Helena Piehl

Helena Piehl

Arkitekt SAR/MSA Wallingatan 42 11124 Stockholm helena.piehl@gmail.com +46765457916

A city void

Master Thesis, spring semester 2013 Teatcer: Stine Henckel Schultz

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My master thesis started with an analysis of the history of urban planning in Stockholm during the 20th century. The city, that mainly took form during the 17th century, grew rapidly during the 20th century due to a strong economy and a heavy population inflow after the second world war. The fast decisions taken due to this were primarily political for economic reasons. Entire neighborhoods were torn down in favor of the new metro and roadprojects and new ABC suburbs, or Miljonprogrammet as it was called, would instead house all young families who needed new functional accommodation.

The great transformation, particularly during the 50’s and 60’s was led mainly by politicians and technicians. Big decisions were taken in a short period of time and the architecture was formed as a result of this . The protests that followed from Stockholm residents have come to influence urban planning and the way the city is built to this day.

My intention with this project was to densify the city from within. In my analysis of the Stockholm urban planning, I concluded that the city in many ways would benefit from local densification of the inner city, in contrast to the expansion of the city that is mainly being used today. I wanted my project to utilize one, according to me, unused space and create a building that was adapted to the site with its given conditions and in that way contribute to the expansion in a smaller scale. The objective of my thesis was to build a smaller apartment building in the city center of Stockholm.

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Early conceptual drawing 5

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Images from the area 7

The area 8

Area typlolgy: doors 9

The area where I decided to place my project was SĂśdermalm in the inner city of Stockholm. The proximity to the central locations Slussen and Medborgarplatsen creates a circulation of people. This, along with proximity to nature and water gave the place exciting conditions to work with.

The area, which is built on Katarinaberget, characterized by the hilly terrain and the many different architectural styles. Here you can find small wooden houses in classic Swedish style, industrial brick buildings, functionalism and details in Art Nouveau style.

The materials most characteristic in the area besides plastered brick, which characterizes most neighborhoods in the inner city of Stockholm, are wood and concrete.

The most specific feature of the site is the stunning view of Stockholm’s inlet and the northern parts of the city. The view provides all the buildings in the area a clear direction, which is also very distinct on my site.

Two fire facades marks the finish of an existing block of buildings. The facades are facing a park, which consists of hills and stairs that connect the different levels. The building is an ending to the block, but also an extension of the park. A building that is marked as a new corner in the existing context.

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Materials 11

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The site 13

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The view 15

�The corner is a metaphor for the city as a whole, in that it is a synthesis constituted on the basis of diversity�

- Manuel de SolĂ -Morales, Cities, Corners

I wanted to create a form that mirror the existing context, both vertically and horizontally, through a series of hand drawings,. The shape would be a natural extension of the block without interfering too much with the existing park.

All directions that exist on the site, and the roads that link the different levels, came to contribute to the shape. I wanted the form to be a clear ending to the block but still coexist with the park and contribute to its existing flow.

I wanted to make a residential building with a few units on the site. That created the opportunity to explore different types of housing and its qualities. I wanted to work with the conditions that exist on the site and create rooms that reflect those conditions.

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The context 17

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The form 19

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Organization study 21

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Organization study 23

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The final organization 25

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Plan section 31

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Sections 33

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1:10 model of storage unit 35

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Elevations 37

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Walking through the building 41