Stockholm approves architect鈥檚 competition-winning design

David Chipperfield has won the first stage of planning for his Nobel Centre in Stockholm.

The city鈥檚 planning committee approved the detailed local plan for the building on a promontory in the heart of the Swedish capital and next to the National Museum.

The site proved controversial, with local campaigners objecting to the construction of a 鈥済iant colossus鈥 on a delicate site requiring the demolition of a number of historic harbourside buildings and the relocation of ferries.

But the city brushed off the criticism, saying it had been saving the waterfront position site for a cultural project.

Work on detailed planning will now begin, with the full council expected to ratify its planning committee鈥檚 decision later this spring.

Once any appeals have been dealt with, if the project gets the all-clear construction is expected to take about two years.

鈥淲e are pleased with the support that the city is showing for the building we have developed together with one of the world鈥檚 foremost architects,鈥 said Susanne Lindh, chief executive of Nobelhuset, a company set up by the Nobel Foundation to build and run the centre.

鈥淭he public nature of the building 鈥 with its unique exhibitions, extensive activities for school children as well as meeting and lecture programmes 鈥 will be an asset for all of Stockholm and Sweden.鈥

Chipperfield beat two Swedish practices, Johan Celsing Arkitektkontor and Wing氓rdh Arkitektkontor, to land the project two years ago after an international design competition. The project is being led by David Chipperfield Architects鈥 Berlin-based managing director Christoph Felger.