The project that includes a total of six new residential buildings, 402 apartments, as well as extension of the shopping centre has transformed the previously perceived Brandbergen's backside into an urban and accessible place. The ambition is to create an urban front towards Brandbergsleden by moving the new development towards the property boundary, giving the street a more defined urban character. The new buildings relate in proportion, scale and materiality to the existing residential development, but instead of separate volumes that land on the ground, urban blocks with a clearly defined plinth are proposed.

In order to shorten construction time, the starting point was that the loadbearing structure, outer walls, bathrooms and certain installations were to be prefabricated. The main challenge was to create robust and solid buildings hiding the element seams by using relief and shadow joints, which demanded careful detailing and thought-out corner solutions. Facade lighting, railing attachments, facade grills, signs, etc. are carefully integrated within the facade composition.

In the first block, two higher volumes stand on a two-story plinth that relates in height and scale to the existing shopping centre. The residential buildings are set back creating private terraces and reducing wind overload on the street and square. This way the high buildings are perceived less dominant from street level. The facade is a composition of vertical and horizontal matrix-cast concrete elements with a clear profiling that highlights the volume, accentuates the height and at the same time hides the element joints.

The four lower residential buildings, with cast-in-place ceramic tiles, distributed over two open blocks, connect in their scale and colour palette to the surrounding residential buildings. One block contains commercial spaces on the ground floor and has a raised green courtyard on top of a parking garage, while the second block takes up the height differences in the area and contains duplex apartments, with direct access from the street.

The facades are clad with ceramic tiles in various patterns, formats and colours. The pattern is the result of an elaborate mathematical study. The goal was to use the same mould to produce the facade, integrate element joints and add colour and texture. The study was done in close collaboration with the manufacturer to create an innovative and playful solution, an elegant façade that changes character during the day depending on the weather and light.

Within the economic conditions of the project, the objective has been to anchor the buildings in their context, with a sense of proportional order that emphasizes plasticity and texture – as opposed to a simple stacking of floors.

Although the apartments are compact, high living standards are created through smart floorplans, generous room heights, large facade openings and sunfacing balconies. The apartments are organized in width along the facade instead of in depth as is usually the case.

Overall, efficient and rational buildings have been created where smart planning and attention to detail provide good conditions for a practical and pleasant everyday life.

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