Location: Norrköping, Sweden.

Architect: Belatchew Arkitekter.

The Damen building in Norrköping, Sweden, is a mixed-use development that combines vibrant city life with rest and relaxation. The building is designed with a focus on health and well-being, and features flexible floor plans that can adapt to changing workspace needs. The building also includes an innovative parking solution that uses cutting-edge technology to optimize utilization rates and reduce built-in volume. The parking garage is divided into two volumes with wave-shaped façades that provide natural sun protection and create a solid backdrop for the inner courtyard. The building is designed to interact with its surroundings, with a clear visibility from the public square and a dynamic façade that offers the square a unique architectural expression. The building’s flexibility is manifested in two different parts, with the majority of the floor plan being flexible and the southern gable end designed to be a vertical streetscape with flexible spaces for cultural activities, learning facilities, and recreation. The building’s internal activity is visible in the façade, which creates a unique architectural expression. The courtyard is inspired by Japanese style gardens with crushed gravel surfaces and groomed trees, creating a beautiful and tranquil place to rest your eyes on those moving through the building. The building is designed to be only four stories high towards Slottsgatan and Kaptensgatan while seven floors towards the public square, which creates a clear visibility from the square as well as a dynamic façade for the square. The building volumes have been designed in relation to the context while enabling the best possible daylight inlet.