Multidisciplinary space under high environmental standards. Mensätra Co-working workshop by Metropolis Arkitekter

Description of project by Metropolis Arkitekter

On an undeveloped part of a large industrial property with a hardware store and lumberyard, the property owner wanted to create a co-working space for the small businesses in the area. At the beginning of the project, the client asked us to draw a building of about 1,000 m², because that was what they thought could fit the site.

After reading and interpreting the plan restrictions and turning the house to a more optimal location on the site, we were finally able to present a house of 2,400 m² to the client. We also convinced the client that the building should attract tenants with a strong environmental profile. We, therefore, proposed a wooden house with large eaves in the form of a breeze Soleil to avoid direct sunlight and a green sedum roof with solar panels. All this contributes to reduced energy use and a reduced climate footprint for the entire building.

The building consists of two well-defined parts. A ground floor with workshops and an upper floor with offices. With the building's repetitive program with an entrance and stairwell in the middle, we were able to create an overall simple building volume with a restful rhythm in the facade. The ground floor with its large workshop gates creates a solid plinth that contrasts with the lighter expression of the office floor where the smaller windows with their dense location form a gallery.

The breeze Soleil of the eaves in wood effectively removes the direct sunlight to the office floor while letting in light at the same time. The wood is in turn protected by a simple corrugated plastic sheet which at the same time diffuses the sunlight which at certain times still shines through. To bring light as far into the deep body of the building as possible, we placed two large lanterns at each end which naturally creates common lounge areas underneath.