Brunstorp Housing Block

The site is at Brunstorp, sitting just outside the city of Jönköping in the southern part of Sweden. A road with heavy traffic runs on the east side of the building. Across the road a hilly landscape with forests. To the west lies the second largest lake in Sweden, Vättern. The parameters of the site were maximized, creating a long, narrow, and north-south oriented volume with a panoramic view to lake Vättern. According to the topography, the volume is bent into three sections. Most often the plans became naturally oriented, with bedrooms to the east and living rooms to the west.

Investigation and analysis of the local market gave insight into the particulars of the place and the inhabitants’ specific needs. Utilizing that knowledge, the program was interpreted into several typologies traditional apartments, row houses, and larger units with generous outdoor areas. A few carefully selected principles of quality were defined and defended throughout the process, such as larger areas per apartment than normal, generous balconies, and large sliding doors that open toward the balconies and views. Everything else was considered secondary and flexible. At the very top of the building an open gathering place was added for the inhabitants: a flexible plaza and a small building including a kitchen and a sauna with an unobstructed view of the lake.

Before drawing began, correspondence with prefabrication producers was established regarding ways of making effective, flexible systems and construction details. The whole building – dividing walls, floor and roof slab, facade, and balconies, is made of a system of prefabricated concrete elements. It made the construction process very fast, 14 months from sketch to completed building. Lighter additions in steel, glass and plastic were added to the heavy structure creating extra and diverse spaces for the inhabitants. The use of standard materials, effective division of elements and logistics where important and a key aspect in the project. It made the project to be built with comfortable luxurious living qualities within a low budget adapted to the context.