this proposed visitor center takes cues from vernacular swedish architecture

tangbom presents its winning ‘bergs locks visitor center’ proposal in sweden 

 

Göta canal, one of Sweden’s most popular tourist attractions, is a 200-year-old waterway, still described today as an engineering masterpiece. It spans from west to east in the south of Sweden, a 190 km long connection between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea through lakes, rivers, artificial canals, and locks. In 2022, an international architecture competition was held to envision a new visitor center beside the Bergs locks, one of the hotspots of the waterway, where seven connected locks raise and lower some of the thousands of boats that cross the canal yearly. Tengbom architects was the competition winner with its ‘Belvedere’ proposal, a carefully placed visitors center that creates a dialogue between landscape, heritage, and contemporary architecture.

main view westwards: the volumes follow the existing height curves and open to the surrounding landscape
all renderings ©Metro Cúbico Digital 

 

 

blending heritage with new architectonic features

 

The design takes inspiration from the site’s natural landscape and vernacular architecture. Specifically, it blends the smooth topography with the traditional gable roofs found in its rural context. Tengbom (see more here) envisioned the Bergs locks visitor center on top of a hill, nested against an existing farmhouse and extending to the south, east, and west, overlooking the scenery around. From this spot, users can enjoy sweeping views of Lake Roxen, the seven locks, the marina, and the historical landscape with remains dating back to the Iron Age. The proposed architecture frames all these views from the inside and acts as a new landmark from the outside.

 

The plan starts with the extension and transformation of an old barn by adding two new volumes, interconnecting all three. The new ensemble introduces an evolution of the barn’s archetypical form, changing from a traditional gable roof facing east to a more dynamic form that blends with the topography as it faces west. ‘The transition from tradition to contemporaneity overlaps with the transition between the building and the landscape. The resulting proposal is a blend of heritage with new architectonic features that create a unique experience on-site,’ shares Tengbom. 

aerial view from the locks showing the existing vernacular architecture and newly-added volumes

 

 

eco-conscious design from start to finish 

 

Since the competition brief placed high demands on the new building, Tengbom pushed to deliver new forms and shapes, creating a new landmark with a humble attitude towards the landscape, allowing the existing local qualities to flourish. This is achieved through sensitive scaling, minimal footprint, sustainable materials, and non-invasive constructive techniques.

 

‘Locally sourced timber will be used extensively, allowing us not only to reduce carbon emissions but also to continue the long tradition of timber construction in the region. A new pathway is proposed to the site, allowing visitors to access new areas of the landscape: nature, new and existing buildings, sightseeing spots, and historical remains are all interconnected enhancing the full ‘Belvedere’ experience not as a single location on the top of the hill, but as a collection of experiences in the landscape,’ concludes the team. 

interior view of the main exhibition room with wood cladding inside + outside

 

 

 

 

project info:

 

name: Belvedere – Bergs locks visitor center

location: Berg, Linköping, Sweden 

project year: 2022 
architecture: Tengbom

renderings: Metro Cúbico Digital 

team: Antonio Minto, João Gaspar, Helena Hasselberg, Soheil Shahnazari, JP Pereira

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom