Location: Strömsbro, Gävle
Type: Conversion of an administrative church extension into a new parish hall
Year: 2022 – ongoing
Client: Gävle Parish through KFS, the Church's Property Cooperation

Strömsbro Church was constructed in 1899 according to the drawings of Erik Anders Hedin, then city architect in Gävle. The exterior was designed in neo-Gothic style with richly decorated stucco architecture. During the 1930s, the church underwent significant alterations, transforming it into a more simplified wooden structure designed by Sven Wranér, who was also the city architect in Gävle. In 1997, Strömsbro Church received an administrative extension designed by architect Peter Kautzky.

Strömsbro Church has a very active congregation, but due to financial constraints, Gävle Parish may be forced to sell the existing parish building. Together with the Church's Property Cooperation, operations, the church council, and other consultants, Spridd has developed a proposal in which the congregation's activities will move into the church's administrative extension. This way, the parish hall retains its own home while preserving the church interior with its cultural and historical values. Strömsbro Church is a church monument, which requires special consideration for the building's cultural values in dialogue with the conservator, the municipality, and the County Administrative Board.

The new parish hall will have a new entrance to the west, in the same direction as the church's entrance. This provides the parish hall with a new facade and its own identity alongside the church. By internally connecting the church and the parish hall with a new door, it allows for shared use of the facilities. Despite limited space, Spridd, together with the project group, has managed to create a substantial parish hall, which is required to support the various types of activities. With the proposed layout, the church will have a new chapel for discussions, a new caretaker's area, and a new accessible restroom. The parish hall will have a public ground floor with a lobby, parish hall, and kitchen. Upstairs, a new sacristy/meeting room, an office area, and a lunchroom will be added.

The design of the new door between the church and the parish hall conveys a transition between different buildings and homes. This is expressed in the form of a new entrance canopy above the door. The new entrance canopy will be a woodworking project that connects to the existing interior architecture and timber construction, including highlighting the load-bearing elements. The door itself connects with the appearance of existing doors.

The technical systems throughout the building are being upgraded, including a new heating system and an overhaul of electricity, water, ventilation, and fire systems.