Seven of the houses along Bruksgatan in Helsingborg have been restored and given back the dignity and luster that the city's pedestrian street deserves.

The neighborhood has traces of five of the city's annual rings: The urban structure is from the Middle Ages. A half-timbered barn from the late 18th century represents the old artisan town. There are plastered two-storey houses from the early 19th century. Industrialization is manifested by several stately turn-of-the-century brick houses, and the 1980s by post-modern residential buildings.

The starting point was to care for, preserve and develop the existing buildings. Our ambition was not only to restore values that had been lost after years of neglected maintenance and more or less insensitive renovations, but also to strengthen the cultural values and highlight each building in the best possible way. The restoration has been done in close collaboration with HSB and Helsingborg's city architect and city antiquarian.

The detailing is meticulous and handcrafted. The materials chosen are exclusively sensual and tactile, such as lime paint on the facades and wooden doors. All surfaces, even the ceilings, are brushed to show and feel the craftsmanship.

The entrances and ground floors have been given extra care to make them feel attractive and safe. Aluminum doors have been replaced with wooden frame doors. The facades have been cleared of visible installations and unusual signs for a cleaner look. Security lighting in period fixtures has been installed on the facades.

The materials that have been added are chosen to last a long time and to be maintained on an ongoing basis. This approach benefits both the environment and the property owner's finances in the long term. We have used healthy, natural, locally produced materials, often from small-scale suppliers.