Walking Halmstad

TEAM DATA

Team Representative: Piotr Wisniowski (AS) – architect; Associates: Joachim Heinz (DE), Soheil Shahnazari (IR), Karl Fredrik Bengtsson (SE) – students in architecture

Sölvegatan 24, 223 62 Lund, Sverige (SE)
+46703393795 – piotr@zeroarchitects.se

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^{K F. Bengtsson, J. Heinz, P. Wisniowski & S. Shahnazari}

VIDEO (by the team)

INTERVIEW

1. How did you form the team for the competition?

We know each other from our studies at Lund University (SE) and we developed our competition entry as part of a student project.

2. How do you define the main issue of your project, and how did you answer on this session main topic: the place of productive activities within the city?

Through Walking Halmstad we wanted to create a new, overall concept for the Halmstad Central Station area, integrating the surrounding city and connecting local with regional. With the intention of increasing connectivity and consolidating existing infrastructure, the project proposes the repurposing of single-use land into multi-functional spaces, utilizing new synergies. The result is an efficient transportation hub that - at the same time - provides new and attractive spaces for the people of Halmstad, enhancing their abilities to move, gather and run their businesses.

3. How did this issue and the questions raised by the site mutation meet?

We experienced the site as strongly divided by the railroad tracks, augmented by the predominance of spaces occupied by cars and other motorised traffic. Walking Halmstad provides a continuous, walkable tissue that connects various focal points throughout the city. The area's role as a hub for different modes of transportation is retained while new functions are added through flexible structures, the repurposing of existing ones and temporal spaces.

4. Have you treated this issue previously? What were the reference projects that inspired yours?

The issue of productive cities on a large scale is new to us. However, with today's focus on urban redevelopment and densification, we worked with related issues throughout our studies. These include repurposing of existing buildings, identifying synergies and developing new resilient and flexible structures which also adapt to future conditions. These aspects are also reflected in our references including the 1111 Lincoln Road mix-use parking structure by Herzog & de Meuron, Tredje Natur's climate park at Enghaveparken and Kjellander Sjöberg's food market conversion in Malmö.
 

5. Urban-architectural projects like the ones in Europan can only be implemented together with the actors through a negotiated process and in time. How did you consider this issue in your project?

Our intention is to provide a long-term vision that incorporates the recently built infrastructure. We see a gradual implementation of our proposed interventions, which goes along the planned infrastructure projects by the municipality of Halmstad and the transportation department (Trafikverket). This allows for adjustments to fit the specific needs of the city and the involvement of different actors. By definition, the building hybrid at Stationsgatan will adapt to the evolving demands of the city, when parking lots turn gradually into spaces for local entrepreneurs.

6. Is it the first time you have been awarded a prize at Europan? How could this help you in your professional career?

We are first time winners! Receiving an award in such a prestigious competition is very satisfying and will for sure have a positive impact on our future careers as architects.

TEAM IDENTITY

Office: -
Functions: Architecture
Average age of the associates: 30 years old

Has your team, together or separately, already conceived or implemented some projects and/or won any competition? If yes, which ones? -