Vällingby is still at the Front Line of Architecture
Av Peter Nilsson
Publicerad Monday 31 March, 2008.
Vällingby Centrum has undergone major rejuvenation and also changed its name to Vällingby City. White was given overall architectural responsibility for one of the biggest municipal construction projects in recent times.
“Vällingby has been a major professional challenge. It deals with one of the crown jewels of Swedish architecture and finding the right balance between the old and the new,” says Owe Swanson who has been the architect in charge since the start in 2002.
Vällingby Centrum was a world sensation when it was completed in 1954.
Architects and municipal engineers flocked to study the Swedish ABC town. The huge ambitions of the 1950s and creative height have been a guiding light for renovation.
“The existing architecture and the new buildings will be in the front line in the same way as when the area was created fifty years ago,” says Owe, who on behalf of Svenska Bostäder, has led the overall development of Vällingby City.
White is responsible for the overall design and coordination of various parts of the major renovation and development of Vällingby Centrum.
White is also in charge of the land projects for the entire centre, work which under the guidance of landscape architect Anders Johanssson will include re-laying cobble-stones with their characteristic circular patterns.
In addition, White is planning two sub-areas containing new parking facilities, commercial premises offices/hotels and housing. Eva Fabricius is responsible for the Ångermannagatan project including renovations and extensions on either side of the street. Susanne Langseth is responsible for four new residential buildings on the same street, while Hans Forsmark is working on the Åregaraget multi-storey car park and a building for volume shopping.
White has, together with Svenska Bostäder and the City of Stockholm, developed a detailed plan and quality programme for the entire Vällingby City. The initiative led to Vällingby being awarded the Planpriset (Plan Award) in 2006, which is Sweden’s highest accolade for municipal planning.
The re-inauguration on 28 March doesn’t mean that White’s work there is over. Owe Swanson will stay on as architect in charge to oversee the rest of the assignment.