
Varvsstaden Masterplan
Harbor industry becomes
a new school district


entire area. The ambition for the area was inspired by Varvsstaden’s industrial and cultural history, to create a new integrated block structure where a public institution serves as a catalyst for urban life and identity 24/7.
The output of the process resulted in a plan for a "fractured" block, located towards the canal on one side and facing very different neighbors on the other - creating a variety of small urban spaces and surrounding a large inner courtyard, which contains open spaces for the school and kindergarten as well as a public sports center. The inner courtyard will (after school hours) operate as a huge park, playground and sports area for residents of the area. Certain school functions such as workshops, sport facilities, library and canteen will be open for users outside the school, and will be located on the ground floor.
The plan is currently approved by Malmö City and is now in the local plan process. First, school and kindergarten will be built, then, homes and offices will complete the total block.
Varvsstaden in central Malmö is the "missing link" between the historic city and the new developments of Västra Hamnen in Malmö. This historic area has historically been home to Kockums Shipyard until the area in recent years was bought by the consortium Varvsstaden AB.
With its superb location in the middle of the Malmö harbor the area has for several years been a key focus area for development of housing and offices near Malmo Central Station and the historic center. In 2014 NORD Architects was selected as advisor for Malmö City and landowner Varvsstaden AB, to develop a plan for the southern part of Varvsstaden – the "school district" - which in addition to housing and offices will house a kindergarten, a primary school with sports facilities and a library, offering the area activities 24-7. Everything combined in a closely integrated dense urban block.
NORD has through a series of workshops facilitated dialogue between the municipal authorities and the landowner, to find a common scenario for this special place in Malmo, where the school will serve as a gathering place for the
The inner courtyard will operate as a huge park, playground
and sports area for residents of the area


Location
Client
Year
Typology
Size
Status
Malmö, Sweden
Varvsstaden AB, Malmö Municipality
2014
Masterplan
30.000 m2
Completed
