Törnrosen Tower - an urban landmark

URBAN STRATEGY
EXISTING SITUATION - PROPOSAL
Törnrosen suffers the problems of modernist urbanism: freestanding slabs in a vast public realm cause undefined atmospheres and lack spatial and functional diversity. In order to make the neighborhood more attractive, we propose to break the homogeneity by introducing clear spatial definitions, programmatic diversity and more variation in public space and architecture. The proposal is aimed at an organic process of change by complementing existing qualities with new interventions. These interventions can be phased in time, but will be effective at every step.

CLOSING THE BLOCK STRUCTURE
We propose to change the existing urban structure of slab buildings floating in open space into a more defined structure of city blocks by adding new building volumes on strategic positions. This way clearly delineated city blocks will be formed that enhance differentiation between front and back, between private and public domain, between street and garden, between vivid and quiet areas. The introduction of new housing volumes densifies the neighborhood so that collective functions can be supported, public liveliness enhanced and the social mix will be rebalanced.

DEFINING PUBLIC SPACE
We propose to use the new city block structure to create intensified public zones, each with their own function and atmosphere. The Bennets Väg will be turned into an east-west public strip with collective and commercial functions, from the future train station to the Rosengård shopping center. By connecting existing green patches, a new park will be created between Von Rosens Väg and Härds Väg. At the north side, the Amiralsgatan will form an urban boulevard by adding a row of new towers.

MIXING TRAFFIC AND CONDENSING PARKING
We propose to remix traffic modes in a controlled way. Cars and pedestrians will be reconciled to enhance liveliness and social control and to reduce undefined public space. The tunnel under the Västra Kattarpsvägen will be taken away to make a more relaxed above ground connection. The vast parking areas in front of the houses should be contained and reduced, by intensifying the use of underground parking garages. This will create a more urban character with facades relating to streets.

ROLLING OUT THE SOCIAL CARPET
We propose to turn Bennets Väg into an east-west pedestrian axis with collective and commercial functions, from the future train station to the Rosengård shopping center. This strip will act as a “social carpet” for the neighborhood, where one finds shops, collective functions, cafés, ateliers and workspaces. This will give the neighborhood a heart, were locals can meet, a social interaction can be built and economic initiatives fostered. To express this change, the public domain will be refurbished to form a welcoming public atmosphere.


SITE STRATEGY
A STRATEGIC TOWER LOCATION
We propose to build the Törnrosen Tower on a strategic location, as a pivoting point of the area. From far, it will be a visual anchor, both on the new axis of the Bennets Väg commercial strip, centrally between the new train station and the Rosengård shopping center. On the other hand the tower addresses the Amiralsgatan motorway as the icon of the area, exclaiming the heart of Tornrösen from far away. To address all different directions in the area, a slightly turned position of the tower on the axis has been chosen.

AN ATTRACTIVE PUBLIC DOMAIN
We propose to intensify the quality and diversity of the public domain of the “social strip”, the new axis that is rolled out from the Törnrosen Tower. The strip will become a single space with a carpet of pavement in colorful patterns. Commercial pavilions will be added. Existing rows of trees will be kept and complemented with new individual trees on strategic positions. Playgrounds, benches, lampposts will be carefully designed and placed. In this way the area will be a communal place to stay, to meet, to shop, to relax, a place for markets and events.

A COMMUNITY BUILDING
The Törnrosen Tower will be the centre of the Törnrosen neighborhood. Therefore we propose a tower that is singular both in shape and in function. It will communicate its importance as the community building for the neighborhood. It will be a iconic building that all citizens can refer to as their collective identity and take pride from. This is expressed both in the specific position, architecture, materials colors and functions of the tower.

A STEPPED ASYMMETRIC VOLUMETRY
The shape of the tower is asymmetric, with a high and a low part. The low part is directed on the pedestrian axis, the high point at the Amiralsgatan highway, as the bell tower of the area. The volume steps up to the top, slowly raises up to make a slender vertical effect. The steps in the tower make an articulation of horizons that relate to the different building heights in the existing area and to the skyline of Malmö.

A MULTI-FUNCTIONAL BUILDING
As a community building, it is important to have a mixed-use tower that can receive different functions, depending on the demands of the neighborhood. The larger surfaces in the lower part of the tower are more connected to the street level and suitable for collective and public functions such as leisure, education, cultural or commercial. The slender higher part of the tower is perfect for housing. On the tops there are special public functions, such as a neighborhood gathering room on the lower tower and a panoramic restaurant on the highest top.


TOWER STRATEGY
DIFFERENT DWELLING TYPES
We propose to increase the differentiation in dwelling types. This is important in order to address the greater differentiation in life-styles and cultures that occurs in contemporary society. It will also attract different social groups of ages, income and culture. This will improve the balance in the social mix of the neighborhood.

VERTICAL ROUTING
The tower has two separate cores for vertical transport. Each core runs two lifts and two double helix escape stairs that connect all floors. This makes it possible to split the tower in two different parts, for instance for different groups or functions. The lower floors have a separate lift and stairs, aimed at public or commercial functions. The two tops can be reached by special dedicated lift. So housing areas and general functions can be managed separate without hindering each other.

AN EFFECTIVE STRUCTURE
The tower can be executed as a steel structure. This makes it possible to build very quickly and efficient. Also the steel beams and columns enable larger spans in the lower floors and easy support of the steps and cantilevers in the building volume. The two central lift cores, made of concrete, stabilize the steel structure. The floor slabs are of (prefabricated) concrete. Only the core and the façades are the bearing walls, so there are completely open floor plates that enable free and flexible infill in the tower, giving it possibility for change and a long future value.

FAÇADE MATERIALS
The façade is made of prefabricated concrete panels with a strong vertical lining to enhance the slenderness of the tower. The concrete is mixed with color pigment and natural stone grind. The panels have a strong texture. The rhythm of the panels is broken by different patterns embedded in the concrete, made in collaboration with regional artists. The vertical concrete panels are alternated with protruding bay-windows on a diagonal rhythm to alleviate the facade composition with a play of light and shadow.

SUSTAINABILITY
The Törnrosen Tower will be a state of the art project for sustainability. The main asset is its flexibility that will give the tower a very long life span of maybe hundreds of years, as it can be adapted to new needs in future. Second element is the principle of city densification by using existing infrastructure. Third is the low energy use of the tower, due to its high insulation values and façade built-up. Fourth is the use of cradle-to-cradle materials with a low production energy value. Finally and most important is the social sustainability: the Törnrosen Tower will rebalance the social structure of the neighborhood and contribute to a general well being.