Kungsgatan 57

Kungsgatan 57 is, in many ways, a unique address. It’s a 1920s property with the features of a city palace. It was initially built as a hotel and is frequented by celebrities such as Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie. In the 1960s, it was home to one of Stockholm’s first English pubs, designed by prominent architect Peter Celsing. And until recently, Semrén & Månsson had its Stockholm office here. The move has taken place, but we have not yet completely cut the ties. On behalf of Axfast and in close cooperation with the architectural heritage officer, we are making the listed property ready for new glory days and, at the same time, opening up the block to the area around Gamla Brogatan.

Clear, refine and add – this is how the concept can be summarised. As always, when it comes to cultural properties, it is about careful changes in the history and ancient value of the property. A new expression is intertwined with the original character of the building – now as then, with timelessness and quality as the primary keywords. Knut Nordenskjöld’s original drawings will act as a compass. As far as possible, beautiful details are preserved in their original design, and even in newly added elements, we use a classic and durable material palette: oak, copper, granite and limestone.

It is easy to describe the offices at Kungsgatan 57 as a premium product. Nothing has been left to chance here, and it continues beyond first-class materials and carefully designed interiors. Maximum flexibility is a critical element of the concept. Based on a state-of-the-art technology system, the office space is built with largely movable walls. Suitable for the tenant’s changing needs and just as good from a sustainability perspective, as the premises can eventually be converted for other purposes without the environmental impact of a total remodelling.

If two words permeate the project, they are long-term and sustainability. What we design should work today and in ten, fifty, or even a hundred years. In addition to an overall sustainability approach to materials and design, the project will be certified according to existing properties’ BREEAM-in-use environmental classification system. Energy issues, sound material choices and indoor ecological parameters such as noise, radon, moisture, temperature and daylight are addressed early in the project. All to ensure a building that is good for the people living in it, for the environment and for the city of Stockholm.

As part of a more significant development of the neighbourhoods around Gamla Brogatan, Kungsgatan 57 will interact with new movement routes, meeting places and destination points created to promote life in the city. With a new generous entrance, designed concerning the original design, we strengthen this connection to the street and the surrounding neighbourhoods. A return to the building’s former, more public position in the cityscape.