Skellefteå’s cultural centre and hotel | White Arkitekter

Located just below the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden, the city of Skellefteå has a long tradition of timber architecture which inspired the winning proposal ‘Sida vid sida’ (Side-by-side).

’Kulturhus i Skellefteå’ is planned to be a 19-storey structure reaching a height of 76 metres. It will house the ‘Västerbottensteatern’ (the county theatre of Västerbotten), the Anna Nordlander Museum, Skellefteå’s Konsthall (art gallery), the city library and a new 16-floor four-star hotel.

The 24,940 sqm BTA building will be timber framed with a glass envelope and has been designed to allow flexibility of use with retractable walls for rooms to be expanded or divided to serve a range of functions from a smaller exhibition to expansive conference facilities.

Skellefteå is surrounded by dense forests and has an acclaimed timber-built architecture and White Arkitekter felt it was important to harness this local knowledge and technical expertise.

The glass façade will reflect the sky and, at the same time reveal the interior’s spectacular exposed wood-framed ceiling, which is an important detail guiding visitors throughout the venue. The structural framing is a hybrid of glue-laminated timber strengthened with steel trusses, which is to be sourced locally. For the timber construction detailing and specifications, White Arkitekter will collaborate with structural engineering firm Dipl.-Ing. Florian Kosche AS (DIFK). The centre is designed to endure all weathers with an efficient energy consumption record. The building will have a green roof, providing thermal insulation, sound insulation, biodiversity and rain water absorption.

The venue will be the tallest building using wood frame construction techniques in the Nordic countries, allowing for views from the hotel rooms which stretch for miles. With a stage located in the middle of the venue and with different functions visible from the outside, the centre will breathe new life into the city. The ground floor will have multiple entrances to create a dynamic lobby and contribute to life of the city centre.

Lead architects: Oskar Norelius, Robert Schmitz

Team: Axel Bodros Wolgers, Karl Tyrväinen (landscape architect), Anders Johnson, Björn Vestlund, Sarah Dahman Meyersson (environmental specialist), Robert Niziolek (images), Katharina Björlin Wiklund (images)

Structural engineers: Dipl.-Ing. Florian Kosche AS (DIFK)