Shop Talk 13: Circularity and transformation #3

Collaboration in renewal processes

A roundtable on circular strategies and transformation – exploring how we can adapt and creatively re-use heritage environments and buildings with varying levels of significance. What issues and conflicts of interest tend to arise in regeneration processes involving existing industrial and urban contexts? What role does the already-built environment play and how can we best utilise its values? This session digs deeper into the challenges and difficulties that occur, and explores good examples of how to address them.

We have an excellent, highly competent and fantastic panel!

This Shop Talk is part of a series of conversations around circular strategies and transformation.

Guests:
Emelie Ekström-Howard, Riksantikvarieämbetet
Anna Haraldsson, Revelop
Martin Lagergren, Tyréns Cultural Heritage
Anna Lindgren, AMF
Marcus Lindh, Atrium Ljungberg
Henrik Nyberg, In3prenör
Lovisa Olsson Kihlborg, City of Stockholm
Stefan Sjöberg, Kjellander Sjöberg
Mi Inkinen, Kjellander Sjöberg

Time and place:
7 November, 8:00 – 9:30 am
Kjellander Sjöberg
Rosenlundsgatan 40
118 53 Stockholm

KS lecture on circular transformation in Vienna

Our Malmö Director, Johan Pitura, has been invited to give a lecture on circular transformation in Vienna on Tuesday, 4th November. The event is organised by “Architektur in Progress”, the leading platform for young, innovative and forward-looking architecture in Austria and the rest of the world.

Description from the program:
“Transforming industrial heritage: the circular revitalisation of the former Kockums’ industrial area into a vibrant and diverse district in Malmö is one of the most exciting examples of how resource consumption and climate impact can be minimised through environmentally friendly construction processes. Kjellander Sjöberg Architects have played a key role in this. Their Malmö Director, Johan Pitura, uses the example of the formerly redundant Gjuteriet to explain the impressive transformation into Oatly’s forward-looking headquarters. He will demonstrate the importance of focusing on sustainable strategies and establishing clear targets early in the process – both for feasibility and for architectural quality.”

Time and place:
4th November 2025, 7 pm
Smartvoll
Kirchengasse 23
1070 Vienna

Ekelund Pampas moves forward

Kjellander Sjöberg, in collaboration with HSB and Besqab, has progressed the planning process of Ekelund Pampas – Solna’s new district, located just outside central Stockholm in a unique setting between city, nature and water.

The proposal has recently been presented for public consultation, and the extensive collaboration with the Solna City Council, the Public Transport Administration and many others has resulted in a contextually sensitive and well-integrated urban district. It is connected to Västra Skogen and mediates the transition to Ulvsundasjön, while also activating the waterfront promenade. Through its scale, architectural expression and strong relationship to water, the neighbourhood reflects and builds upon the characteristic qualities of the adjacent Kungsholmen, creating a natural extension of the inner city.

Urban transformation on Western Kungsholmen

Kjellander Sjöberg, in collaboration with Besqab, is developing a new residential block within the property Paradiset 23 on Kungsholmen in Stockholm. The centrally located site on Nordenflychtsvägen is situated next to KS’s acclaimed residential infill Etaget.

The project comprises approximately 90 new homes, corresponding to around 8,000 square metres of gross floor area, with retail on the ground floor. The homes on the recessed top floor will feature generous private terraces. All homes are designed to meet high standards for climate performance and energy efficiency, with the ambition to further enhance the city and contribute to a vibrant streetscape. Besqab acquired the development rights from Fabege, supported by Kjellander Sjöberg Architects throughout the due diligence process. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with sales launching in the first quarter of 2026.

Launch of Branten

We’re delighted to announce that a remarkable project we’ve been involved in since the planning stage in 2013 is now making major strides forward. The vision for Branten is finally taking shape and moving towards realisation – a new piece in the urban mosaic of classic Västra Kungsholmen in Stockholm.

Wallin Bostad is launching 36 quality homes with views over the water, Karlberg Palace and the Vasastan area, designed by Kjellander Sjöberg. The project stands out for its high aspirations in both architecture and design, offering beautifully considered qualities of life.

Construction is scheduled to begin in Q1 2026, and first residents will move in Q1 2027. Wallin is now proceeding with preliminary sales agreements through the estate agency Fantastic Frank.

Winner selected in architectural competition for Trollhättan 6 in Malmö

An international design team has been appointed for the development of Trollhättan 6 district on Universitetsholmen in Malmö, in a competition arranged by Skanska Fastigheter Malmö and Riksbyggen, in collaboration with the city of Malmö in Sweden. The proposal by Team Superlokal – comprised of Kjellander Sjöberg & Förstberg Ling in collaboration with critical friend We Made That, supported by Ramboll – was viewed by the judges as being the best in terms of combining the site’s cultural and historical values with modern and sustainable urban development.

The brief for the site – which is located at Nordenskiöldsgatan 13 and has a plot area of approximately 5,100 sqm, adjacent to the city’s waterfront – is to create a mixed-use building that combines workplaces, housing and community amenities, with the ground floor contributing to a vibrant streetscape and quayside.

The ambition is to develop a sustainable and attractive neighbourhood with low climate impact, that preserves valuable parts of an existing office block and car park whilst strategically adding new vertical extensions to maximise the site’s potential.

Of Team Superlokal’s proposal, the jury said:

“With a clear architectural character rooted in the site’s heritage, the team has balanced development opportunity and cultural history with the delivery of new housing and workspace. The renewal of the existing office building will revive the streetscape by opening up the block and providing space for new businesses on the ground floor to strengthen urban life on Universitetsholmen.”

Following this appointment, Kjellander Sjoberg, Förstberg Ling and We Made That will collaborate to develop and refine their proposals. Construction is scheduled to start in 2027.

Residential win amid Hjorthagen heritage

We’re delighted to have won the architectural commission to design the Elektriciteten scheme in Hjorthagen in Stockholm, in collaboration with developer Klövern and the City of Stockholm.

The site is nestled within the heart of Hjorthagen’s cultural landscape, adjacent to the characteristic slender houses of the Abessinien neighbourhood. It’s a district with a well-established, green, small-town character, featuring a school, restaurants, and a community centre, all within easy reach of the underground network and local amenities.

The property is situated within the Stockholm Royal Seaport, a development area led by the city council, which is highly committed to sustainability and is of national cultural and historical interest.

Our vision is for an architecture that carefully manages the site’s significant potential and qualities, drawing inspiration from existing green courtyards and typical turn-of-the-20th-century features such as high ceilings, harmonious flow between rooms with generous vertical fenestration, and versatile, well-balanced floor plans. The outdoor spaces, with lush gardens and arbours, are part of the experience; at the end of the green corridor of Motalaparken, new courtyard spaces and homes are designed with a strong focus on high-quality living and a high level of architectural ambition.

“We’re looking forward to working with Kjellander Sjöberg on our Hjorthagen project. They’ve truly impressed us with their ideas for ‘Elektriciteten’. Their ability to understand the location makes us confident that the final product will be a valuable addition that ties the area’s unique environments together. Kjellander Sjöberg also has a strong focus on the future homeowners and is committed to creating a contemporary, yet timeless product, which is something we really value,” says Erik Ihse, Head of Project Development at Klövern.

The project allows for 150 to 200 apartments to be delivered. We’re excited to begin the outline planning process work with the aim of beginning construction in 2028.

The Developer and Festival of Place – Homes session

Stefan Sjöberg, Kjellander Sjoberg Architects, will present Hartree alongside Mike Bodkin from TOWN. They will unpack the vision and drivers behind shaping a bespoke, human-focused, community-centred, mixed-use, green, biodiverse urban quarter within the emerging Northeast Cambridge area.

How providing good, much-needed homes for the community often starts with the bigger picture of engagement and listening, forming the basis for placemaking; creating a supportive urban fabric that provides a range of homes and workplaces, rich neighbourhood spaces that draw inspiration from local cultural heritage:

Human-scale streets – pleasant places to be in and enjoy
Good density providing a comfortable microclimate, both in private areas and public realm
Living with nature in healthy settings that mitigate extreme climate impacts
A sense of pride and belonging, offering social value and opportunities for everyone
Many places to play, meet, cycle and sit
Shaped by local communities and by many
Shared communal amenities that add value and make life more affordable and joyful

Hartree will provide 5,600 new homes of mixed tenure; 6,000 workplaces of various formats; two schools; restaurants; shops; studios and cultural destinations. Designed by Kjellander Sjöberg Architects as masterplan lead, for the developers LandsecU+I and Town, with Cambridge City Council and Anglian Water.

Masterplan team includes:
Landscape architects: LOLA
Plot-testing architects: Bell Phillips, Haworth Tompkins, NOOMA, Feilden Fowles and Alison Brooks Architects
Sustainability and Quality of Life: Useful Projects
Engineering & transport: Pell Frischman
Mobility: Urban Movement
Public Engagement: ECF & Town
Viability: Turner Townsend

The Homes session will be taking place on the Pineapples stage 14.00-14.45 in the Playbox room at the Festival of Place, 2nd July at Boxpark Wembley.

Conservation and creative transformation in Aarhus

Kjellander Sjöberg’s Johan Pitura was one of the invited speakers at the ‘Conservation and Creative Transformation’ conference in Aarhus on 18th March 2025.

The need for expertise regarding conservation and transformation is one of the most crucial topics for the construction industry right now. For several years, the organisation Building Green has held conferences on sustainable development – which have become key places to meet up, discuss challenges, and learn from each other.

This time, the aim was to get a solid understanding of why and when adaptive reuse makes sense, and how transformation can contribute to social regeneration. The conference will offer inspiration for repurposing old buildings while ensuring both quality and financial viability.

The construction industry is in a period of substantial change, where the existing building stock plays a central role in the necessary shift. We can no longer afford to demolish buildings and replace them every time they don’t meet our requirements or needs.

Instead, we must focus on making the most of the square footage we already have. This requires us to get better at investigating and realising the opportunities and potential within existing buildings, and at finding creative solutions to adapt them for future needs.

Conservation, renovation, revitalisation, and reuse are strategies that can breathe new life into existing buildings.

Swedish Architects Declare Climate & Biodiversity Emergency

Kjellander Sjöberg, as part of the Architects Declare initiative, will host the first networking event in 2025 in Malmö. On Tuesday, 4th March from 12-1 pm, the new series of monthly lunch meetings will kick off. These sessions, held simultaneously in Malmö, Stockholm and Göteborg, will take place every first Tuesday of each month for all participant of Architects Declare to discuss the 12 commitments of call to action, two points at a time.

Architects Declare is a network of architectural practices committed to addressing the climate and biodiversity emergency. The initiative was launched in the UK in the spring of 2019 and has now spread to more than 28 countries around the world. Swedish Architects Declare has been signed by over 300 Swedish architectural practices.

Styrmansbron: public opening

This weekend marked the grand opening of Styrmansbron in Malmö – the new pedestrian, cycle, and public transport route to the Varvsstaden neighbourhood. This awaited milestone designed by Kjellander Sjöberg marks a significant step in the ongoing regeneration of the area.

More than just a bridge, Styrmansbron is intended to be a lively new public space by the water and to serve as a vital connection between different parts of the city, while also symbolising Malmö’s dynamic evolution. Where Kockums shipyard workers once cycled to their jobs, residents and visitors can now cross a bridge linking the city’s past with its future.

The opening ceremony was attended by leading people, including Andréas Schönström, chairman of the technical committee of the Malmö City Council; Jesper Göransson, CEO of Peab; representatives from the property and street management office; Hanne Birk from Varvsstaden; and architect Hannes Haak from Kjellander Sjöberg. Each shared their insights on the project’s significance for the city and its inhabitants.

Thank you to Björn Forsberg for the stunning drone photography.

Hartree shortlisted for The Pineapple for Future Place

Our mixed-use masterplan Hartree in Northeast Cambridge has been shortlisted for The Pineapple awards by The Developer and Festival of Place in the ‘Future Place’ category.

For People, City and Planet. Hartree is one of the largest urban developments in Cambridge, driven by engagement, people’s present needs and placemaking. It will provide over 19 hectares of public open space and a significant net gain in biodiversity, thousands of carbon neutral homes, shops, workplaces, education, community and leisure facilities.

Working together with LandsecU+I and TOWN, Cambridge City Council and Anglian Water, we have developed a new, much-needed type of responsive 5-minute place with good streets and quality public realm – open to everyone – connected and rooted in Cambridge.

Thank you to the whole client team, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service, councillors and the general public and of course, the fantastic team of specialists including LOLA, Useful Projects, Pell Frischmann, Bell Phillips, Carter Jonas, Haworth Tompkins and ECF, with a special mention to 5th Studio, Feilden Fowles, NOOMA Studio and Alison Brooks Architects.

Winners will be announced at the Festival of Place in London, April 2025.

New catalogue about Gjuteriet in Malmö

Kjellander Sjöberg releases a comprehensive new catalogue documenting the process of the award-winning transformation of Gjuteriet for Varvsstaden – the journey from a derelict ruin to a vibrant new social hub in the heart of Malmö.

Gjuteriet is a prominent, listed building in Malmö, a historic player in the shipbuilding industry and a key part of the city’s identity. It was originally built in 1910 as a foundry producing components for ships and bridges. The main approach to the renovation was to preserve the heritage; to leave and reveal as many traces and stories as possible. Material sustainability was the key design strategy, seeking to minimise the use of resources and climate impact through extensive reuse and smart material choices.

Read the catalogue here

Torshamn welcomes new residents

The beautiful brick block Torshamn in Kista for the Stockholm Housing Co-operative Association is nearly ready for residents to move in. 165 households get the opportunity to live around a generous green courtyard, enjoying high-quality, long-term living conditions, and a new neighbourhood square, with walking distance to the local Kista centre and a metro station.

The scheme enhances urban definition and gives prominence to the intersection of the main routes Borgarfjordsgatan and Torshamnsgatan, defining a place where the newly emerging Kista Äng district meets the existing built heritage of Kista, framed by a robust and substantial scale. The project has been developed in a close collaboration between the architects and the client; from the first idea and concept design, through planning stages, technical design and construction to on-site monitoring. The scheme responds to SKB’s long-term commitment to creating high-quality and sustainable living environments. Kista Äng is a regeneration development supervised by the Stockholm City Council, in collaboration with multiple developers and architects.

Season’s Greetings and best wishes for the New Year

Sometimes, a single step can feel overwhelming and difficult. This year, we’ve made huge strides and are feeling grateful and inspired by how far we have come.

We have worked together, brainstormed, workshopped, planned, designed, and improved projects every step of the way. We have had the privilege of contributing to and strengthening neighbourhoods, with new connections and healthier places, preserving and transforming what already exists.

We have had the pleasure to see people move into homes we designed, to engage in dialogue with future residents and users, and to focus on generous environments and buildings that contribute to a sustainable transition.

A huge thank you to everyone who has played a vital role in this journey. Your dedication and tireless efforts in realising our shared ideas and visions have been invaluable, especially in a year that has presented numerous challenges for the industry.

KS about a garden city renaissance in the magazine Arkitektur

Kjellander Sjöberg’s work with the regenerative masterplan Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community for Latimer by Clarion Housing Group in the UK is featured in the latest issue of Arkitektur – the largest architectural magazine in the Nordics which has been analysing, evaluating and documenting Swedish architecture and urban design since 1901.

In the comprehensive article ‘Big plans for small-scale cities’, Ylva Frid explores how garden cities of today can be designed, through four interviews with architects about the ideas for their current projects.

In his account, Stefan Sjöberg discusses experiences from contributing to a sustainable ‘garden community renaissance’ and the British dreams of owning a home.

‘We are working with an historic agricultural landscape. The degree of sustainability of the project hinges on the infrastructure. The main street is being planned and designed for trams. Nobody should have to walk for more than five minutes to reach a stop, and it should be easy to cycle everywhere. Distinct local centres with a main street also provide the right conditions for vibrant life with shops and pubs. What sets it apart from the post-war New Towns Movement is the green approach. We are not paving over as much land, we are preserving existing ecosystems and habitats, and we are paying much closer attention to water management. A garden city can be integrated more seamlessly into the English cultural landscape and more locally rooted in terms of materials and design.’

Magazine Arkitektur, Nr 6 2024 – Trädgårdsstad-ism, p. 24-28

TCBGC is a collaboration with Haworth Tompkins alongside Periscope, Grounded, Arup, and Exploration Architecture.