ULLEVI OFFICES + TENNIS
Gothenburg, competition 2021

A mixed use building of 34.000 sqm including offices, housing, a tennis club and underground parking. T&V’s proposal was based on an understanding of the different scales of the cityscape: the experience when upon close in the rather small scale of the street, vis-à-vis seen from further distance, where the building adds a new silhouette to the city skyline, and finally its immediate proximity to the Ullevi stadium, one of Sweden’s largest soccer and concert venues. A clear division of the building’s volume in section allows for the street space to be defined by a coherent four storey plinth corresponding to the height of the culturally and historically valuable buildings on the opposite side of the Smålandsgatan street. Above this plinth level, two partially connected towers are positioned with sufficient setback from the street to not interfere with the low scale. At the same time, this configuration offers the office levels good conditions for daylight and views through greater distances to the surrounding buildings.

The exterior is constructed with slender verticals and softly horizontal curved mouldings. Designed in prefabricated terrazzo, it provides a solid and durable facade that at the same time appears light and open with generous glass sections. The regular rhythm of the curved mouldings lends the architecture an expressive and recognisable identity through the interplay of light and shadows.

Around the block, the street level is activated with a series of entrances for the separate functions of the building. Centrally located on Smålandsgatan, the main entrance is marked with a small plaza. A number of terraces open up the entrance plaza to the sky, while all the office floors of the plinth have access to south-facing patios. The entrance area also accommodates outdoor seating sheltered by a row of trees along the street. The Ullevi tennis club has its own direct entrance from the west façade, and can also be reached through the main entrance interior atrium.

Client: Wallenstam