Cultural Center in Landvetter | Fredblad Arkitekter

Gothenburg-based architecture practice Fredblad Arkitekter have designed a new cultural center for the municipality of Härryda, near Landvetter Airport, Sweden. The design is the result of a competition win in 2012 for a mixed-use building containing library, educational spaces for music and arts, and auditorium.

“We wanted the building to reflect the duality of its content. On the one hand, the day-to-day use of community library and educational rooms require pragmatic and robust spaces. On the other, the auditorium hosts festive and enticing spectacles. This was represented in the design by a difference in both form and material between the first two floors and the roof volume.” – Per Uhlin, Architect.

The building is situated in the town center of Landvetter, across the street from the bus hub and physically connected to an existing gymnasium from the 1970’s. The library stretches along the length of the ground floor façade and connects to the adjacent square. The main entrance from the north leads to a central three-story atrium with dome skylights providing ample natural light, as well as connecting all functions while acting as an indoor square. The centerpiece of this space is a concrete staircase for spontaneous gatherings, while the walls are clad in pine plywood.

Exterior materials range from limestone on the entrance level façade, white render on the second floor, and brass sheets on the top floor and roof. The brass is a special alloy which contains aluminium together with copper and zinc. This ensures the golden colour to last through the process of metal oxidation. The roof above level two is topped with a green roof which is covered in grass and moss, contributing to provide scope for biodiversity.

The Cultural Center was inaugurated in January 2015. Interior design is made by Fredblad Arkitekter and was finished in March 2015.