Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture & Design Special – Sweden
Illustration: Tengbom
Temporary design with lasting impact A temporary wood structure in Stockholm gives long-lasting impressions. Built with minimal means, the modern market hall at Östermalm square is a glowing heart in the middle of the community – a success story signed Tengbom. By Malin Norman | Photos: Felix Gerlach
Ranked by Fast Company as one of the world’s most innovative architecture firms, Stockholm-based Tengbom has a long history yet is constantly looking ahead. An example of its recent successes is the temporary market hall at Östermalm square in central Stockholm, which is in fact a side project to a much larger initiative. In 2012, Tengbom was commissioned by the local municipality to carry out a renovation of the old food hall Östermalms Saluhall, including recreating the original star-shaped floor plan from 1888. The venue is to become one of the world’s premier destinations for food and dining experiences – it has already been ranked as the seventh best food 120 | Issue 105 | October 2017
hall in the world by Bon Appétit and, in addition to the refurbishment, there will be a new hotel as well as more room for restaurants and meeting places, all to be completed in 2019.
A curious timber box As it was not possible for the merchants in the food hall to keep their shops and stalls open during the refurbishment, they had to evacuate the building for two years. This caused a problem as the merchants had resided in the same building and under the collective brand of the food hall, so to divide them up in different premises would mean the risk of losing a loyal customer base. Instead, the local municipality had to find an alternative solution.
Directly adjacent to the old market hall is the open square, which could just about fit the majority of the merchants in a temporary building – a desirable solution as the customers would still be able to browse their favourite shops and stalls, however there were concerns about the quality of such a short-term building. The customers expect a certain quality and atmosphere, which is what makes shopping at Östermalms Saluhall such a special experience. Architect Mark Humphreys explains the idea of the temporary building, which opened in 2016 and has been a big hit with locals and tourists. Inspired by traditional market halls, Tengbom used lightweight materials to cover the square. “We quickly decided to work with timber, which is pre-fabricated and renewable,” Humphreys explains. “The design of the temporary building reflects the principles and grandeur of the old food hall in a modern form.”