FOJAB wins urban design award for restoration of entire block

The restoration of a row of houses along the pedestrian street in Helsingborg has strengthened the cultural-historical values and given the entire streetscape a boost. The block has now been awarded the Helsingborg Urban Design Prize. ”We wanted to create an overall impression while allowing each building to shine,” says architect and building conservation expert Karl Johan Kember at FOJAB.

The restoration has been led by FOJAB with Karl Johan Kember as the responsible architect in close collaboration with the property owner - the Mariatorget housing association represented by Anders Olsson, Ken Hultstrand and Viktor Spinola from HSB - and Helsingborg's city architect and city antiquarian.

The seven houses awarded were built over a period of 200 years, the oldest dating from 1785 and the youngest from the 1980s. The aim of the renovation was not only to restore what had been lost after years of neglected maintenance and more or less insensitive renovations. The ambition was also to strengthen the cultural values and highlight each building in the best possible way, each one individually and as part of a route.

The idea of preserving, renovating and maintaining rather than tearing out and building new permeates the entire project. Every single building component has been inspected and its condition assessed. The materials that have been added have been chosen to last a long time and to be maintained on an ongoing basis.

The jury highlighted the careful and artisanal work. All surfaces are brushed - even the roof. New materials and building components are locally produced, often by small-scale suppliers.

- "It has been a pleasure to work with an entire neighborhood, it provides completely different opportunities to actually influence the cityscape and take responsibility for the whole. I'm very happy that the city appreciates the result," says Karl Johan Kember, who received the urban development award together with Ken Hultstrand of HSB at a ceremony on Thursday.

Karl Johan Kember would like to pay tribute to the Mariatorget housing association, which sees the value in restoring and maintaining.

- Investing in old buildings is the most future-oriented thing you can do. It increases the value of your own property, benefits the environment and brings joy to everyone who moves around the city. I hope this award will encourage more property owners to take the same journey.

Motivation of the jury:

Through its extensive restoration project, Brf Mariatorget has strengthened the cultural-historical values and lifted the entire street space, which contributes to increased well-being, pride and security for both residents of the buildings and the people of Helsingborg. The entrances and ground floors have been given extra care and high-quality materials have been chosen to last a long time and be maintained on an ongoing basis as part of sustainable property management.

Careful research into the development of the settlement area over 200 years has resulted in a harmonious color scheme that provides a nice whole, but still emphasizes the character of each building with elicited period details. Everything has been done in a craftsmanlike manner. The materials chosen are exclusively sensual and tactile, such as lime paint on the facades and wooden doors. All surfaces are brushstroked so that the craftsmanship can be seen and felt. The result is durable, beautiful and gives the street a cared-for look.

Read more about the project here.