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.

Nacka Strand has Sweden’s most satisfied homeowners

Kjellander Sjöberg’s residential scheme Nacka Strand, developed in close collaboration with the client Besqab, has earned the award for Sweden’s most satisfied homeowners in an independent survey.

We are delighted to have been entrusted to help bring this important project to life in a dynamic area; formerly industrial and predominantly occupied by office buildings, currently being regenerated into a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood, with waterside homes and amenities.

At the NKI seminar held in February 2024, it was revealed that the home developer Besqab has the most satisfied customers for the third year running, and that Nacka Strand achieved the highest customer satisfaction in 2023, and thus earning the title ‘Sweden’s Best Project’.

Kjellander Sjöberg was involved throughout the entire process. The collaboration with Besqab began in 2015, and construction started in 2020. The entire scheme delivered 200 new homes.

Shop Talk 12: Roles in sustainable urban development

Transition and systemic change – what does it mean for the industry?

The urban development sector is undergoing a transformation and is on the verge of a systemic shift. A likely scenario is that the amount of new construction will decrease dramatically, with a renewed focus on the existing built environment, on the transformation and maintenance of what already exists, ranging from neighbourhoods to urban blocks, buildings, and interior adaptations. At the same time, we must meet societal needs for versatile spaces – for community, care, education, work, production, leisure, health, services, and homes.

What does this transition mean for us? How will our professional roles as urban planners, architects, engineers, developers, contractors, and administrators change? How will it affect work processes, skills, continuing education, and business models? What new roles are needed?

This Shop Talk is part of an ongoing discussion series about the transition towards a circular and sustainable society.

Guests:
Patrik Lundberg, Skanska Fastigheter
Jesper Wallgren, Finch
Carin Daal, Stena Fastigheter
Sofia Lagerblad, Stena Fastigheter
Andreas Eggertsen, Malmö City Council
Kristoffer Nilsson, Malmö City Council
Johan Holmqvist, IVL Swedish Environmental Institute
Erik Larssen, Stadsverkstad

Time and place:
5 December 2024, 8:00 – 9:00
Engelbrektsgatan 7
211 33 Malmö

Major step forward for Pampas urban development

Västra skogen metro station in Stockholm is set to get a new entrance towards Pampas Marina, where Kjellander Sjöberg, with the clients HSB and Besqab, is developing a vision for an urban waterfront district with 900 new homes.

The Region Stockholm’s Transport Committee has approved the project, which has been in preparation for the past few years. All agreements between the City Council of Solna and the involved developers are in place.

The design of the new neighbourhood is informed by its unique location, the natural setting where the Lake Mälaren meets the city. The masterplan is tailored to the surrounding topography, with the current access to the Västra skogen station lying on top of a hill. The new entrance will create a link to Pampas via a pedestrian tunnel, making it accessible to the growing population and connecting the area to the rest of the Solna district.

‘This type of underground project is unparalleled in recent times,’ writes the Transport Committee.

Symposium: When work creates a city!

Kjellander Sjöberg has been invited to take part in a symposium on transformation of industrial areas, taking place at the end of the 25th anniversary of the Industrial Heritage Trail from November 6th to 8th, 2024 in the former salt warehouse of the Hansa coking plant in Dortmund, Ruhr Region of Germany.

KS Malmö Director Johan Pitura will give a keynote on reimagining of industrial heritage, presenting transformation of Gjuteriet for Varvsstaden, and join a panel discussion with invited international experts from Germany, Netherlands and Italy.

The symposium is a cooperation event between the Regional Association Ruhr (RVR), Baukultur NRW, the Foundation for the Preservation of Industrial Monuments and Historical Culture and the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH). It is supported by the Ministry of Regional Identity, Local Government, Building and Digitalization of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Time and place:
6th – 8th November 2024
Hansa coking plant
Emscherallee 11
44369 Dortmund (Germany)

Architecture Matters Pittsburgh & New York

Kjellander Sjöberg joining a delegation trip to the USA from October 7-11, offering public workshops and panel discussions with leading experts from Sweden and the USA to explore how architecture and urban design can enhance experiences, promote well-being, and contribute to the green transition. The discussions will also delve into the potential of sustainable timber construction and showcase successful built examples from Sweden.

The trip, titled “Architecture Matters,” is organized by the STHLMNYC platforming collaboration with the Swedish Institute, Architects Sweden, in conjunction with the Architecture Week in Pittsburgh and Archtober, New York City’s annual architecture and design festival.

In Pittsburgh, the focus will be on “challenges beyond design,” exploring how architecture can drive meaningful change. In New York, the discussions will center around how architecture can help push boundaries and drive innovation forward. There will also be a focus on wood as a renewable material and explore its potential as a design asset.

KS involved in a national research project on early-stage LCA

Kjellander Sjöberg, together with City of Gothenburg’s public sector housing provider Framtiden, are one of the collaborating partners in the “Industry-wide Open Building Component Register”, a national project led by the Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL).

The aim is to explore possibilities for a comprehensive open building component library, along with associated methodology, that will facilitate climate calculations in the early stages of the construction process. With standardized and accessible data for modelling, sustainability can be integrated directly into the design and construction processes, enabling more informed decisions regarding climate impact.

As a pilot study, we are developing a climate impact calculation model linked to a modular residential typology system “Framtidens kvarter”. The project is co-funded by the Swedish Institute for Water and Air Pollution Research (SIVL) and SBUF.

Gjuteriet on the heritage project list for Dezeen Awards 2024

KS’s transformation of industrial heritage Gjuteriet for Varvsstaden in Malmö has been longlisted for the Dezeen Awards 2024 in the heritage category. The seventh edition of the awards programme, organised by the world’s most popular and influential architecture and design website Dezeen, continues to champion design excellence and showcase innovation from architects and designers around the globe.

From over 4,130 entries, Gjuteriet is one of 227 architecture projects that are in the running to win an award later this year. The next stage will see all longlisted projects assessed by a prestigious panel of international judges and leading industry figures who will decide which ones will be included on the shortlists, announced in October, and ultimately the winners in each category, revealed in November.

Public engagement Rosengård

Kjellander Sjöberg, in collaboration with Rosengård fastigheter and the Malmö City Council, are currently working on a Local Plan for a 16-storey residential building, located on a formerly commercial site in Törnrosen in Rosengård, Malmö. The scheme is the first milestone in the Culture Casbah urban development project, seeking to enhance the neighbourhood and create opportunities for the locals.

On Monday 2nd September, the Malmö City Council organised a public engagement event, inviting the local community to Bennets väg 13 to present and discuss the proposal, and to answer questions.

The event was well-attended, with many residents expressing curiosity and sharing their views on the proposed building, material choices, apartment types, housing queue; and their wishes for public uses on the ground floor, the design of the new courtyard and other features.