New Pumping Station in Stockholm / UD Urban Design AB

Architects: UD Urban Design AB
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Client: Fortum Värme AB & Stockholm stad
Structural Engineering: Mattias Lilja, Pyrit
Project year: 2009 – 2010
Photographs: Per Kristiansen

In a park in Stockholm, Urban Design have designed a new pumping station. The main aim of the project is to show how a infrastructure project can make a positive impact on the environment. The demand for new pumping stations in Stockholm are increasing because the power companies are expanding and connecting their district heating systems. This type of buildings are usually carried out as standard models but this time however, the power company Fortum in collaboration with the city of Stockholm have tried a new approach.

The park where the building is situated is a cultural heritage park, and hence, the client asked for building with a high architectural quality. Another condition was that it should be able to host the heating pumps and all it`s equipment above ground.

The concept was to make something that wasn`t really a building, but rather a artificial landscape. An abstract rock that took on the shape and colour of the surrounding park.

The building has a steel structure with a shell in Corten steel. The roof is covered with grass. Despite it`s raw, hardwearing appearence, the rusted surface of the Corten steel ads warmth to it`s surroundings, and will change over time.

The facade facing the street is covered with letters in fibre cement board and tells a story about the function of the building and environmental friendly energy. The letters where mounted by the office members themselfs.