Place: Jordbro
Type: Ombyggnad och inredning av bibliotek
Year: 2014
 
Background
Jordbro is built as a typical local square in the major housing initiatives in the late `60s. This period is characterised by a significant public awareness for service and social functions, as reflected in the original layout including a post office, bank, day center etc. For both Konsum and Ica - watershed in everyday consumption of that time, there were builtequal size "boxes". There is also a very uniformed disposition of the original facade design and sign programming for the different stores. The facades were constructed of typical concrete elements with the exposed aggregate of seastone and colorful corrugated sheet along the horizontal window bands. Over time, several buildings have been replaced, expanded or renovated. The uniformed facade design has been replaced by a colorful collage of a variety of materials and colors. The stores have been changed or moved. Ica, Konsum, post office, bank and Pressbyrå have all moved.

Conditions
The biggest actor in the center today, Matrix, wishes to extend its premises by merging the two buildings on the east side.
The facades are in need of refurbishment.
An investment that increases the safety and attractiveness is needed, which will simultaneously take place in collaboration with the existing actors.

Building structure
The Jordbro Centre buildings have today a sprawling and unclear character because of all the renovation and additions, as well as run down facade. To strengthen the area's original character would strengthen the identity which also has roots in history. An example of this approach is, among other, Hökarängen, where a conscious effort to recreate the area's original fifties character resulted in well kept shop spaces. A similar strategy in Jordbro would entail an upgraded form of the sixties architecture.

Movements
The merge of the two buildings on the east side clarifies the current Centre's arrangement that combines a major actor with a series of smaller, more diverse businesses. This enables two outcomes, where the Matrix gets a single building, while the other businesses get reinforced in their small-scale character. Markets, bazaars and temporary events then become an important part in keeping the Centre alive and interesting. The square is today almost non-visible from Moränvägen. The proposed re-building of the initial opening between the building C and B would increases the flow towards the square, and improve the security. The facade facing south and Moränvägen has a great potential to be a sunny and inviting place where new windows of the B building expose the businesses inside. The rebuilding of the Matrix with the closing of, what is today, a well-used passage will affect movement in the east-west direction. With a better facade design in the north and the south, the reconstruction can become a way to redirect the movement around the buildings and decrease the introvert character of the existing square.

Design
To join together the different buildings, an coherent design is proposed. A cladding in naturally colored aluminium becomes a unifying design expression which also adds character. The brick buildings are plastered in light gray, and get a more distinct relation to the concrete base.

Signage
An uniformed signage system has been developed to increase the attractiveness of businesses.

Parking and Access
The rebuilding of the Matrix alters the accessibility of the parking entrance. A parking for people with disabilities, therefore, needs to be arranged close to the entrance.