University of Gothenburg, F Building. Architectural description by Johannes Norlander ArkitekturAB

University of Gothenburg School of Business, Economics and Law, F Building Architectural description 2020.04.16 Architects: Johannes Norlander Arkitektur AB

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Aerial view of the area surrounding the School of Business, Economics and Law in Vasastaden

Description of the area Vasastaden is located just outside Gothenburg’s

Business Quarter, made possible by the West Link

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Vasastaden

historic centre on the far side of the moat, adjoi-

tunnelling development and the addition of a new

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Haga Kyrkogata

ning the old district of Haga. The grid style street

station entrance within the block. The buildings

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Vasagatan

plan was constructed during the second half of the

along Vasagatan have a historic significance and

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School of Business, Econo-

19th century, modelled on examples of Vienna and

rich symbolic value which is almost unrivalled el-

Paris, and mainly features apartment buildings in

sewhere in the city. 20th century Swedish archi-

stone, brick and stucco. The avenue of Vasaga-

tectural history is reflected in the facades around

tan crosses through the district. It is here that the

the Business Quarter, with clear visible impressions

School of Business, Economics and Law is situa-

of the changes led by societal development, the

ted, and has been since the first buildings in the

rise of modernity and international influences.

complex were erected in the 1950s. The block in

Nyrén’s functionalist high-rise building contrasts

which the school sits has since increased in density

with Hans Hedlund’s carefully composed library

with additional buildings constructed in the 1990s

building, and connects with the lavish postmoder-

- a new ‘growth ring’ will now be added to the

nism of Erséus, Frenning & Sjögren’s.

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mics and Law - original low section (C. Nyrén) 5.

School of Business, Economics and Law - original high section (C. Nyrén)

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Extension (Erséus, Frenning & Sjögren)

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Social Sciences Library (H. Hedlund)

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Haga Kyrkoplan

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Sprängkullsgatan

10. Haga

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Isometric drawing of the Business Quarter

Exteriör, isometri

Johannes Norl

F

The impressive scale of the new building adds to

With its prominent location in the city, and its new

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Entrance to Station Haga

Vasagatan’s character as a monumental avenue.

public entrance conveying openness and transpa-

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Concourse

Much of the district and its central street are lined

rency, the building makes an impression which is

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New main entrance to the

with opulent apartments and significant land-

both monumental and strikingly urban; a break

mark buildings from around the turn of the last

from the high degree of closure that characterises

century. The university building and its old main

many of the facades along Vasagatan.

School of Business, Economics and Law 4.

F Building, low section (JNA)

library stand alone in the park, in contrast to the

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F Building, high section (JNA)

Schillerska high school for example, which is in-

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Original high section (C.

tegrated into the urban fabric, and the Röhsska

Nyrén)

Museum located beside Vasagatan’s intersection

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with Kungsportsavenyn. The set back facade of

New entrance to Haga kyrkogata

the proposed high section of F Building helps to

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highlight its individuality, while at street level, the building’s presence adds urban character.

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Courtyard

Sketch from the competition proposal, the overarching character of the building

The building’s architecture In its design, F Building has ties to the existing buildings through shared aesthetic references as well as distinguishing idiosyncrasies. The warm-tones and robust materials of the building’s facade, together with its repetitive window openings, aim to visually unite the quarter, while the rough surface structure and the massive facade grid add a sense of individuality. The huge window panes give rise to a shift in scale in the building, creating an ambiguity which counteracts the weight and mass. The structure is articulated with a clarity and self-evidence, bordering on the naive, which gives the building a distinctive character against the dense and architecturally saturated context.

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The new main entrance to the School of Business, Economics and Law

The windows frame individual scenes within the

Considered entrance spaces finished with solid

building, balancing its stark structure, whilst also

materials alongside elegant fittings complement

flooding the interior with natural light. The window

the overall visitor experience down to the finest of

niches add depth and shadow to the facade,

details.

forming porticos where the building meets the street. The decorative forged railing, which crowns the lower part of the roof and adorns the front concourse, adds playfulness and character, and helps to connect the building’s large scale to the human experience at street level. The new main entrance to the complex is emphasised by a huge canopy which extends out towards Vasagatan.

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The enlarged pattern of the facade resembles

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Decorative railing

sandstone finished with tooth-chiselled, riffled

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Rough facade matrix

and planed effects, which are visible from distance

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Deep window niches

and create a tactile play of shadow and light. The weight and materiality of the exterior surface distinguishes the facade from its contemporary neighbours, referring back to architectural history. The design of the windows – without visible frames or divisions – reinforces the facade’s strong and solid form. Visible joints within the facade are hidden so as not to disrupt the impression that the walls are formed by stacks of huge stones.

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Entrance lobby

The building’s interior The interior architecture is classically inspired, with well-defined spaces, axes of movement and spatial sequences. A key feature of the user’s experience of the building is the sense of movement through an unbroken series of clearly defined spaces. In its pure and unobscured built form the walls, passages and window openings combine to give the building a monolithic character. Materiality and abstraction are valued equally here, as the ambiguity of scale embodied by the building’s facade continues through into its interior.

Lighting, intersection of movement and spaces activated by people complement the built architecture with warmth and life.

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The building’s materiality The architect’s vision is a restrained palette of ma-

Together, materials and spatiality form the buil-

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Polished concrete floor

terials with carefully balanced detailing across its

ding’s clean-cut character, where a select few de-

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Classical floor plan reference

surfaces and furnishings, creating a quiet timeles-

corative and functional elements distinguish and

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Woven carpet

sness that befits the School of Business, Economics

define its internal spaces, in study areas, auditori-

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Technical grid ceiling

and Law. Warm grey and earthy shades, lightly

ums and entrance foyer.

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Cast walls

textured surfaces and brass details, in addition to a polished concrete floor with visible ballast,

The design of the building’s surfaces is in progress

defines the materiality of the building’s spaces.

and may change.

A lightweight grid ceiling is suspended above the public and semi-public areas, concealing the building’s technical installations and acoustic panelling, whilst its angular form emphasises the building’s straight lines and expansive rooms.

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Station Haga

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Entrance level, level 2

Level 3

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Level 4

Terrace level, level 5

Plans scale 1:1000

Public access The lower section’s three floors include public

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Entrance lobby

areas set within large open spaces. These spaces

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Courtyard

consist of the entrance hall and cafe, auditoriums

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Auditorium

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Auditorium foyer

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Canopy over entrance

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Open study space

experienced from outside, as can the canopy over

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Passage

the main entrance. The high section of F Building

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Smaller lobby

is ordinarily only accessible to staff.

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Meeting room

as well as open, multi-functional study spaces,

Vån 5 Vån 4 Vån 3 Vån 2

with connected auxiliary areas. The terraced area facing the courtyard and Vasagatan can be partly

10. Terrace roof / terrace area

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Section through the large public areas oriented towards Vasagatan

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Public auditorium on entrance level

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Courtyard

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The building’s interior character

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Johannes Norlander Arkitektur AB Dicksonsgatan 2 412 56 Gรถteborg www.norlander.se