Gamlestaden Bicycle House

In 2016, Sweco Architects completed a feasibility study to examine the potential of a new building for bicycle parking adjacent to Gamlestaden Travel Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden. The feasibility study also covered the task to develop design proposals for the future bicycle house.

Two different concepts were studied in order to compare the layouts’ impact on the cyclists’ experience as well as the capacity regarding the amount of parking lots. One concept allowed a continuous ramp along the facade to shape the layout of the bicycle parking. The other concept had a more conventional solution with three floors connected by stairs and ramps. This latter option was selected to be further developed, and in 2018, Sweco executed building permits and construction documents for the project. Gamlestaden Bicycle House is the first of its kind in Gothenburg and it is expected to be completed in the summer of 2020.

The outcome is a transparent and spacious building with a facade made of white perforated steel sheets. An angled corner and a dramatic tilted roof characterise the meeting between the bicycle house and the square next to Gamlestaden Travel Centre, which is a newly built public transport hub, also by Sweco Architects. On ground level there is a service station with bicycle inflators and tools, available for the cyclists.

Careful lighting design enhances the expression of Gamlestaden Bicycle House and the connection to its surroundings. Hidden armatures allow the light itself to create an atmosphere in combination with cylinder pendant lights and the bright tilting roof. The aim with the bicycle house and its environment has been to form an attractive, safe and secure place to park one’s bike during day time as well as in the evening.

Principal architect: Pekka Leppänen
Architects: Malin Landh, Malin Mirsch, Per Göran 'PeGe' Hillinge
Lighting design: Anna Hedendahl, Cecilia Svedberg Eklind, Caroline Zima