2_3_ScanMagazine_Issue_81_Oct-Nov_2015_Scan Magazine 1 15/10/2015 21:35 Page 46
Scan Magazine | Architecture Special | Sweden
Left: Mall of Scandinavia, which will be Sweden’s biggest shopping centre. Top right: Design of the cross-national embassy in Hanoi. Bottom right: BAU’s plans for district Snäckan in central Stockholm.
Long-lasting urban developments As cities are constantly growing, it puts pressure on city planners and architects to develop more sustainable areas and buildings. BAU strives to provide inspiring and longstanding solutions for urban spaces, focused on the location and its people. By Malin Norman | Photos: BAU
Architect and partner Hans Birkholz explains the idea behind BAU’s urbanism concept: “When making new additions to cities, we need to think beyond the building itself and look at the city as a whole. What we build has to fit in with the environment; it should be a bonus for what already exists there and increase the attraction for surrounding businesses.”
Among its many recognised projects is Arenastaden, a new urban development close to Friends Arena in Solna. BAU has worked with the master plan and is heavily involved with the design of Sweden’s biggest shopping centre, the new Mall of Scandinavia, with around 250 shops, restaurants and bars, with a hotel, offices and housing close by. Building for the long term
The bureau has been in the architectural business for 25 years with a team of 70 architects, construction engineers and graphic designers. BAU has developed an expertise in sustainable buildings and not only designs offices, retail spaces and housing, but is also involved in larger city planning projects for existing and new areas, mostly in Stockholm.
46 | Issue 81 | October 2015
Birkholz emphasises the need for a local focus and speaks of the risk with some popular trends such as branded architecture becoming mainstream, with the same type of buildings by the same architects appearing in cities around the world. “Instead, we look at what is special with the given location to build for the people and the businesses to thrive in and be
able to develop further on that particular spot.” Businesses nowadays are more centred on project groups and interaction, with requirements for more space than before, and Birkholz highlights the importance of building for the long term with a general and flexible base that can handle changes over time. For instance, BAU is involved in the early design stages of a cross-national embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam. It is a combined effort to bring together Scandinavian cultures into one building. “This is an exciting project not only because we are sharing resources but also as we are creating a contemporary Scandinavian design to integrate with and work well in this busy urban environment.”
For more information, please visit: www.bau.se