House of Nelly

Kjellander Sjöberg, in collaboration with Besqab, is developing a new project on the Paradiset 31 site on Kungsholmen in Stockholm. Centrally located on Nordenflychtsvägen, House of Nelly complements the urban fabric with a new architectural identity.

The project will provide 82 bright and flexible homes, a retail unit at street level, and generous recessed terraces on the top floor. House of Nelly has been carefully designed to harmonise with the surrounding brick architecture and the rhythm of the city, while meeting high standards of climate and energy efficiency. The aim is to contribute to a lively streetscape and to enhance the cityscape with a building that combines timeless materiality, carefully considered detailing, and human scale.

In dialogue with the urban fabric

House of Nelly is located in the Paradiset block on north-western Kungsholmen in Stockholm, adjacent to the Nelly Sachs Park. The area is characterised by a varied urban fabric and distinct historic brick architecture, where housing, offices and light industrial activities coexist. Within this context, the building forms an important addition to the ongoing development of the neighbourhood, helping to weave together different architectural expressions and layers of history.

The project will replace an older office building, while ensuring that key functions, such as a retail units, civil defence shelters and parking, are incorporated into the new development. These requirements, together with the sloping street and the need for accessible entrances, have placed considerable demands on the design. The result is a building that not only responds sensitively to the surrounding urban environment but also introduces new qualities to the site.

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International and local references

The industrial brick architecture of the surroundings has been an important point of departure for the choice of materials and quality of detailing. At the same time, international influences — such as the Upper East Side in New York City — have inspired the strong verticality and regular window rhythm.

The inspiration is not literal, but interpretative, balancing historical influences with contemporary needs. The ambition is to create an architecture that feels rooted in its setting while maintaining a distinct identity and a timeless character.

Light, function and flexibility

The homes are designed with a focus on both functionality and quality of life. Each one is characterised by bright, well-proportioned rooms with a clear connection between interior and exterior. The recessed balconies form a natural extension of the living spaces, creating a private outdoor space that can be used throughout the year. Generous windows bring inside generous daylight, while the terraces on the upper floors provide private outdoor spaces with views over the local park and water – an extension of the living room.

At ground level, selected apartments also feature private patios facing the green inner courtyard, offering an additional space for relaxation and socialising in the midst of the city’s energy. The flexibility and quality of the homes align with the project’s ambition to offer timeless living environments that feel both secure and human – homes to truly settle into.

Nelly Sachs: Werke. Editor in chief: Aris Fioretos - Berlin: Suhrkamp, 2010–2011

House of Nelly

The name is derived from the project’s close connection to the neighbouring Nelly Sachs Park and to the life and work of the poet Nelly Sachs. The design seeks to reflect values associated with her work — hope, light and humanity — and to create a place where people can feel at home.

Through its name, the site’s history and cultural context are interwoven with the architectural ambitions. House of Nelly will become a symbol of the care and long-term thinking that characterise both its design as well as its external spaces. In this way, the name is not merely a label, but an integral part of the project’s identity and narrative.

“Experience that elegantly transitions from outside to inside”

The verticality and rhythm of the façade

The design of House of Nelly is based on a clear vertical order, articulated through two shades of brick and composed according to the classical tripartite division of base, body and crown. The vertical elements — the pilasters — are expressed through carefully crafted relief detailing, giving the façade a strong presence within the streetscape. Their rusticated character contributes depth, rhythm and tactility to the building’s expression.

The ground and the first floors are distinguished by using darker bricks, in combination with generous glazed openings, lending the building both a strong sense of presence within the public realm. The recessed balconies are integrated within the volume, reinforcing the façade’s three-dimensional quality while creating a nuanced interplay of light and shadow.

The building is crowned by a generous roof terrace opening towards the sky, park and water, offering views across Ulvsunda Lake. The overall design is driven by an ambition to merge contemporary expression with a deep-rooted sense of place. Here, materials, proportions, and detailing work in harmony to create architecture with a strong identity and long-term durability within the urban fabric.

“Lobby – more than just an entrance." A place for waiting, welcoming and reception.
Private terraces and recessed balconies.

Ambition and sustainability

The project aims to deliver high-quality homes with a long lifespan. The apartments are energy-efficient and designed with flexibility in mind, allowing them to adapt to residents’ changing needs over time.

At the same time, the ambition is to contribute to an attractive and vibrant urban environment. Great care has been taken in the choice of materials, craftsmanship and spatial planning, ensuring that the building functions well in everyday life and ages in a sustainable and aesthetically enduring manner.

The courtyard design

The inner courtyard at House of Nelly is conceived as a calm and sheltered oasis within the pulse of the city. Architecture and landscape interact through materials, colour palette and lighting, creating a harmonious setting for dwelling and community. Every detail has been carefully considered to foster a sense of care and comfort, with the courtyard both complementing the character of the building and strengthening the cohesion of the block.