concert, congress and hotel complex, malmo by schmidt hammer lassen architects

schmidt hammer lassen architects have won the competition to design a 54,000m2
concert, congress and hotel complex in malmo, sweden. the development also includes
an addition of 35,000m2 for housing and commercial use.

the new building complex is situated on universitetsholmen in malmo. the building
consists of a composition of cubic volumes that are mutually twisted and given different
sizes to meet the directions and building heights of the surrounding city. the facades are
designed with a homogeneous expression to make the composition appear as one
architectonic sculpture.
 

view at night


the main entrance is at the northern part of the building, consists of a classic loggia motif
facing the plaza in front. from the south you enter the building directly from
the promenade that runs along the canal. the different functions in the building are
organised like separate elements. here, the lobby becomes the street that runs through
the whole ground floor plan and ties everything together. like the medieval cities,
with curved and narrow streets, organised around plazas and squares, the lobby is
designed to form small gathering places and recesses where it is possible to stop, sit
and enjoy the view to the canal and the park. 
 



'we have created a building that has a precisely shaped expression towards its
surroundings to support the idea of ‘a city in the city’. as a contrast, the part of
the building that faces the park and the canal is shaped more openly and organic.
it is important for us to keep the ground floor open to the public, and to give
the people from the city the possibility to stroll through the building if they are
going to a concert, a conference, to the café or just want to make a shortcut,'
said associate partner, kristian ahlmark.
 

the symphony hall


from the inside, the three volumes that hold the large symphony hall, the flexible hall
and the conference hall, will stand as clearly defined elements. the building shapes appear
as a three dimensional composition in laminated wood with warm, red colours.
 

model of the cultural centre


the new cultural centre becomes an open, expressive and dynamic building that is
manifold in both its activities and its architecture. the point of departure for the building
design is the modern scandinavian architectural tradition with the clear functional
organisation and the accessible and open ground floor lay-out. the building becomes
the focal point and a landmark for malmo - a place where the spirit of the city,
the diversity and the intimacy is given an architectonic expression.



model of the cultural centre