Dungen | Fredblad Arkitekter

Swedish based architecture firm Fredblad arkitekter has designed a new timber building for Södra, that puts sustainability, employees and the visitors’ experience at the heart of the design. With a long tradition of processing forest raw materials into renewable, climate positive products, Södra is now entering a new chapter.

The new four-storey timber building called “Dungen” is located in Värö north of Varberg, Sweden, and will play host to flexible offices spaces, restaurant, changing rooms for all 700 employees, gym as well as a visitors’ centre where they will showcase the capabilities of building in wood.

Built in a hybrid frame made from cross-laminated timber and glulam, the entirety of its construction has sustainability at its core. An exposed cross-laminate timber structure is used to create natural and welcoming spaces whilst optimising construction time and minimising carbon emissions. All the structural timber to be used is planned to be produced locally at Södra's sawmill, and the building will be used as a reference project for customers in the future in combination with visits to the cross-laminated timber factory in Värö.

The design is inspired by Södra's main business area - the forest. The idea is based on a dark exterior and a warm interior that should bring to mind a forest grove where sunlight trickles down between the trees. A chamfered corner becomes the building's main entrance and a strong hallmark for the entire project. The building is clad in a heat-treated spruce panel that is dyed black. The lower volume is clad with slats in an irregular pattern to reinforce the feeling of "trees in the forest".

The diversity of activities and functions is reflected in the design of the architecture. The building has different volumes that are tailored in shape and size for their different purposes.

Inside, Dungen is designed with generous floor heights and open-plan arrangements, allowing people to connect throughout the building and is culminating in a verdant rooftop terrace.

Construction will commence in February 2025 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.