Softly-spoken and low-key with natural materials
Johan Sundberg Arkitektur + Blasberg Andreasson Arkitekter
The history of Åkersbergs Stiftsgård, in Höör, Sweden, can be traced back to the late 1600s. The original estate was heavily renovated and remodeled in the 1900s, and for the past 25 years it has been used as a conference center under the administration of the Church of Sweden. Alongside the other buildings on the estate, Johan Sundberg and Blasberg Andreasson have designed a new spa to complement the other uses of conference center, chapel and hostel.
Situated five minutes’ walk from the town railway station, the old farm has been expanded to accommodate a spa for bodily and mental wellbeing.
The newly built Andrum, which translates as “breathing space”, is positioned on the western edge of Åkersbergs’ inner garden. The spa building was designed to be subordinate to the existing structures, and is placed on a slope by the lower park. A colonnade flanking the inner garden’s western side forms the building’s foyer, between the Chapel of Freedom and the hostel. From there, the visitor wanders down to a lower plane, partly excavated from the ground. In the high-ceilinged rooms on the lower level, there is contact with nature on all sides.
Andrum comprises a number of connected rooms with various features such as a bath, sauna, rain-shower, waterfall and steam room. There are spaces for resting throughout the building, as well as rooms for spa treatments, and there is contact with the park from a separate, secluded terrace toward the southern side.
The building’s design is based on sensory impressions – light, scent and taste, acoustics, and touch. The materials are concrete, natural stone, wood and glass, preserved in their bare forms to the greatest possible extent. Together, they form an entity that is at once softly-spoken, low-key and beautiful.
Project: Andrum / Location: Höör, Sweden / Chief architects: Johan Sundberg (Johan Sundberg arkitektur), Mattias Andreasson (Blasberg Andreasson arkitekter) / Associate architect: Henrik Ålund (Johan Sundberg arkitektur) / Structural engineer: Ronny Gerdt, Folke Höst, Lena Löfberg (Tyréns AB) / Structural engineer (prefab): Ruben Gianolio, Nela Kapic, Lotta Lundin (Prekon i Syd AB) / Contractor: Pär Stigborg (Byggom AB) / Builder: Peter Nilsson / Client: Stiftsgården Åkersberg, belonging to the Diocese of Lund, the Church of Sweden / Gross floor area: 875m² (including 148m² technical installation space) / Construction: 2017~2018 / Photograph: ©Peo Olsson (courtesy of the architect)
