'parkour' by kjellgren kaminsky architecture
all images kjellgren kaminsky architecture

swedish firm kjellgren kaminsky architecture's 'parkour' is a proposal of a redesign
of an old mental hospital in gothenburg. here apartments will be connected by large
common areas cutting through the old building and creating social and physical links.

the structure and depth of the existing building challenged the architect's to consider
the unexpected. could people's needs and requirements for housing quality be maintained
and exceeded within the challenging framework? the apartments are divided in two parts
that complement each other and combined creates an extremely flexible apartment.
first an ultra-compact zone of installations with kitchen, shower, toilet, laundry, some
storage, ventilation, electrical installations, media outlet, sockets and switches. then
the second part is built up of super-flexible functional zones that grow, shrink, disappear
and come back due to daily needs and desires.


the existing mental hospital


behind the building will be a park


view from above


the 'parcour walk' inside building



in the common areas cutting through the building residents can borrow the cinema,
use the spa, pool or gym.


the four types of apartments


the 'new family apartment' with two bedrooms one dining room and living room


the 'urban couple apartment' with a big master bedroom, walking closet and a combined kitchen and living room


the 'collector apartment' with one bedroom and a multiroom

by sharing functions and products the otherwise individual resources are saved.
the house is fitted with solar cells, solar panels and small wind turbines to harvest
renewable energy sources. local food production on the roof reduces needs for
transportation and eutrophication. rainwater is collected to be reused for the irrigation
of the greenhouses and for flushing toilets.


the 'study apartment' consist of four smal bedrooms with combined kitchen and living room. the walls of the apartments can be moved.




project info:
project name: parkour
client: HSB
object: reconstruction of old hospital. 230 apartments
size: 10800sqm.
stage: concluded invited competition
team: joakim kaminsky, fredrik kjellgren, oscar arnklitt, corina bermudez
in collaboration with carl edman arkitekter