Putting Down Roots | Sweco Architects AB

'Putting down roots' - Multistory housing in CLT.

 Riksbyggen and Sweco Architects have won the 'Gibraltarvallen' land allocation competition, arranged by the City of Gothenburg in Sweden, for a major housing development in the district of Johanneberg.  The winning proposal ‘Slå rot'  –  (Swedish for "Put down roots"), is outlined as a functional and modular wood construction. The winning proposal was chosen by the jury out of 18 entries for its carefully engineered construction, architectural vibrancy and lifecycle & urban ecosystem analysis.

The design language of the winning proposal pays homage to the existing context of upper and lower Johanneberg quarters. Albeit in stark contrast to one another, the two neighborhoods are representative examples of 1920´s 'Swedish grace' architecture and the functionalistic style of the 1930's. The materialization and colorization of the façade and the rounded balustrades are subtle references towards this rich history. The buildings expressive, sinuous appearance with generously glazed openings, underline its contemporary spirit.

 The 45 apartments are dispositioned with the kitchen-, dining-, living rooms towards the south/west to allow for optimal sunlight into the balconies and greenhouses. Glass screens allow for the loggias and greenhouses to become visual and physical extensions of said rooms. The purpose of the greenhouses is to encourage and enable future inhabitants to grow plants directly at their footsteps, while acting as a thermal buffer that could become an integrative solution to a conditioned ventilation. The project proposes a wide variety of flat types, from dual aspect apartments ranging between 65 and 100 sqm up to 120 sqm terraced-housing typologies on the rooftops. The apartments have either a south-north or east-west orientation, with the adaptive bedrooms organized towards the quieter inner-courtyard.  

 The seven-story building is devised as a hybrid construction that will consist of CLT modules that will be mounted around stabilizing concrete access-cores that are to be clad in reclaimed bricks. Powerful massive glue-lam beams and pillars joined together with CNC-milled joinery will effectively and symbolically carry the modules above.  These preinstalled and prefabricated modules will facilitate an optimized building process whilst also providing a solution for acoustic and fire safety requirements. To reflect on its wooden structural core the outer cladding is envisaged in wooden paneling whilst the inner fabric is conceived with as much exposed CLT as possible.

 Parts of the bottom floor are reserved for locally run common spaces, like the 'green café', to foster a lasting community by creating a backdrop for people to meet, exchange, share and exhibit.

‘Slå rot’ is an adaptable dwelling typology that promotes a sustainable and accessible lifestyle, inviting us to put down our roots. 

Gibraltarvallen is projected for 2018-2019, with completion before Gothenburg's 400 year anniversary in 2021.

 The winning team consists of:
Sweco Architects: Kajsa Crona, Alexander Kriegelsteiner, Rajaa Oufares, Katarzyna Mudlaff, Anna Jonsson Sweco Structures: Jonas Gabrielsson, Andreas Andmarsjö, Carl Hoff

Sweco Systems: Joachim Friedrich, Lars Brändemo
Visualizations: Kristian Schling, Stefan Brodd 

For further questions please contact:
Kajsa Crona tel. +46 72 707 79 73 [email protected]
Alexander Kriegelsteiner tel. +46 703 09 40 83 [email protected]