FOJAB arkitekter recruits interior designer Patrik Bengtsson. This further strengthens the architectural office's expertise in interior architecture and design.

- We are very pleased that through Patrik we are now strengthening our capacity in interior design where the demand for services is constantly increasing, says interior designer Lisa Mannheimer, FOJAB arkitekter.

Patrik Bengtsson is a furniture design interior architect with a focus on specialized interiors and has a craft background in fine carpentry and building conservation. Since 2013, he has run his own business, Patrik Bengtsson Design Studio, where he has mainly designed furniture for Swedish furniture manufacturers and public environments.

Patrik has previously worked at Creo arkitekter in Stockholm, where he mainly designed special interiors for the Swedish Court of Justice. Patrik has also worked with various consulting assignments and teaching furniture design at the School of Architecture in Lund.

- It will be very fun to be part of a larger context and exciting to be involved in developing the interior design side of FOJAB arkitekter, says Patrik Bengtsson.

FOJAB arkitekter continues to design street spaces and a playground in Kolkajen, Stockholm's new waterfront district at Lilla Värtan.

The street spaces are important links in the new district and will be designed with stormwater, greenery and quality of life in focus. On the waterfront, we are designing a large playground with a natural character, where lush trees and undulating wooden structures create a stimulating play environment.

Kolkajen is part of Stockholm's major investment in the development of Stockholm Royal Seaport and one of Sweden's largest development areas. Stockholm wants to create good conditions for cyclists and pedestrians, and the ambition is to create a neighborhood that is as car-free as possible. The number of parking spaces per apartment is low. The most sustainable and climate-smart district in Sweden will be built.

FOJAB arkitekter has also worked on a quality program that forms the basis for the detailed plan for the area and for the continued design. Through a previous prequalification and parallel assignment, FOJAB arkitekter has entered into a framework agreement with the City of Stockholm for the continued work.

Sara Schlyter is a landscape architect at FOJAB and is passionate about public space and the importance of greenery. We took the opportunity to ask Sara five questions. Among other things, how landscape architects can contribute to a good outdoor environment in connection with densification.

What is the hottest issue for you right now?
It is difficult! The landscape is everything - it is city and nature and the interaction between them. Landscape architecture is very much about wholeness and relationships between different elements. On the large scale and the small scale....

Urban densification is on everyone's lips and construction is taking place like never before. How can landscape architects contribute to a good outdoor environment in connection with densification?
Landscape architects create quality in the outdoor environments of the dense city. The denser the city, the higher the demands on the design of the spaces in between, and more functions must be combined in the same areas. The denser the city, the more important greenery is from several aspects. It manages stormwater and balances the city's microclimate, creates a human scale, an attractive cityscape and opportunities for recreation. The city should also be a social arena, where there should be space and opportunities for everyone, not least for children.

Many of these values are difficult to measure, and we are unfortunately seeing the effects of this in many newly planned areas around the country, from flooding issues to microscopic preschool playgrounds. Density comes at a price. We need to find new ways of counting. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the municipalities to monitor and pursue these issues, but we also need to be better at spreading knowledge about the city as a whole to everyone involved in building society.

Flexibility and multifunctionality become key words when we landscape architects work with individual places in the city. Examples include playgrounds that are combined with floodplains and create opportunities for water play, the parking lot is a ball field at certain times of the day, biofilters are combined with comfortable green seating and rooftop parks. We see the increased need to address climate change and the environment as an asset and believe that making natural processes visible adds value to the urban environment.

You are particularly passionate about public space, in what way is it important and what do you think it will mean in the future?
Public space in the city - squares, streets and parks - is a big part of a city's identity and soul. It is where we move and stay, where we walk and meet friends. Caring for public space reflects a city or community's care for its inhabitants.

Interestingly, public space is used to put a new area on the map. Then parks or places are established before the buildings take shape. This has been done, for example, in Carlsberg in Copenhagen and also the Jubilee Park in Frihamnen in Gothenburg. This shows the importance of public space for the attractiveness and branding of a city or district.

There is no doubt that people feel better when they spend time in natural environments - shouldn't more effort be put into this?
Absolutely! Proximity and access to nature or green spaces has a major impact on both health and quality of life. There is research that proves this. The problem may be that it is a socio-economic investment where the return does not end up in the wallet of the person paying for it.

Fortunately, it seems that awareness of this is increasing, both among developers and end consumers, i.e. home buyers. There is currently a demand for both nature-based housing and perhaps even more urban housing that can offer proximity to greenery and even opportunities for cultivation in the dense city.

Finally, what project are you currently working on?
Right now I'm working with Kolkajen in Norra Djurgårdsstaden in Stockholm, where we are doing system documentation for a large playground right on the water. I am also working on a concept to renew the pedestrian streets in Landskrona with greenery and living environments. I am also working on several exciting office and housing projects and a new football stadium in central Uppsala, Studenternas. It's great fun with that variety and breadth!

In 2016, the National Property Board appointed Mattias Hedberg Ek as house architect for the Kristianstad residence. The appointment is for six years with the possibility of a three-year extension.

As house architect and general consultant for the Residence in Kristianstad, Mattias Hedberg Ek is responsible for the building's maintenance and development. In close cooperation with the National Property Board, the house architect ensures that the architectural, artistic, antiquarian and technical views are met and that quality and continuity are achieved in the ongoing care of the building. House architects have a six-year appointment with the possibility of a three-year extension. The assignment is personal.

- House architect is an honorable and extremely interesting job. It is about preserving and refining, without destroying the historical values. Architecture on a small scale that has a big impact," says architect Mattias Hedberg Ek.

The residence in Kristianstad was designed by architect Fredrik Wilhelm Scholander and built in 1857-1860. At that time, the building was the residence of the county governor and premises for the county council. It was later expanded with, among other things, several floors. The residence, which has been a listed building since 1935, is today partly empty and is used as an office for the Swedish National Land Survey, among others.

Conservation of a national monument
Over the next few years, the residence will be renovated and adapted for new functions and tenants. A facade renovation is currently being carried out in collaboration with another architect. The representation floor will eventually be converted into office space.

- It is desirable to modernize and attract businesses. Much work lies in preserving the room structure but at the same time adapting the premises to today's modern needs," says Mattias Hedberg Ek.

Close cooperation is crucial
Old houses and buildings require skilled designers and close cooperation is therefore essential. The house architect is responsible for the overall project and for coordinating the necessary skills. For example, specialists in fire, plumbing, lighting, coloring, environment, sheet metal and painting.

In March 2017, ambitious architecture students had the opportunity to meet FOJAB architects and other industry representatives at the Arkipelago labor market days in Lund and Stockholm. Questions about what a day in the life of an architect looks like and the key skills available in the office were discussed, and the fair also gave FOJAB architects the opportunity to meet the talents of tomorrow.

Arkipelago is a collaborative project between Sweden's architectural education programs and arranges lectures, mingling events, workshops and annual labor market days in Lund, Stockholm, Karlskrona, Umeå and Gothenburg. FOJAB arkitekter has participated in the days in Lund and Stockholm since the start in 2011 and so also this year.

At Arkipelago in Lund, Camilla Henricson, Kristina Kember, Caroline Lindqvist and Axel Stolt from FOJAB arkitekter participated. On site, they exchanged ideas and thoughts, tips on how to best design their portfolio, and how students can best get a foot in the door to working life after graduation. Three students also won the opportunity to visit FOJAB's office in Malmö for breakfast, an inspiring lecture and an insight into life at an architectural office.

- Arkipelago is an important meeting place also for us architects as it gives us an opportunity to exchange thoughts and ideas with architecture students with fresh eyes. It also gives us an opportunity to find the new talents that we are constantly looking for in our growing industry, says Camilla Henricson, Architect MSA at FOJAB arkitekter in Malmö.

FOJAB arkitekter has made a strategic decision to develop the area of Computational Design under the name FOJABcode. This is a long-term investment in design research in a testbed environment to develop new methods and models in digital design. FOJAB is now recruiting to get a strong team with a focus on both design and programming.

Petra Jenning, an architect at FOJAB arkitekter and internationally recognized expert in Computational Design, is responsible for the development work.

- "The digital approach we are exploring differs from the current one in that we model behaviors and processes instead of static geometry," says Petra Jenning. Various activities are now underway around the world to understand how this can work in practice, and what changes it brings at different stages. These activities take place both in academia and in industry. We want to be at the forefront here.

The development work will be done internally but with exchange and cooperation with other companies and organizations moving in the same direction. The aim is to test models and methods, which when mature can be applied in the projects.

- FOJAB arkitekter started in Lund with close links to LTH and research. Over the years, that relationship has remained on many levels, says CEO Daniel Nord. "What is new is that we now work proactively and methodically with the practical application of what new research produces. This can benefit all of FOJAB's customers.

Petra Jenning describes current construction methods as a consequence of a reductionist process; each requirement, such as climate protection, strength and ventilation, has its own solution and is considered individually. This means that we quickly become limited by increasing complexity as new requirements are added. New technology offers opportunities to think about problem solving in new ways. It is possible to let the computer generate solutions in which interaction and feedback between different functions and systems are incorporated into the design process.

- The result will be integrated solutions that can respond to a variety of local and unique requirements and still be practically and economically feasible," says Petra Jenning.Within FOJABcode, we will look broadly at the design process. Digitalization brings completely new opportunities. The mission is about exploring those opportunities and finding synergies. We need to take a holistic approach to what digitalization means for the entire chain of the construction process - from design to production to finished house - and beyond.

FOJAB's vision proposal was selected in a parallel assignment in Koppargården, Karlslund in Landskrona. This early vision will now show the way in the continued work with the area where the goal is to achieve a denser, more varied building and new attractive spaces, while preserving a large part of today's apartments and streets.

The city of Landskrona sees great opportunities for the Karlslund district in northern Landskrona and is now, in cooperation with the property owners, taking a comprehensive approach to the development of the area. The goal is to improve the environment in the area and develop an attractive residential area in the growing city. In a parallel assignment for the Koppargården sub-area with Landskronahem as the client, FOJAB has developed an early vision for the area.

- "We are very pleased that Landskronahem chose to proceed on the basis of our ideas about Koppargården's potential. Our proposal is called Årstidsparkerna after the four smaller parks with strong seasonal characters that have been created in the central parts of the proposal," says Karin Fagerberg of FOJAB.

Seasonal parks are a cross between a square and a park. They are intended to complement the area's generous green spaces and sports facilities and help develop the area's identity. The vision includes 1600 homes, including the existing ones, and two new pre-schools. The new housing consists of a mix of apartment buildings in an open block structure and terraced houses. New, diagonal streets lead into the recreational area. A consistent idea is that the area should be easy to navigate and that residents should always be close to a park or other meeting place.

- FOJAB's idea proposal is the one that best matches our ambitions for the area. The proposal will therefore guide the work together with the city, other property owners and tenants on the transformation, says Helena Fremle, CEO of Landskronahem.

The architectural team at FOJAB consists of Karin Fagerberg, Kjell Adamsson, Pia Månsson, Mikael Pettersson and David Kisch.

As of March 1, FOJAB arkitekter has appointed three new studio managers.

In Helsingborg, Rebecca Saaby Mehlum takes over from Staffan Premmert. Staffan will continue to work as a commissioned architect.

In Stockholm, the office is split into two studios due to the strong growth. The studios will be headed by Eva Ocklund and Cecilia Jarlöv respectively, with Jens Larsson continuing as Office Manager.

"I am pleased that we had three such competent, internal candidates for the positions and look forward to the continued development of the studios", says Karin Fagerberg, Operations Manager at FOJAB arkitekter.

Since 2015, Hansa, the large department store between Stora Nygatan and Södra Promenaden in central Malmö, has been undergoing extensive design changes. We at FOJAB arkitekter are responsible for the design and planning with a focus on refining this central meeting place. Naturally, the ambition is for the old NK building to once again become a strong commercial center. The inauguration will take place in the fall of 2017, but large parts are already ready.

Hansa opened already in 1963, but then as NK. In the 1990s, the department store changed its name to Hansacompagniet. Now Hansa is undergoing a fundamental change. In close cooperation with the client AREIM and HEA Property Partner, FOJAB arkitekter is working to refine Hansa's two blocks into a modern and attractive shopping area in the center of Malmö.

Kv. Stadt Hamburg, Hansagallerian, has already been largely rebuilt with several new players and a completely new design. The block has changed with more shop entrances and major facade changes to open up for a more active urban life around the buildings.

Kv. Lybeck, the Hansa department store, will go back to being a more open department store of the NK character, with more entrances than today and a new facade. With this concept comes changed opening hours and thus more people in the evenings.

At the same time, the blocks contain much more than just the retail space in Hansa. There are also offices, housing, a parking garage, a school and a medical center. Many of these activities are being designed and built in parallel with the redevelopment of the shopping area.

The whole is expected to be completed in the fall of 2017 when the grand opening will take place.

Read more about Hansa

A new training center for farmers will soon be completed in Tanzania. This is after a project competition organized by Engineers Without Borders and Architects Without Borders. Engineering and architecture students at LTH collaborated to design a center with space for both educational facilities, common rooms and housing. FOJAB arkitekter sponsored the competition, which took place in spring 2016.

In addition to the sponsorship, Elise Lundahl, architect at FOJAB arkitekter, participated as supervisor to the winning team. The team, which consisted of Axel Stolt, intern at FOJAB architects, Alexander Rundlöf, Henning Stenbäck and Petter Streijffert presented an idea and drawings for a training center that, when fully developed, can accommodate 100 student farmers. The site of the center is located in northwestern Tanzania in the Karagwe region. The organization Kaderes, which works to develop and improve the lives of farmers in the region, will construct the building.

- Given all the uncertainties about the conditions, we worked primarily on the basis of an idea and a principle about how to arrange the buildings rather than a detailed solution. Now we take the project further, and look forward to seeing the education center take shape in Tanzania, says Axel Stolt, a student at LTH and now an architectural intern at FOJAB arkitekter.

This summer, the winning team will travel to Tanzania to hand over the proposal to a local architect and designer. It is hoped that the Kaderes organization will now have sufficient funding to begin construction.

Now it has a roof over its head, one of the ten best rooftop bars in Europe. Landscape architect Johan Paju of FOJAB arkitekter is taking his successful project at the top of Sveavägen 44 one step further. For a few years now, there has been 3000 square meters of mountain nature in the middle of central Stockholm. The existing outdoor terrace is now being supplemented by a pavilion building in wood and glass that can accommodate about 60 seated guests.

Since the roofscape opened two years ago, at least 50 000 people have wandered around the walkways and piers, mingling and hanging out at the bar. On summer evenings, the queues are long, but during the day and the rest of the year, the 3000 people working in the office building can take their sandwiches upstairs and enjoy the view.

The landscape is special in its own right and Johan Paju enlisted the help of fellow expert Pelle Nyström for the implementation.

- What Pelle does not know about extreme plant beds is not worth knowing. The usual green roofs are often like green deserts, there are 3-4 species you work with, of course they work, but they are not biodiverse. We have three different biotopes with plant beds and a myriad of life," says Johan Paju.

The new rooftop pavilion, designed by Johan Paju together with landscape architect Sofia Fors Szuba, will be an integral part of the complex with a wooden frame, sliding glass panels in solid wood and a light, floating roof. The pavilion stands in the landscape surrounded by the piers so that the floor continues in, with a projecting pergola reinforcing the lightness. With its 150 square meters, it can accommodate a really good mingle or 50-60 seated guests plus a bar and preparation kitchen. Several new toilets have also been built, accessible to everyone on the terrace.

Johan's idea from the outset was for the roof to be public and generous. Quite unusual too - a private property turned into a public place for part of the day. Skandia Fastigheter (formerly Diligentia), the property owner, was on board and found a partner in Urban Deli, whose profile and brand matched well with what they wanted to do with the project. Urban Deli is responsible for the operation of the rooftop bar and reception, business center, café, restaurants and grocery store that are located at street level and create pulse and activity. They also run a hotel in the basement with the concept of dark, quiet and central with a good breakfast.

Johan Paju is driven by a passion - a desire to make an impact on the world:

- As an architect, you simply have to be a little ahead in your market focus and constantly challenge. It's about creating benefits and building a brand for the customer," says Johan.

- Architecture is only as good as what is built. There are many good projects sitting in drawers that have not been fully implemented. The best project is either the one you do well together with a committed property owner, or the one you never do. For me, this is a responsible and resource-efficient approach.

The new rooftop pavilion will be completed by late spring. Then Stockholmers and tourists will be able to enjoy an informal and comfortable watering hole in the middle of Sweden's barren mountain nature.

In February 2017, FOJAB was nominated for the Real Estate Øresund Award in the category Real Estate Partner of the Year.

The award recognizes companies that through knowledge, competence and courage contribute to their client's success and results, which for us at FOJAB is central to all our customer relationships. We see the nomination as a confirmation of our competence and endeavor. Other nominees are Project BID and IKEA Group. The winner will be announced at a gala at Malmö Börshus on February 8.

Motivation of the jury: "FOJAB stands for broad expertise in the inscrutable principles of architecture, combined with an understanding of the commercial conditions of the projects. With its insight into the complex relationship between architectural design and economic sustainability, FOJAB has assisted a number of real estate players to success, including victories in several municipal land allocation competitions."

There are many social challenges in Sweden today that need to be met innovatively and where good architecture plays a central role. FOJAB arkitekter therefore works continuously on projects where social innovation and social sustainability are in focus. One of them is the R:ekobyn in little Röstånga in Skåne, where we participate as an architect and co-financier.

The project is a local initiative and is run by a newly formed economic association. The aim is to maintain and develop services, housing, schools and public transport in the area so that more people can live and work there. R:ekobyn aims to build an ecovillage for around thirty new households in Röstånga based on a sustainable plan for a new, alternative and vibrant living environment. Linked to this is an open learning process that engages both residents and other interested parties.

FOJAB arkitekter is participating as one of the co-financiers and is developing proposals and a new detailed plan for the property. Part of the assignment includes working with the client to investigate and discuss building technology, energy solutions and forms of financing. It is a combination of knowledge building, customer benefit with a broader societal benefit.

- R:ekobyn is a project that can mean a lot to a rural town like Röstånga. Based on a local commitment, not only the final result but also the process will create value. In addition, we as an office have the opportunity to test a new model for co-financing and participation in a project with a clear focus on social sustainability and community benefit. We see great development opportunities with R:ekobyn, both for us and for Röstånga," says Sara Ericsson, responsible for social innovation and sustainability at FOJAB arkitekter and managing architect for R:ekobyn.

The detailed plan for R:ekobyn will be completed and submitted to Svalöv Municipality in July 2019, and the ecovillage itself may then become a reality after a few more years.

In the fall of 2016, FOJAB arkitekter decided to carry out a merger between the parent company FOJAB AB and the subsidiary FOJAB arkitekter AB.

The merger has now been completed, which means that all employees and all commitments in FOJAB arkitekter AB are taken over on completely unchanged terms by the parent company. The parent company FOJAB AB is renamed FOJAB arkitekter AB and the organization number remains 556689-6980. The CEO of the company is Daniel Nord.

For you as a customer, the merger does not make much difference. New project agreements will be written against the new organization number. Our existing project agreements will not change. You keep the same contact persons at FOJAB arkitekter as before.

The merger means that we can simplify and streamline the organization internally, leading to a clearer and more transparent organization. This allows us to focus on our ambitions to create high-quality architecture that has value over time for our clients.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your contact person at FOJAB arkitekter or directly to CEO Daniel Nord.

With kind regards,
Daniel Nord, CEO of FOJAB arkitekter AB

- Social housing policy is an objective without a strategy. The central question, to which there is no answer today, is how it should be financed and by whom. This is how Lennart Weiss, commercial director at Veidekke, began his speech when FOJAB arkitekter's Malmö office held its first architectural salon on December 8.

He continued:

- All newly produced rental housing is 50 % more expensive than owner-occupied housing. So it's not surprising that 70 % of Swedes currently live in owner-occupied homes, an increasing proportion of which - naturally - are newly built. We Swedes are the worst in the world at housing policy and the politicians have no financial strategy in the housing issue, said Lennart Weiss and called for a well-made analysis of the current situation to increase knowledge and thus be able to make well-founded decisions in the future. He also pointed to Norway as a good example.

Some fifty visitors took the opportunity to deepen their knowledge on the theme "Social Housing in Sweden? ". Mingle and food surrounded several short expert presentations and a panel debate, moderated by FOJAB arkitekter's Nils Philip Påhlsson. Lennart Weiss was succeeded by Ulrika Palmblad, head of property development at Älvstranden AB, and her colleague Kristian Käll, process manager for social sustainability. They described the work towards the goals set in Gothenburg's gigantic urban development project to reduce segregation and "social inclusion", in a situation where new construction risks making the situation worse.

- There is a political clarity in Gothenburg to fall back on, a stated goal that everyone should be able to settle in Älvstranden, said Kristian Käll. "The challenge for us is to find creative business models to make this possible.

- 900 homes, representing 25% of the stock, will be financially accessible to all if we succeed. The idea is that the combination of affordable housing and public spaces designed as communal living rooms will provide the basis for social sustainability.

Christer Larsson, Director of Urban Development in Malmö and the government investigator behind the architectural policy report 'Gestaltad livsmiljö', argued that urbanization will slow down.

Cities are simply not up to the task. The deregulation of the housing market means that we cannot meet the needs of the weakest social segment. It is pure nonsense to believe that we will be able to build 700 000 new homes, said Christer Larsson. "It will not happen, because it is too expensive.

Christer Larsson pointed to both a renewal and transformation of the good utility architecture from the 30s, 40s and 50s, and Skåne's multi-core structural model as possible solutions to the housing problem.

He was supported in the subsequent panel debate, where the speakers were reinforced by FOJAB's market coordinator Magdalena Hedman. The panel called for a national housing policy, not least to be able to weigh heavy accounts against each other, such as housing and the labor market. The need for collaboration was also emphasized.

Several audience voices were heard in the discussion, which also focused on the challenge of building cheaply with good architectural quality. Good examples were highlighted, such as the slender lamellar houses and star houses of the 1950s, as well as fine Danish examples. The importance of a good architectural policy that understands how to make use of architects' skills was also emphasized. Several panel members agreed that architects need to be active early in the debate and create alliances with many different actors in the field of urban development in order to meet the challenge we all face.

Anna Nilson, an architect at FOJAB arkitekter, has been awarded the Lund Byggmästareklubbs scholarship for her degree project "Dagens ljus". The work, which is a study of the impact of environmental certification systems on architecture, was carried out in collaboration with FOJAB arkitekter during Anna's final year of the Architecture program at Lund University of Technology.

The thesis dealt with commonly used environmental certification systems' daylight requirements and how they affect architecture and users. Anna Nilson divided the thesis into three different parts. In a first step, the quantitative and qualitative parameters of existing environmentally certified buildings were studied. In addition to looking at measurable properties such as glass areas, Anna also examined users' experiences of the rooms and daylight.

- Users experience rooms and daylight very differently, but what the majority in my study had in common was a desire to be able to influence their own environment. They want to be able to close the curtains, control the blinds and open their windows, which is often limited in an environmentally certified building," says Anna Nilson.

The study of existing, environmentally certified buildings was followed by a study of a planned, non-certified preschool and what efforts would be required to meet the daylight requirements of three different certification systems: Miljöbyggnad, LEED and BREEAM. Based on insights and knowledge from these two studies, Anna also carried out a design project of an environmentally certified preschool with a planned location in Kalkbrottet in Malmö.

- The Lund Master Builder's Club grant is proof that my study of daylight in architecture is relevant and important to the construction industry. I use this knowledge in many of my current projects as an architect at FOJAB arkitekter. We face challenges related to daylight; the focus in urban planning is often on densification, which in many cases limits access to daylight. To achieve optimal daylight in new production in the dense city, it is necessary to work creatively with daylight and the requirements of the certification systems from the start of the project, says Anna Nilson.

The Lund Byggmästarklubbs scholarship is awarded to degree projects that can be of particular benefit to the construction industry. Anna Nilson's degree project was completed in the fall semester 2015, and has now been awarded the scholarship for 2015/2016.

FOJAB arkitekter is now working on a parallel assignment to design 160 new homes in a strategic location in Dockplatsen in Västra hamnen. Here, two slender buildings with 17 and 25 floors will rise, offering residents views of the sea and the city. It will be an urban, city-center residence with a wide range of services.

The site owner Wihlborgs, in collaboration with JM and the City Planning Office, has chosen to continue working with FOJAB arkitekter to design a new residential building at Dockplatsen in Västra hamnen. The plan is for a building with a five-storey base from which two slender structures of 17 and 25 storeys rise.

The building's shape and heights relate to the site's surroundings; to the east is the harbor basin, where the building is the tallest. Towards Dockplatsen and the guest harbor, the building steps down slightly, to connect with five floors towards the surrounding buildings and Isbergs gata, which is lower than the surrounding buildings. The two tapered towers will be characteristic of the building, providing beautiful views from all apartments and minimal shade on Dockplatsen.

- For us, it has been important to create a building with a strong character and form, which is born from the site, with links to Kockum's industrial history. We are sure that it will become a node and a benchmark for the area," says Joachim Lundqvist, Head of Architecture at FOJAB arkitekter.

The plan is to clad the building and the two towers with a weatherproof and robust exterior, with the entire body of the building consisting of balconies. There will be a total of 160 homes in the building, and a garden on the roof of the base will be shared by the residents. With a grateful southwest exposure, this creates a sunny shelf with plenty of shelter and a lush landscape.

The bottom floor at the base of the building contains public spaces for services, shops and restaurants. An atrium accessed from all the commercial spaces becomes the heart of the building and a focal point. The atrium forms a node in the promenade that runs from Klaffbron via the edge of the harbor basin and diagonally through the new building to end at Dockplatsen.

FOJAB arkitekter's project team consists of Joachim Lundquist, Stefan Johansson, Mikael Pettersson, Ida Stavenow and Johan Paju. The city of Malmö's detailed planning work is currently underway, and construction is expected to start in 2018 at the earliest.

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.