Renovating one of Stockholm’s most central meeting places

The Stureplan District

Planning for the renovation of Stureplan district, Sturekvarteret in the Swedish capital is currently underway. This one of Stockholm’s most central meeting places and is being modernised to become more dynamic and accessible for locals and visitors alike. Since 2013, Sweco has been working towards renovating the area, restoring lost features of its former apartment buildings and creating public spaces from previously inaccessible parts.

Visualization showing an aerial view of a densely built urban area with older buildings.

Facts about the project

  • Client

    Sturegallerian AB

  • Place

    Stockholm, Sweden

  • Status

    Ongoing

  • Visualizations

    Sweco

Visualization of the ground floor in a gallery with many people in motion. Restaurant in an open layout, beautiful stone floor, and escalators leading to the next floor.
Visualization of a beautiful inner courtyard with a glass roof in an older 5-story building with many people in motion.

Enhancing and opening up hidden courtyards

Stureplan, in Stockholm, with its restaurants and shops, is one of the city’s most beloved and populated public spaces. Behind the facades lie unique old buildings made of stone, with several large courtyards that historically have been closed to the public. As the district is redeveloped and enhanced, several courtyard areas will be opened and interconnected. New entrances will create better flows and integrate the district more clearly with its surroundings. Modern housing, hotels, and offices are being added, and the connection to public transport is being strengthened.

Sweco’s multidisciplinary involvement in Sturekvarteret

Experts from Sweco’s many areas of expertise have worked together on the project, including architecture, building construction, analysis, geotechnics, civil engineering, building service systems, as well as water and environment. Sweco’s focus on sustainability permeates the entire process. Sweco was the coordinating architect for the detailed development plan, which aimed for a more mixed-use content with more housing, offices, hotels, and retail. The assignment includes leading and acting as a link between the five architectural firms involved, the City of Stockholm, and the client organisation ADIA, represented by TAM Group.

Protecting cultural heritage and improving flows

The detailed development plan protects existing cultural heritage so that both individual buildings and the overall historical value are preserved. The changes to the district’s internal layout and structure mean that the older buildings will be exhibited and a metro entrance in the vicinity will be brought inside to the majestic Marble Hall, which dates from 1899. Sweco’s architects have designed two significant building structures in the district and shaped the shopping mall with a stronger public space character. The environments feature generous square-like spaces, arcades, and passageways. The facade composition of plaster and natural stone is intended to evoke thoughts of the surrounding architecture.

Utilizing parametric design for complex architecture

Sweco is the designer for several of the older and new properties and has utilised parametric design for the creation of a new glass roof in the Marble Hall, together with other architects involved. Sweco has also conducted studies for the renovation of exclusive spa Sturebadet and other listed buildings, structural calculations, risk analyses, and measurements of roof landscapes using drones.

  • Visualization of the façade of an older inner-city building with an entrance to the gallery.
  • Visualization of a modern office with a lounge group in the foreground and a conference room in the background.
  • Visualization of a large lobby with many people in motion, stone floor, and brown leather furniture.
  • Visualization showing the entrance to a gallery in an older urban area.
  • Visualization of a rooftop terrace with a large lounge group in light colors and several large potted plants.
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Sustainability in design, construction and transportation

Sweco’s building services consultants, water and environmental consultants, and social analysts were responsible for a comprehensive sustainability strategy and lifecycle analysis (LCA) for Sturekvarteret. The strategy included both the requirements of the City of Stockholm and Sweden’s vision for the UN global sustainability goals. The focus was on concrete proposals with natural structures and greenery to address noise, stormwater, climate adaptation, chemicals, and waste. The LCA clearly shows the significant climate impacts based on the decisions made regarding materials, energy, and transportation at various stages of the project. Thanks to the early development of the sustainability strategy, it has been able to permeate the design process and serve as guidance for the most sustainable choices in design, construction, and transportation. The entire project aims to achieve LEED Platinum, the highest sustainability certification available.