The scheme consists of a single 150 m long building that will run along one side of Sergels Torg square, Stockholm鈥檚 equivalent of Trafalgar Square.
Terry Pawson, joint partner in Pawson Williams, said the centrepiece of the project is an underground cultural centre with 50 flats on its upper storeys and caf茅s and restaurants on its lower floors. Pawson said his practice had also put forward a plan to refurbish a metro station below the building. Pawson said his designs for the underground cultural facility would link up directly to an existing cultural centre on the other side of the square.
鈥淚t鈥檚 more about changing the nature of the square. The building is a product of that, not the goal,鈥� said Pawson. He said his practice had been successful because it addressed the problem of a busy road nearby. 鈥淢ost proposals did not understand what the problem was,鈥� he said. Pawson鈥檚 plan reroutes this road, keeping it away from the square.
The practice鈥檚 other partner, Keith Williams, added that the scheme was designed to give the square more of a sense of urban space.
It鈥檚 more about changing the nature of the square. Most proposals did not understand what the problem was
Terry pawson, Partner, Pawson Williams
Pawson declined to confirm the 拢100m figure for the value of the scheme, as it is part of a bigger plan for the square. 鈥淚t is a relatively low-key building,鈥� Pawson said.
鈥淭he culture centre [Stockholm Kulturhuset, across the square] is the more important one. Our building will help give the culture centre and the square back their lives.鈥�
Pawson praised the city council, Stockholm Stad, for the way it ran the competition. 鈥淪tockholm Stad ran it in a very open manner,鈥� he said. All six proposals, most from Scandinavian architects, were put forward in an open session lasting a day.
