the developer Fastighets AB ML4.

MAX IV was one of three nominees from Skåne in the competition held at the Kreativa Skåne event at the Palladium in Malmö on November 11. The other nominees were Bruksgården in Höganäs and Stadsparksentrén in Helsingborg. The jury emphasized the importance of the facility as an important landmark and that the design has created a productive place for collaboration between people from all over the world.

"We are very proud and happy to be the winner of the Skåne Architecture Prize 2016. MAX IV has been one of our biggest projects in recent years. Many of us have worked on the project for several years and we can now proudly state that the facility has become a landmark in the region. The award is further confirmation of the hard and dedicated work our project team has put into creating MAX IV" says Daniel Nord, CEO of FOJAB arkitekter.

The project ran for 6 years, 2010-2016, and involved a total of 17 of the company's architects and engineers over the years. Greger Dahlström has been the architect responsible for the design and Janis Kursis has been the architect in charge. The building has previously been awarded the MIPIM Awards Best Futura Project and the Environmental Prize of the Year at the Concrete Gala 2015. MAX IV was ready for inauguration in June 2016.

Motivation of the jury:
"The Skåne Architecture Prize 2016 goes to the MaxIV Laboratory in Lund for a strong building form and an innovative landscape. The interaction between the iconic form of the building and the stringent curvature of the landscape helps to bridge the shift in scale between the large-scale highway landscape and the emerging research area. Despite its austere form, monumental scale and industrial character, the architects manage to create a surprising number of human qualities, both inside and out. The jury believes that the facility has all the prerequisites to become an important landmark in an emerging knowledge region, but more importantly that the design has created a productive place where the conditions of the future are shaped by the collaboration of people from all over the world."

In 2016, the building was also approved and certified by BRE for post construction (finished building) according to BREEAM-SE. BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is an environmental certification system from the UK, developed and administered by BRE (Building Research Establishment). It is one of the oldest environmental certification systems and has been used to certify over 500,000 buildings in Europe. BREEAM-SE is the Swedish version of the system. MAX IV's score was 86.5% with a rating of 'Outstanding'.

Read more about MAX IV

Cecilia Jarlöv, landscape architect at FOJAB arkitekter, has won the UNT (Upsala Nya Tidning) Urban Environment Prize in Uppsala. The prize was awarded for the design of the new pedestrian and bicycle tunnel under Fyrislundsgatan in Uppsala. Cecilia shares the prize with the entire project team that contributed to the tunnel's unique design.

Cecilia Jarlöv was responsible for the design of the tunnel during her previous employment at Tema. The bright and generous tunnel, which is 33 meters long and 10 meters wide, has glass walls that are decorated with the artist Fideli Sundqvist's work "Pappersresan". The work consists of cut paper art that has been photographed. The photos are mounted behind the glass and illuminated from behind. This creates a special experience, especially in the evening when the colorful artworks stand out in the darkness. Halfway through the tunnel, a lantern lets in daylight and the lighting, in addition to the light behind the glass wall, is designed to enhance the experience of daylight.

- I am constantly working to bring art and artists into the public space. It enriches in a way that few other interventions can. At the same time, it's not always easy, as public spaces are often prioritized. Winning UNT's Urban Environment Prize is a recognition that it is worth taking care of places like this, a pedestrian and bicycle tunnel on the periphery of the city center, which is often treated poorly. I am extremely proud of the award, which I share with a fantastic project team," says Cecilia Jarlöv, landscape architect and award winner.

The other project group consists of Fideli Sundqvist, artist, Anna Ehn, project manager from the cultural administration, Sven-Erik Asp, project manager at the city planning office and photographer Magnus Cramer. The Urban Environment Prize was awarded at a ceremony in Uppsala on October 17.

Justification:
"This year's urban environment award goes to an innovative tunnel connection under Fyrislundsgatan, which not only practically connects the eastern parts of the city with the center of Uppsala, but also creates security and spreads joy through well-sized dimensions, generous light, pleasant architecture and playful artistic design. The prize also demonstrates that investment in a good urban environment is also important outside Uppsala's city center."

FOJAB arkitekter has, together with the developer Abacus, moved forward in the development of Norra Djurgårdsstaden in Stockholm. The joint project won a parallel assignment involving half a block and 71 new homes, commissioned by the City of Stockholm. The new neighborhood Södra Värtan will consist of 11 new blocks. The planning process for FOJAB arkitekter's project will begin in October 2016.

In Norra Djurgårdsstaden in Stockholm, an urban development project has been underway since 2011, where 12,000 new homes and 35,000 new workplaces are planned to be completed by 2030. Within the framework of the project, the City of Stockholm has issued several parallel assignments in which FOJAB arkitekter, in collaboration with Abacus, has been invited to develop a proposal for half a block. The challenge is to create a living, sustainable urban environment with active ground floors, careful design, conditions for collaboration and a wealth of impressions. The City of Stockholm's intentions for a strict, geometric and orderly architecture must also be met.

FOJAB architects and Abacus' joint proposal includes inviting residents to paint the facade in the vicinity of their home, using the tools, materials and manual they are given when they move in. Inspiration has been drawn from one of Vienna's biggest attractions, the Hundertwasserhaus, where residents have the right, as far as they can reach from their window, to paint the building's facade.

- The façade has a strict outer part, an orderly grid of bricks. Inside this, there are balconies and the facade layer that the residents can influence - a game with clear rules. "This is a building that has the potential to become one of Stockholm's future attractions, both for residents and visitors," says Jens Larsson, office manager and responsible architect for the project at FOJAB arkitekter in Stockholm.

The architectural team at FOJAB arkitekter consists of Jens Larsson, Mikael Pettersson, Joachim Lundquist and Stefan Johansson. The planning work will start in October 2016.

Kristianstad residents now have a more active lifestyle within reach. With construction starting already this fall, Idrottsområde Söder is emerging in connection with Kristianstad Arena. The plan is to kick the first ball in March 2018.

FOJAB arkitekter has done the concept work for the entire area and is now proceeding with construction documents. The new football stadium, with 1200 seats, meets the requirements for football and American football at elite level. There will also be changing rooms, kiosks and a VIP restaurant, new and upgraded training pitches, an upgraded athletics facility and new tennis courts.

Kristianstad Arena was completed in 2010, but the sports ground as a whole was old and worn. South of this was a run-down industrial area. Now that this area has been demolished and included in the plan, there is a nice connection to Björket - a lovely green area with running trails.

The football stand is the main building in the project. It will have a heavy base in raw concrete on the ground floor, with rooms for players and officials. Levels two and three contrast with a light character and are intended for the audience.

Architect Rebecca Saaby Mehlum is responsible for the design.

This will be a fantastic green oasis for sports and recreation. Through an area analysis, we have drawn up lines and paths that create an infrastructure and lead both spectators, players and ordinary exercisers in the right direction. At FOJAB arkitekter, we have both the competence and the desire to work on the entire scale, from the overall level to the design of the individual parts. We often have the confidence of our clients, and this creates a special quality in the projects, which is experienced when they are put into use and meet everyday life in the city.

The FOJAB arkitekter architectural team includes Rebecca Saaby Mehlum, Viveka Nordh and Staffan Premmert.
The project is a turnkey contract with partnering, where the client Kristianstad Municipality, the contractor NCC, users and the operating organization contribute with their experience and help design the project.

Gender equality in sport can be encouraged and accommodated in different ways. One way is to allocate playing and training time for women's teams in traditionally male-dominated sports arenas, such as football and hockey - sports that receive a lot of media attention and public resources.

Another way is to look at the conditions for the sports that have long been the focus of girls' interest. What are the conditions for "hanging around the stables" as many girls do? Is equestrianism as elitist and expensive as it is often portrayed, compared to, for example, ice hockey? Because when you see how resources are actually distributed, you can't believe that equestrian sport is Sweden's second largest youth sport after football.

Mats Molén, an architect at FOJAB arkitekter specializing in horse facilities, describes the situation as follows:

- The 450 riding schools in Sweden have been run as non-profit associations for several decades. Therefore, the buildings have been of low quality from the start, and they have suffered a lot of wear and tear over the years. Operating subsidies from the municipalities and income from lessons do not cover the costs by far - let alone new investments. This has come to the attention of the Equestrian Federation, which is responsible for control and quality assurance of animal welfare and work environment. The requirements are regulated by legislation and a regulatory framework, which is also largely neglected and outdated.

Within the framework of the Swedish Equestrian Federation's future project "Riding School 2025", an interdisciplinary expert group was set up, including Mats Molén. The aim was to increase knowledge about functional and sustainable equestrian facilities for both horses and people. It publishes an online guide with practical advice and examples of how to develop and build new facilities in a good way, organizes conferences and seminars, and promotes the issue of renewed legislation.

- The municipalities want to invest more in this - many realize that horse riding is a sport that has long been neglected. Equestrian sports are really for everyone, regardless of gender, age and physical conditions. There is a great health potential in contact with the horse, which is also used today for both physical and mental rehab. Therefore, it is important that the municipalities are active in the issue, so that the riding schools are given the opportunity to broaden their activities towards the public, says Mats Molén.

The City of Malmö is a pioneer. It took the decision to invest SEK 120 million in riding clubs, and has since taken over responsibility for all riding schools in the municipality.

In Klagshamn in southern Malmö, a new riding hall designed by Mats Molén is now ready. It is a building characterized by obvious simplicity, reduced material handling and innovative thinking. With a lifelong commitment and extensive knowledge of equestrian sport and its architecture, he sees this as the result of work on several different levels. In the design of Klagshamn's riding hall, the accumulated knowledge has been put into practice.

- The architecture of riding stables has its own unique challenges. The scale of the horse and the fact that the riding arena is constantly supplied with moisture that needs to be removed are examples of this. Instead of a complicated and costly ventilation system, we have therefore worked with a perforated sheet metal facade. The facade has a 30% hole area and the holes are small enough to allow ventilation without wind. They let in soft daylight and in the evening the building glows in a welcoming way.

The scale of the building is that of the horse, and the heated area is reduced to internal volume-efficient boxes for humans. It includes a restaurant, overlooking the L-shaped riding arena, which can be divided in different ways according to needs.

Klagshamn's riding hall is characterized by clear and sober priorities. For Mats Molén, simplicity and resource management are important, but this is not a matter of dull pragmatism. There is also a clear aesthetic position, born of many years of work with agricultural buildings.

Interview with Mats Molén, architect at FOJAB arkitekter, currently working on the Klagshamn riding school and an expert in equestrian facilities.

Mats, you have devoted most of your professional life to agricultural buildings and horse facilities in particular. How did you become interested in this field?

I started my career at the University of Agriculture, as a construction engineer at the Agricultural Building Technology. We worked on experimental facilities for agriculture and the development of self-building techniques. In the countryside, you often have to rely on what you can do yourself and we helped people to help themselves.

But the interest probably started earlier than that. My parents had greenhouses in the countryside with farms around them. There was no distinction between work and play - home and work were in the same place, and I grew up playing and building in the greenhouses.

Encouraged by colleagues, I went on to become an architect. This led deeper into research and development and I became a lecturer in Agricultural Buildings at Alnarp. After a few years, I moved to Stockholm to work in a 'regular' architectural office. But among all the housing and office projects, racetracks and equine clinics appeared, and I realized that the approach was really the same: Good architecture has a clarity. You see and understand what it is - how it works.

Klagshamn's riding hall contains many interesting and clear positions. But it is not just about pragmatism, there is a conscious aesthetic in the architecture. You have designed housing in Västra hamnen in Malmö and several other horse facilities - all characterized by the same approach.

Yes, this is true. But you need to learn to see the site - the landscape, light, views, sightlines and building materials that are close by and easily accessible. If you then apply a simple building technique, the result can be a beautiful and inexpensive building.

I perceive an anxiety in "designing facades". Buildings should stand the test of time and you can take inspiration from nature, which is in balance with its inherent fluctuations. When architecture becomes a response to the laws of nature, it becomes balanced and self-evident.

When you received the Falu Rödfärgspriset for the biofuel plant at Trolleholms Gods a few years ago, the jury wrote "With graphic clarity and striking lightness, a rusting steel mesh between rhythmically placed steel columns captures both the black sludge-painted incinerator process building and the openly exposed raw material under its protective shell, forming an architectural whole of what would otherwise have been a box with a chimney next to a pile of wood chips. It doesn't have to be more difficult than that."

Sometimes it does not take much more than a graphically clear order to achieve beauty in what would otherwise be trivial. Scale also comes into play here, leading to completely different expressions. The horse's scale, for example, which differs from that of humans. Or, as in this case, a simple house for a huge pile of wood chips.

Light installations at Övedskloster on November 4-5 at 18-21 / 17-21. Put the noise of the day aside and join us on a walk, where your thoughts and feelings can take place. Where you find the light in the darkness. Where the fragile does not break. Where time stands still even though the clock is running. In Dark Light Poetry we want to explore the beauty of the quiet.

Architect Viveca Rosencrantz, FOJABlab, together with a group of artists, designers and lighting contractors have created an event that raises the question of sustainable light - how little is enough?

The human eye is amazing. On a moonlit night, you can find your way with only a tenth of a lux. But you can still see in the bright light of the sun, which is 100 000 lux. Where the light is balanced and does not dazzle, we see each other.

Plants, animals and humans depend on the cyclical rhythm of light and darkness to maintain vital functions such as reproduction, nutrition and sleep. When it is never dark, our natural circadian rhythm is disrupted and we get sick.

New technologies and huge investments have given us energy-efficient light sources, but we are illuminating more than ever. Many people in urban environments never see the starry sky. But the most sustainable lamp is the one that never had to be made.

This is called the Rebound Effect, when the expected benefits of technological developments to improve resource efficiency are reduced or eliminated because we change our behavior. Is a sustainable lifestyle just a duty and a limitation of our freedom? Or is there a quality of life, an aesthetic in abstaining, in reducing, in keeping up, in having enough? In creating space for reflection, contemplation and meetings.

Welcome to Dark Light Poetry which asks you the question - How little is enough?

Dark Light Poetry is organized by Sydljus in collaboration with Övedskloster and is part of the event Österlen Lyser. Current info and map can be found on the Facebook page Dark Light Poetry.

FOJAB arkitekter is growing rapidly and at the time of writing has 141 employees. This is particularly noticeable at the Stockholm office. In conjunction with the latest architectural salon, we took the opportunity to inaugurate new, larger premises, just a few floors up at the same address, Sankt Eriksgatan 46. At the sixth Salon in a row, interesting conversations were held about how we best intertwine the city, nature and people - an excellent way to "warm up" the new office.

Architect Anna Belfrage was responsible for the design of the new premises.

- We got the chance to move two floors up to a room twice the size, and now have spacious and airy rooms with the same beautiful arches and supporting iron structure as in the old ones. There is also double-sided light from three-meter-high windows and plenty of room for all the new employees.

The open space has been kept simple with workstations along the facade. There is a large open area for sketching, salons, afterworks and more. The kitchenette is centrally located at the entrance but is colored in dark grey tones so as not to attract too much attention. Only the coffee machine sneaks around the corner and is clearly visible to all visitors.

The main room is complemented by a number of meeting and discussion rooms of different types. From the larger, more cozy one at the entrance to several smaller ones, one of which is intended as a "competition cave" with maximum opportunity to sketch and pin things on the walls. There is also a model-making room and materials library.

- The furniture and interior design palette is consistent with plywood, graphite gray linoleum on the worktops, black chairs and white table stands. Now we're just waiting for sound-absorbing bulletin boards on all available wall space so that our projects can really come out into the light.

Region Skåne chooses BSK Arkitekter + FOJAB arkitekter for the next step in the development of Helsingborg's new hospital area. The project includes planning and design for the reconstruction of premises for surgery and imaging diagnostics as well as a service and logistics center.

The project, which is expected to last until 2022, represents an investment of SEK 4.5 billion. BSK Arkitekter and FOJAB arkitekter have already collaborated on the renovation of the hospital's main building to create modern wards. Now the two architectural firms' assignment is expanding to include the next part of the initiative.

- We are proud and happy to be entrusted with the continued development of Helsingborg Hospital to meet the needs of the future. The project places high demands on our ability to read and fit the architecture into the technical infrastructure of the buildings. There is a lot we have to take into account, not least the activities that are still going on in parallel with the rebuilding," says Anna Bergström, architect and vice president at BSK Arkitekter.

Anna Hjort, an architect and healthcare construction specialist at FOJAB arkitekter, has 25 years of experience in managing complex hospital projects. She describes the new assignment as having several elements, each of which poses particular challenges. Among other things, premises for surgery and imaging diagnostics will be rebuilt in stages in parallel with ongoing operations. The premises in the service center will be adapted to modern working methods and the new flows that arise as a result of the renovation.

- The overall goal is to support new workflows and logistics that allow healthcare professionals to spend more time with patients. "We and BSK Arkitekter have long experience of extensive and complex projects, and we know how to build well-functioning workplaces and healing care environments. The new hospital will be flexible and the business will be able to grow and change over time," says Anna Hjort, commissioned architect at FOJAB arkitekter.

For more information contact:

Anna Hjort
Architect in charge at FOJAB arkitekter.
anna.hjort@fojab.se
+46 702 – 91 33 60

Stina Ljungkvist
CEO of BSK Arkitekter AB
stina.ljungkvist@bsk.se
+46 8 – 601 15 21

The Smart Geometry 2016 conference was held at Chalmers in April. It was the 13th time that a diverse group of architects, researchers, engineers, hackers and like-minded people gathered around the question of how digital technology is transforming architecture. Petra Jenning and Edvin Bylander from FOJAB arkitekter participated.

The theme of this year's conference was Hybrid Domains, and the focus was on the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary, with many examples of how fields adjacent to architecture work with computational design and digital manufacturing.

One of 10 workshops was held by Petra Jenning, Head of Computational Design at FOJAB arkitekter, together with Kirstin Peterson from the Max Planck Institute, Stuttgart and Nils Napp from the University at Buffalo, New York.

- In our workshop we wanted to explore how we can make very simple robots, agents, interact by just changing their physical body and the environment they move in. The robots only have the ability to move in a straight line, but by giving them different shapes, they interact in different ways with each other and things around them. They build together structures with controllable properties, even though they have no intelligence or understanding of what they are doing," says Petra Jenning.

The very concept of getting several simple robots to build complex structures and adapt to reality was something that several speakers highlighted as the most likely way to bring robots into the construction process. Foster + Partners' proposal for NASA on how to build on Mars was one example.

- The aim is to better understand how simple rules and relationships can create complex systems with predictable properties without describing the final form. "This is how physical structures come about in nature, whether it is a skeleton in our body or a termite stack," says Petra Jenning. "This is exactly the opposite of how we have conventionally constructed things from the Renaissance onwards.

Petra explains that there are two basic things in this: One is performance. You are interested in the characteristics of the built object, not the form for the sake of the form - here we use the concept of performativity. The conventional drawing describes how something looks, not what effect it has. Now we are designing a process that leads to a finished object.

The second is deployment. We strive for technical solutions that are robust and agile enough to work in real life. There is a problem about how advanced robots can work in practice in an unpredictable and messy environment such as a construction site. Problems related to robot-human safety, range, cost, lack of robustness. Autonomous distributed systems, consisting of several simpler smaller robots working together, can be robust, agile and better suited to real-life situations.

Robot researcher Kasper Stoy from the IT University of Copenhagen called for this as a next step in the development of computational design. "We have begun to link digital design with digital manufacturing of building components, but what is missing is the most critical part, the actual construction. Not much has happened here since the invention of the digging bucket and the crane. To find new solutions, architects need to be visionary and communicate their ideas to robot builders.

- There is much to learn from how related industries work with innovation in this field. Not only in what they do, but also how they organize themselves and what their processes look like. For us, Smart Geometry 2016 is a confirmation that we are on the right track and have a relevant approach, says Edvin Bylander lab director at FOJAB arkitekter.

FOJAB has been commissioned to further develop the structural plan for the densification of central Nacka. In connection with the expansion of the metro, approximately 6,000 new homes are planned in central Nacka, as well as a large number of new workplaces and associated services. The assignment involves working with Nacka municipality to create opportunities for the creation of a dense, vibrant and sustainable city center. The work builds on the planning program developed for central Nacka. The structure plan will form the basis for future detailed planning.

- "This is a heavy and important project for the entire Stockholm region and an interesting and prestigious assignment for us," says Magnus Lundström, who is the responsible architect at FOJAB. Expectations are high. The structural plan will be made more detailed and precise enough to form the basis for further detailed planning. "We want to create opportunities for a vibrant city center in Nacka that is easily accessible on foot, by bike and by public transport. This is also a golden opportunity to heal existing areas and create a more cohesive and inviting city. A mission can't get any more fun than that!

Nacka is a municipality with great natural and cultural values. The new buildings must relate both to a dramatic topography with sharp differences in height, and to existing housing, businesses and infrastructure. There is over a hundred years of building history with different scales and content. The challenging topography has meant that the buildings are sometimes scattered and fragmented. It is important to link different neighborhoods into a coherent whole - to bridge barriers and create connections.

Many Nacka residents currently commute to Stockholm for work, often by car. The extension of the metro's blue line, via Södermalm and Hammarby Sjöstad with three stations in Nacka, is expected to be completed in 2025. According to Magnus Lundström, the densification of the center of Nacka means that Nacka provides a growing metropolitan region with a much-needed addition of new housing. It also means an opportunity for a more sustainable lifestyle.

- By creating more housing in the city center, where the metro and services will be located, car dependency will be reduced. More Nacka residents will be able to switch to more sustainable modes of transportation and live without a car. We want to provide the opportunity to live close to nature with urban qualities and are pleased to be entrusted with the further development of Nacka," says Magnus Lundström.

The scale and complexity of the project requires teamwork with several competencies at FOJAB, mainly in urban planning, building construction and landscape architecture.

- It is important for us to work in an evidence-based and collaborative way in this type of large urban development project, says Magnus Lundström. "We see that close cooperation between different competencies in complex projects leads to good results.

FOJAB, which has been at Stockholmsarenan since 2013, has several exciting urban development assignments in the Stockholm region, including in Norra Djurgårdsstaden and Sigtuna.

Now it is finally happening. The renovation and extension of Söderpunkten in Helsingborg has started.

Staffan Premmert, contract manager and head of FOJAB's Helsingborg office, is satisfied and happy:

- It will be a real boost for Söder, a development that we only see the beginning of. The main entrance, which will be moved to the square side, leads into something that is more than a regular shopping mall," says Staffan Premmert. In addition to shopping, there will be daytime and evening activities and experiences - including cafés and restaurants and a sports bar. At the top is a golden cinema, an extension with seven auditoriums, where the facade is covered with gold-colored metal panels.

What was originally a Domus department store, built in the 1960s and like so many others, is getting new screen-printed glass facades and a thorough renovation. In total, it involves about 10,000 square meters of commercial space and parking. To the northwest, adjacent to the square and the new main entrance, Staffan and his colleagues are currently designing a tall residential building. It will contain about 70 small apartments in 18 floors and a roof terrace for the residents with a fantastic view of the strait.

- Good architecture charges public spaces with activity. We create opportunities for people to meet and for the multicultural Söder to flourish and take place," says Staffan Premmert. This is just one of the building blocks of Helsingborg's gigantic urban renewal project H+, which aims to densify and connect Söder with the new neighborhoods being built in the old port areas. The goal is that by 2035 there will be 5,000 new homes, services, workplaces, shops and lots of green space. This is a development that we at FOJAB want to actively promote.

The entire block is owned and managed by Jefast AB. Skanska, which has been entrusted with rebuilding Söderpunkten, is now starting demolition work and if everything goes according to plan, the commercial parts will be ready at the end of 2017. This will be followed by the residential building, which is expected to be completed one year later.

FOJAB was entrusted to design Länsförsäkringar Skåne's new customer meeting places. The assignment entailed a complete undertaking with concept development and design of interior design and remodeling. The new concept, based on Länsförsäkringar's core values, has been implemented at three new customer meeting places in Malmö City, Malmö Hyllie and Helsingborg. All will be opened to the public in the coming days.

- FOJAB creates added value, says Staffan Hellberg, project manager and property manager at Länsförsäkringar Skåne. When we now open our new customer meeting places, we see the result of a fruitful collaboration with FOJAB. In our project work, FOJAB was a party that interpreted our corporate culture and our needs, and created a meeting place that is characterized by functionality and good design. It is not only about creating and furnishing rooms. We also see this as a powerful tool to build our brand.

Länsförsäkringar offers banking, insurance and real estate services. The background to the initiative is Länsförsäkringar Skåne's desire to get closer to the customer, not only in digital media but also at physical meeting places located centrally and easily accessible. Here, customers will be given the opportunity to receive qualified advice in a relaxed and safe environment, as well as help with simpler matters.

- "We are happy to be an active part of an offensive initiative like this," says Viveca Rosencrantz, commissioned architect at FOJAB. "Architecture and interior design have a powerful effect in communicating with both customers and employees. We see a development today where more and more companies are investing in design as a way to get closer to the customer and deepen the dialog. It is a privilege to be entrusted to work with Länsförsäkringar, which is at the forefront of this trend.

FOJAB was hired a year and a half ago. The design of the customer meeting places has emerged in a process of benchmarking, workshops with employees and analysis of the brand. The three customer meeting places that are now being inaugurated have been the subject of a thorough interior design project. The premises for the Malmö City Customer Meeting Point, at Anna Lindhs Plats, and the Helsingborg Customer Meeting Point, located at Sundstorget, have both undergone extensive renovation.

During the fall, FOJAB architects began a sheet metal folding project in close collaboration with the sheet metal company Plåtexpressen. They are investigating how complex form and geometry can arise as a result of digital design and manufacturing processes.

The team from FOJAB arkitekter, consisting of Petra Jenning, Edvin Bylander and Elise Lindahl, wants to challenge the prevailing architectural process and approach. They move away from standardized systems and products towards uniqueness and craftsmanship:

- This opens up new and exciting architecture, while using simple and accessible materials in a resource-efficient way. We work more directly in relation to both material and form, so we can continuously control and influence the outcome. The relationship between architect and manufacturer has changed so that we no longer communicate the finished form. Instead, we deliver a pattern, a set of instructions, which when executed will result in the desired shape.

Sheet metal has been chosen because it is a material with many possibilities for variation, expression and use.

- "In this project, we wanted to investigate how sheet materials behave when folded along a line of curvature. The curved folding makes the material increase its performativity, both in terms of structural stability and visual expression, says Petra Jenning. A basic prerequisite was that the material could be bent by applying force only. When we had to do full-scale tests, sheet metal seemed an obvious choice.

In collaboration with Plåtexpressen, the team at FOJAB arkitekter explores an integrated design and production process that goes beyond standardized products and components.

- "We see great potential in future developments in terms of manufacturing processes, resource efficiency and sustainability. It is important to find working methods and processes where we can link our digital tools closer to the actual production," says Petra Jenning.

The project is conducted within FOJAB arkitekter's Computational Design competence area, led by Petra Jenning. At PLÅT16, the sheet metal folding project will be presented by Petra Jenning, Edvin Bylander and Elise Lindahl.

FOJAB has proceeded with the parallel assignment for block 1 in Hornsberg on the western side of Kungsholmen in Stockholm. The task was to design a new residential neighborhood with about 200 apartments. The City of Stockholm and Borätt/Seniorgården, who are the clients, consider that FOJAB's proposal has "such qualities that it should be the main proposal and form the basis for further processing".

The focus of the assignment was on concept, character and design. The block will be the first quarter of a dense neighborhood structure with a green square of Parisian character in the middle. The site, currently the site of SL's bus garage, borders Kristinebergs IP and, on the other side of Nordenflychtsvägen, large-scale buildings of an industrial nature.

- Our proposal is based on the dynamics between the traditional urban structure, with its strong spatiality, and the variation in character and history of the surroundings. The block is surrounded by existing buildings on one side, a park on one side and new buildings on two sides. It adds a new piece to the urban puzzle, which both connects to its context and is perceived as its own whole - different but similar," says Jens Larsson, commissioning architect and head of FOJAB Stockholm.

The client's jury considers the proposal well studied and the design well adapted to the surrounding public spaces of varying scale and character:

"The proposal shows consistently well-studied facades, ground floors with well-processed details and thoughtful material choices. Building facades are deservedly varied towards the different environments/public spaces. Although the design of the facades differs significantly, the design has a harmony and something nostalgic in it, while the design language is modern. "

- We are also keen to maximize the quality of living. Solar radiation and the view of the park and water are utilized. The inner courtyard is designed as a green oasis that contrasts with the urban "Paristorget", says Joachim Lundquist, responsible for housing at FOJAB.

The planning work will start in Q1 2016. FOJAB's proposal is now the basis for the continued work where the block is divided into two parts, and FOJAB and AIX arkitekter will each take care of their own part.

Mattias Hedberg Ek, architect SAR/MSA and head of assignment at FOJAB arkitekter, has been awarded the Lund Municipality Urban Design Prize 2015 for the design of Helsingkrona nation's new student housing building Tornet. Mattias Hedberg Ek received the award at the City Council meeting on December 17, 2015.

- I am very happy and grateful to have received the urban development award. Working together with Helsingkrona nation has been very stimulating from start to finish. Together we have created a completely unique student residence with a limited budget, says Mattias Hedberg Ek, and continues:

- The project is the result of a team effort, but a special thought goes to my colleague Ulf Kadefors, who was involved in the early stages of the project but unfortunately did not see it through to completion with his death in 2012.

According to the jury's motivation, the prize has been awarded to Mattias Hedberg Ek for:

"The building is of very high architectural quality both as a whole and in its carefully designed details. The towering design fits naturally into the unique environment of the campus. Folded metal facades in several shades provide an interesting play of shadows and the building is a model of successful urban densification. The architect has taken on the challenge of developing the student housing concept in a professional and sensitive manner with an end result that appeals to both residents and viewers.

The architect is also awarded for his active and committed contribution to the important conversation about the value of good architecture and well-designed living environments through other projects in the city."

Tornet offers an attractive accommodation of 69 apartments for so-called buddy living where two students share each apartment. The layout of the building is designed with a stairwell in the center and six pie-shaped apartments located around it. With its 13 floors and 100 meters above sea level, the Tower has become a new landmark in Lund.

The building, built by Peab, was ready for occupation in August this year. All apartments are currently rented out to students.

Read more about Helsingkrona

FOJAB arkitekter has been commissioned to design a new building for the district court in Lund. After a parallel design assignment, Specialfastigheter has now chosen to proceed with FOJAB arkitekter for the design of the new court building. The task was to design a new government building with the aim of creating Sweden's most modern court. The new district court is the next step in the growth of central Lund just west of the railroad tracks. The building is scheduled for completion at the end of 2017.

The client Specialfastigheter highlights the proposal's ability to combine a complex program and the municipality's urban development ambitions with a strong architectural design approach:

"A very beautiful building with a strong identity. The well-balanced approach to the site's various urban spaces contributes to strengthening the ongoing densification around Lund Central Station. The design and expression clarifies its function as a government building and connects well with the adjacent municipal building. A clear order in the layout and flows ensures that the building will meet high official requirements."

FOJAB arkitekter has long worked on various district court buildings for the Swedish National Courts Administration and therefore has experience of the special functional requirements associated with this type of project. This, combined with a strong commitment to Lund's urban development, has paved the way for a high quality proposal.

- Based on the site's conditions and a local program with high demands on safety, function, environment and quality, we have designed a modern building, which at the same time well connects to Lund's building tradition, says Kjell Adamsson, responsible architect and studio manager at FOJAB arkitekter.

The team at FOJAB arkitekter, which developed the proposal, consists of Kjell Adamsson, Stefan Johansson and Mikael Pettersson. The design is based on three fundamentals - the place, the people and the form.

A safe and beautiful place

The current site is located between the railway tracks and Bjerredsparken, which runs parallel in a north-south direction, in central Lund. The existing building blocks to the north of the site open up to the park. The new district court fits into this structure, inviting the light and greenery of the park, while giving the park a steady end to the railroad.

The function of a district court involves separate flows of people, and thus several different entrances. These are oriented around the entire building, creating life and movement in the surrounding urban spaces. The public areas are gathered in an extended room on two levels that opens with large glass surfaces towards the park. The copper sheet, glass and natural stone of the exterior interact with the interior environment where ash wood panels provide a warm and comfortable experience.

- "There is a challenging contrast in the company's desire to be a public function in the city on the one hand, and to meet people's need for privacy on the other," says Mikael Pettersson, architect at FOJAB arkitekter. This is reflected in the design. "We want to create a safe and relaxing environment for people who find themselves in a situation that may be difficult and stressful.

The building in urban space

Facing the railway and the old city center to the east, the building rises to its full height. It fits into the context of the new Kristallen municipal building and provides the urban qualities of a public institution in the city.

To the south, towards the new travel square, the building descends to two high floors, which are open to the public while retaining their public character. Here, on the south-west facing roof, there is a terrace for the Court's staff.

To the west, a four-story volume embraces the park space, interacting with the adjacent Kristallen municipal building. The west facade opens up to the green park space with large glass sections, exposing the interior of the building. The relationship between glass and dense sections is well balanced to manage views, daylight and the high environmental ambitions.

Read more about Lund District Court

FOJAB arkitekter has, on behalf of Jernhusen, designed a new office building called Foajén. It is located in Södra Nyhamnen in Malmö, an area that is undergoing an exciting development. The name Foajén reflects a common entrance space that extends up through the interior of the building, and becomes a link between the station area and the green roof terraces, which offer views of the whole of Malmö. This is also the foyer to the outside world. Just a stone's throw away there are excellent connections to the entire Öresund region and the rest of the country.

Foajén is an early cornerstone in Jernhusen's ambition to build an urban and sustainable district, which grows together with Malmö Central, and constitutes a new living center. With its location just north of Centralen, Foajén will be a new entrance to Carlsgatan and the entire station area.

The interior of the building is designed as a welcoming living room and an open meeting place. A generous staircase leads to the companies' office workplaces. The offices can be tailored to the tenants' needs. There is the possibility of individual offices or activity-based office solutions with a variety of sizes and types of rooms.

The different floors, and the wide staircases between them, contain open spaces for spontaneous meetings. On the roof, there is a shared rooftop park, while the top offices each have a lush terrace with grass, trees and foliage.

- The foyer is a building that provides strong inner experiences. It is an environment that works socially with meetings and dialog, but also when you need silence and peace," says Charlotte Kristensson, project manager at FOJAB arkitekter.

The 14,000 square meter building is environmentally classified as BREEAM Outstanding. The Foyer is expected to be ready for occupation in summer 2018.

Website of the foyer

FOJAB is the winner of Falkenberg municipality's competition for a new knowledge and cultural center, which includes a new city library, a new high school and a proposal for a city plan for the development of the entire block. The assignment was to place and design a new building that will form a central hub for knowledge and culture based on the given program and the conditions of the block. The project will be an important gathering place for the city's residents, both old and young. The new knowledge and culture center is scheduled for completion in 2018.

The proposal includes a library with separate sections for children and adults, premises for the upper secondary school's theoretical programs, school health care, a café with outdoor seating, a stage for happenings, music, culture and creativity, a reception and an auditorium with room for 150 people. The Knowledge and Culture Center is the upper secondary school's common meeting place and cohesive hub on the campus. The proposal for the development of the entire block also includes 20,000 m² of housing, a sports hall, a parking garage and, last but certainly not least, a new centrally located city park.

Strategic location

The building is strategically located between Stortorget and the new city park and creates a natural meeting place for Falkenberg residents, municipal associations, cultural activities and businesses.

- "We envision a neighborhood that will be a natural gathering point for all Falkenberg residents, regardless of whether you are a student at the high school, want to visit the library, use the auditorium, have a coffee in the café, live nearby or just want to hang out in the park," says Charlotte Kristensson, commissioned architect and studio manager for knowledge environments at FOJAB.

Jury statement

The jury highlights the winning proposal's way of connecting the new building to Stortorget and the city center, as well as a thorough analysis of the school's program and a consistently strong architectural design. From the jury's motivation: "Utsikt-insikt is a beautiful building with a strong identity. The precise order of the block and its relationship to the city center stylishly reinforces the city's structure and suite of squares and plazas. This approach can form a standard for further densification of the city. The design and expression of the building connects in a contemporary way to other public buildings in Falkenberg. The principle order of the building gives confidence that the building will be functional and usable."

Key questions

The FOJAB competition team took an early position on some key issues which then provided the framework for the final design of the proposal:

• That the new building is located close to Stortorget and has its main entrance clearly advertised towards the city center.
• To create a new urban park by placing new building rights on the outer edges of the block.
• That the total program area of the school can be reduced by making the existing building more efficient, which contributes to lower operating costs.
• To create a continuous foyer that links all activities all the way from the main entrance to Falkhallen.

The design of the main building consists of several composite volumes that reflect its content, a strong brick building that has a clear character of its own while respectfully responding to the city theater. In front of the main entrance of the Knowledge and Culture Center, a beautiful space is created that connects the building to the existing squares and public spaces of the city center.

- Falkenberg's new Knowledge and Culture Center is a building with a strong character and clear profile that takes advantage of the qualities of the existing buildings and is a contemporary statement that adds a new and inspiring dimension to the city. It is a symbolic building that contributes to the city's diversity and social sustainability," says Kjell Adamsson, responsible architect and studio manager for real estate development at FOJAB.

The competition proposal will now form the basis for a new detailed plan for the entire block. If the work goes as planned, construction of the cultural and knowledge center will begin in 2017 and be completed by the fall semester of 2018.

See more pictures and read more about the project

Helsingkrona nation's new student housing building Tornet, designed by FOJAB architects, has been nominated for the Swedish Architects' Housing Prize. The prize rewards a completed residential building that maintains a high architectural level. The winner will be announced on November 19 at the Architecture Gala. FOJAB arkitekter has also been nominated for the Skåne Architecture Prize for the student housing in the Landsarkivet in Lund.

- "These are two unique projects where Helsingkrona nation's new student accommodation building stands out with its unique shape and height," says Mattias Hedberg Ek, responsible architect at FOJAB, who was also responsible for the student accommodation in Landsarkivet.

Attractive student accommodation

Helsingkrona nation's new building Tornet offers attractive accommodation with 69 apartments for so-called buddy living. This means that two students share each apartment. The layout of the building is designed with a stairwell in the center and six pie-shaped apartments located around the stairwell. This means that all apartments will be bright and have views in several directions.

With its 13 floors, the building has also become a new landmark in Lund. At the top of the building, exactly 100 meters above sea level, there is a common banquet hall with a fantastic view of Lund, Malmö and the Öresund. On the ground floor, in addition to housing, there is a study room and a salad bar.

FOJAB arkitekter has been involved throughout the project - from the initial idea to the completion of the building, providing all types of architectural services.

- Together with Helsingkrona nation, we are very happy to have been nominated in tough competition. It is especially fun that a student housing project with a limited budget manages to get so much attention, adds Mattias Hedberg Ek.

Construction of the new building started by Peab in January 2014 and was completed in August this year. All apartments are currently rented out to students.

The Swedish Architects' Housing Prize rewards a recently completed residential building or complex of high architectural quality. The prize is awarded to stimulate and raise awareness of high quality housing construction in Sweden. The jury pays particular attention to housing qualities, a good implementation process, tradition and international influences, and how technical innovations are designed. The jury is appointed by the Swedish Academy of Architects.

Also nominated for the Skåne Architecture Prize

FOJAB arkitekter has also been nominated for the Skåne Architecture Prize with another student accommodation building - Arkivet in Lund. It is the old Landsarkivet that has been converted into student housing.

- It is a much talked about project where we have tried to both preserve and develop the old architecture. The renovation and extension of this cultural-historical environment has been carried out with high ambition and a limited budget. This has certainly contributed to the fact that we, together with Lund Nation, were nominated," says Mattias Hedberg Ek.

The winner of the Skåne Architecture Prize will be announced on November 13 at the Creative Skåne event.

Read more about Helsingkrona

Read more about the National Archives

FOJAB arkitekter, together with ICA Fastigheter, is the winner of the land allocation competition in Brunnshög. The assignment was to design a centrally located shopping district with a large grocery store combined with housing and services. The project will be the focal point for the 40,000 people who will live or work in the new district that is emerging in northeast Lund.

The jury highlights the winning proposal's strong architectural design and good sustainability solutions, both environmentally and socially. From the jury's motivation:

"The proposal is very thorough and interacts well with the intended surroundings. It is a clear and robust city block with strong inner city qualities where the grocery store on the ground floor is used as a resource to enhance the residential qualities. " "The competition proposal is a traditional district in a new guise, which is clear, elegant and very well designed. The jury also considers it very feasible."

The task was to create the mixed-use quarter of the future in Lund's new Brunnshög district, which will be adjacent to the MAX IV and ESS research facilities. Pontus Tebäck, the lead architect at FOJAB arkitekter, highlights some of the points that have guided the work on the proposal:

• The good earth
• Grocery store with a market hall feel
• A multifunctional neighborhood
• Ecological, social and economic sustainability

The proposal contains a mix of functions with a large grocery store with a market hall character, post office, games, pharmacy and deli with outdoor seating. There is also a restaurant, optician, hairdresser, bicycle workshop, gym, premises for dentists, physiotherapists and vaccination. There is also an LSS home, a large number of rental apartments of various sizes and condominiums in the form of three-storey townhouses.

The ambition is for everything growing in the large courtyard to be edible, as well as in the generously sized greenhouse/saloon hall in the grocery store. The idea is also to grow everything in the soil that currently exists on the site.

- "We envision a building, a block, that will be an obvious gathering point in the heart of Lund's future city district Brunnshög. The ground floor of the building will be a continuation of the district's new square just north of the competition block," says Pontus Tebäck. The architecture will be characterful and strong in form, with great variation in expression within a coherent palette of qualitative materials such as brick, corten steel and greenery on facades, courtyards and roofs.

The competition proposal will now form the basis for a new detailed plan for the property. If this work proceeds as planned, construction of the block will start in 2017 at the earliest and be completed in 2019-2020.

FOJAB arkitekter recruits architect SAR/MSA Jens Larsson as new office manager for the Stockholm office. Jens comes from Strategisk Arkitektur and has extensive experience in real estate development and housing projects.

- We are pleased that Jens Larsson wants to take over the baton and lead our office in Stockholm. The office started up in the fall of 2013 and is constantly expanding, says Cecilia Pering, CEO of FOJAB arkitekter. "Jens' energy, focus on customer benefit and ability to handle large complex projects will be very useful in the phase we are in now.

Robert Lavelid, Jen's predecessor as head of the office, will continue as an architect in charge of assignments, including the development of the company's foreign operations and international cooperation.

- "This is really exciting and I am very proud of the confidence to take over the role of office manager after Robert," says Jens Larsson. FOJAB arkitekter is a company with a high level of ambition and broad expertise. The Stockholm office is in a growth phase with many interesting projects underway. The focus will be on continuing to develop and drive the office towards a strong position in the Stockholm market.

Jens Larsson will take up his new post on September 1.

After a first round, Familjebostäder selected five architectural offices to develop proposals in parallel, and it is now clear that FOJAB arkitekter and Liljewall will jointly design the 250 rental apartments at Uggleberget in Nya Hovås, Gothenburg.

The reason for choosing to proceed with two architectural firms is that they want to create great variety in terms of height, facade materials, roof angles and other expressions.

- Nya Hovås is an area where we want to stand out with both architecture and innovative thinking about smart solutions. Our portfolio in the area should be experienced as a whole, but we still think that the buildings can have different expressions, and the two proposals complement each other well," says Micael Jansson, head of new construction at Familjebostäder.

The first groundbreaking is expected in summer 2016 and we look forward to starting this exciting project, together with Liljewall and Familjebostäder!

About New Hovås:
Over the next few years, a new district will emerge just fifteen minutes from Gothenburg city center. The vision for New Hovås is a small-scale, world-class mixed-use city that combines the city's range of housing, services, schools, shops and offices with parks and green areas within walking distance of the sea. When completed, New Hovås will include around 1,300 homes, retail and office space of about 30,000 square meters, creating more than 900 jobs.

LKF will build around 135 new apartments in central Lund, at the junction of Brunnsgatan and Arkivgatan. Adjacent to the apartments, premises are planned for a meeting point for the Vård- och Omsorgsförvaltningen. FOJAB arkitekter is behind the design of the new residential buildings and was also responsible for the design of the student apartments in the old Landsarkivet, which is adjacent to the new project. Construction of the new residential buildings is scheduled to start in the fall of 2016.

- Our goal with the project is to create attractive housing at a good price, with good quality and proximity to central Lund. FOJAB has managed to combine a beautiful design with a rational approach to production and implementation," says Håkan Ekelund, CEO of LKF.

FOJAB's proposal for the western part of the Arkivet 5 block includes five buildings with a total of about 135 apartments of varying sizes - from one room and kitchen to four rooms and kitchen. All apartments will have balconies or generous terraces. The buildings will be compact, allowing for high energy efficiency. The proposal also includes a beautiful outdoor environment with attractive courtyards for spontaneous meetings.

Variations on bricks
For the new project, FOJAB architects have proposed variations on the theme of brick. All five houses will be built in brick but individually designed to fit into the cityscape.

- We have chosen to divide the project into several smaller buildings to build on the scale of the site. The buildings will be a modern interpretation of the older Lundensian saddle-roof houses," says Joachim Lundquist, commissioned architect for the project.

Meeting place for the elderly
In one of the buildings, premises for Träffpunkt are planned to be built. It will be a gathering place of about 400 square meters for the elderly. Some of the apartments in the project are planned as service apartments with access to staff.

In the spring of 2015, FOJAB Architects will begin preparing drawings for the five buildings and outdoor environments. LKF plans to procure a contractor in the spring of 2016 and construction of the project is expected to start in the fall of 2016.

The FOJAB architectural team includes Joachim Lundquist, Stefan Johansson, Mikael Pettersson, Mattias Hedberg Ek and Daniel Nord.

Proposals are now being presented on how Nils Ericsonplatsen and Kanaltorget may be transformed in the future. On behalf of the City of Gothenburg, FOJAB has developed a program for the design of the sites, which is now presented to the public.

The central area is one of Gothenburg's most important urban development projects. Magdalena Hedman, commissioning architect at FOJAB Architects, describes how Nils Ericsonplatsen and Kanaltorget will be developed into attractive urban spaces with a clear identity and character of their own, which also meet the needs of many different target groups. Not least, they will be safe, welcoming and easily accessible exchange nodes for passengers using public transport.

- "These places have great potential to develop into some of the city's most beautiful meeting places with seating, greenery and water," says Magdalena Hedman. Nils Ericsonplatsen is one of the city's most important entry points and its design should be characterized by timelessness. It should offer experiences for passers-by that make it worth stopping here. It should also be a safe place that is easy to navigate.

Work is now continuing to gather feedback and to define areas where in-depth studies are needed:

- "This is an ongoing urban development project where it is important to show pictures of the proposals in order to get feedback and views on how to proceed," says Katja Ketola, project manager for the Central Area. "By being open about how we work, we actively engage in the conversation about the important places in the city, places that affect many people and that engage.

Together with FOJAB architects, BSK Arkitekter is responsible for the major transformation of Helsingborg Lasert's large main building. The assignment is a result of BSK's and FOJAB's agreement on collaboration in the healthcare building market in southern Sweden. FOJAB arkitekter is now in the running to win the competition for Science Village Scandinavia in Lund. They have also been recognized for the City Hall in Kristianstad, which recently won the Building of the Year 2015 award. BSK Arkitekter has invested successfully in competitions for healthcare buildings. Assignments include the new forensic psychiatric facility in Trelleborg, and they are also competing with a Danish team for the new psychiatric center in Bispebjerg outside Copenhagen.

- It is a great responsibility and very inspiring to rebuild such an important and well-known building in Helsingborg. Conversion with operations in operation is one of the most complex things you can take on," says Anna Hjort, commissioned architect at FOJAB arkitekter.

Billions of dollars are now being invested in the renewal of healthcare buildings in the region. Over the next 10 years, Helsingborg's Lasarett alone will undergo a total refurbishment worth an estimated 4.5 billion. The hospitals in Lund and Malmö are also facing extensive renovation processes. Regional Services is the client.

BSK and FOJAB are now working on the design of the eastern wing of Helsingborg Hospital. This is the first step in a major transformation of the entire main block of the hospital with its characteristic cross shape.

In addition to the internal functions, the facades will also be redesigned. Work on additional wings is planned, and low-level areas will also be rebuilt for surgery, imaging and outpatient services.

- Our concept of success is that we have a long experience of large, complex projects, combined with the fact that we know how to build well-functioning workplaces and create healing environments. This is the reason why Region Skåne has entrusted us with developing the healthcare of the future," says Anna Bergström, Vice President of BSK Arkitekter.

Helsingborgs Lasarett will be rebuilt to meet future requirements for modern care units and treatment methods. One challenge is to create a general and flexible structure that can be converted to function in different ways over a long period of time.

Both BSK Arkitekter and FOJAB arkitekter have long experience of large and complex projects. After the work on Helsingborg's hospital, which is not expected to be fully completed until 2022, they can add another to their list of meritorious assignments.

Read more about the project

FOJAB arkitekter, together with the real estate company Wihlborgs, has been named the winner of the competition for the first phase of Science Village Scandinavia - the new district between the MAX IV and ESS research facilities in Lund. The competition assignment included designing the first stage with, among other things, an icon site and icon building.

In late 2014, the development company Science Village Scandinavia AB, which is jointly owned by Lund Municipality, Lund University and Region Skåne, announced a land allocation competition for the first phase of the future district. After a pre-qualification round, five developers/architects were invited to compete. The proposal from Wihlborgs/FOJAB arkitekter has now been selected as the winner.

The first phase includes the Icon building, which will house a meeting place with exhibition spaces, a hotel and a restaurant, and is located directly adjacent to the district's central square and tram stop.

Characterful design

The organization and design of the iconic building is based on the idea of a welcoming, unifying space, which opens up to the surrounding squares and streets, and which can easily be changed according to different needs. An atrium extends through all the floors of the building and daylight flows down from the free-standing, glazed truss structure of the roof, which, like the rest of the building, is made entirely of wood.

- "Wood adds warmth to the large, light-filled room, which is easy to survey and navigate, and which creates the conditions for spontaneous meetings," says Greger Dahlström, the responsible architect.

The ground floor creates a climate-protected zone for passage and outdoor living. The three-dimensional facades not only protect against sun and rain, but also help to diffuse the wind and provide shelter around the building in the open landscape.

- We have once again managed to win a prestigious competition in Lund and are very happy about it. We can now continue to build our expertise in complex buildings with characterful architecture. Our team has done a fantastic job," says Daniel Nord, CEO of FOJAB.

The competition team consists of Greger Dahlström, Mikael Pettersson, Stefan Johansson, Joachim Lundquist, Sara Schlyter, Niklas Sonestad and Carin Caesar at Tyréns (traffic).

Fact box:

The Science Village will be developed to support the development of MAX IV and ESS and their need for accommodation, logistics, services and other facilities. Already in 2016, 200 employees and about the same number of guest researchers are expected to work at MAX IV. When ESS is completed, around 800 permanent employees and around 1,300 visiting researchers will work in the two research facilities. In the long term, around 10,000 people are expected to work in the Science Village.

Rådhuskvarteret in Kristianstad wins Building of the Year 2015. The jury was impressed by the project's well-functioning partnership collaboration and innovative use of BIM.

From the jury's statement:

"In a historic urban environment from the 19th century, a modern office building has emerged with space for 700 workplaces for the municipality and Region Skåne and with large public meeting places. A combination of partnership cooperation and innovative BIM use in all parts of the project could quality assure both calculations and schedules and utilize and incorporate the dialogue with the client and users at an early stage."

Read more about the win on Byggindustrin.se