May 26, 2009

Foster + Partners wins Stockholm Slussen masterplan competition

Lord Norman Foster has beaten off competition from Jean Nouvel and Mia Hägg, Carl Nyrén, Gert Wingårdhs and BIG’s Bjarke Ingels, to win the Slussen regeneration competition for Stockholm. Foster + Partners worked together with Berg Arkitektkontor, part of C.F. Møller Architects, to create the winning design for Slussen's waterfront which will become the new centre of activity in the district.
Image (copyright Foster + Partners),click 2 enlarge
The Slussen regeneration is part of Stockholm’s Vision 2030 initiative which encompasses the regeneration of several areas of the city as well as incorporating numerous social and economic advancements. After 70 years of wear and tear, it was decided in 2007 that the Slussen locks area be renovated and reconstructed creating new links with Stadsgården and Skeppsbron and driving activity to the area.
Image (copyright Foster + Partners),click 2 enlarge
''Foster + Partners and Berg Arkitektkontor, part of C.F. Møller Architects, have been appointed to design a masterplan for the heart of Stockholm, transforming the waterfront area of Slussen from an urban aberration to a popular destination. The proposal will bring new life to the area, linking the islands of Södermalm and Gamla Stan and stripping away the layers of history to reclaim a valuable city quarter.
Image (copyright Foster + Partners),click 2 enlarge
For so long separated by a maze of roads and acres of concrete, the two waterfronts will be linked by a new footbridge and the historic lock will be revealed once more to provide a symbol for the area’s regeneration. The masterplan re-establishes the waterfront to give Södermalm a new face. While contemporary in concept, the buildings that form the new city blocks continue the grain and scale of the adjacent urban quarter, retaining the long street views to the water and defining new public squares and extensive waterfront promenades. Their flexible nature allows for a rich mixture of uses, from culture and entertainment to shops and hotels, while the uninterrupted pedestrian quayside incorporates terraces, and promenades served directly by new cafés and restaurants.
Image (copyright Foster + Partners),click 2 enlarge
At the heart of the new Slussen is an elegant footbridge, which fuses straight and S-shaped decks to complete the missing link in the north-south pedestrian route across central Stockholm. The historic Katarinahissen will also be renovated and extended to serve the quayside level, with a new observation deck built at its top to offer spectacular views over the city’s archipelago.
Image (copyright Foster + Partners),click 2 enlarge
Reversing the dominance of the car, the scheme gives priority to pedestrians and cyclists. A new transport interchange is incorporated that allows easy pedestrian circulation between an upgraded metro station, bus station and the port quayside. A new lightweight, transparent structure with kiosks, a café and bicycle parking will also be created in front of the City Museum to provide street-level entrance to the naturally lit pedestrian mall and transport hub below.
Image (copyright Foster + Partners),click 2 enlarge
Spencer de Grey, Head of Design at Foster + Partners, said:
“I’m delighted that we have been appointed to design the masterplan for Slussen to revitalise this most important area for future generations to enjoy. This is a wonderful opportunity to reinforce the links between Stockholm’s central islands of Södermalm and Gamla Stan, to repair the fabric of the city and to create a lively new destination that can be enjoyed at all times of the day and night.” ''
Image (copyright Foster + Partners),click 2 enlarge
Source: Foster + Partners

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