Gas Giant: Herzog & de Meuron’s transformative landmark for Stockholm

Embedded in an area of royal parkland designated the world’s first National Urban Park, situated just north of Stockholm, is an historic industrial complex consisting of brick gasholders and other buildings used to serve gas production. Now, Herzog & de Meuron and Oscar Properties are transforming one of those gasholders into a residential landmark for the city

The building, named Gasklockan, will replace one of the gasholders at the industrial site. Approximately 90m height and 50m diameter, the gasholder is currently visible from several areas across the city and the dimensions will be maintained exactly for the new tower.

“We are creating the entrance to Gasklockan in the form of an enormous atrium in the same impressive height as the building. The shape of the walls provides a nice connection to the facade in glass brick,” says Oscar Engelbert, founder and CEO of Oscar Properties.

While the building’s basic shape utilises the round structure of the old tower, the new development will see v-shaped arms protruding, with each v-shape equating to an apartment. Intended to give the impression of a villa high above the ground, the result should be a maximisation of natural light and far-reaching views for each apartment.

“Gasklockan is our first project in Sweden and the first building with this shape. Its floorplan opens like the pages in a book to the surrounding city and landscape, maximizing sun exposure and offering a variety of views. It offers a spatial experience not normally experienced when living in a tower,” explains Jacques Herzog, founder and senior partner at Herzog & de Meuron.

Providing over 300 apartments, the building is intended to bring a new landmark to Stockholm and serve as part of the larger Norra Djurgårdsstaden (Stockholm Royal Seaport) which will bring 12,000 homes and 25,000 workplaces to the city. Northern Europe’s largest urban development project, the former industrial area will now serve as a hub of trade and culture, with Gasklockan just three kilometres from the city. 

In addition to the villa concept, Herzog & de Meuron are applying an idea of verticality to the building’s interiors, meant to reflect the shape and height of Gasklockan. The concept is played out in elements from wooden sections and fittings to the grooved stone in the bathroom and fits with the broader, material choices made to reflect the nature of the building.  

“The interior concept in Gasklockan is characterised by pure and strong materials like plaster, stone and glass. Industrial, but at the same time warm and tactile,” comments Helena Piehl, design manager for Gasklockan at Oscar Properties.

Like the bathroom, the kitchen is built as a standalone furnishing and contains several solutions crafted to enhance the feeling of living in a villa. For those looking to explore further culinary options, the ground floor of the building will offer Oscar Properties’ new, proprietary deli concept Oscar Deli, which will provide food deliveries direct to residents’ door. Residents will also be able to make use of customised solutions and services, while office space will be available for creative businesses, as well as areas curated exhibitions.

Gasklockan will be the first project from Oscar Properties to make use of the company’s new digital platform, Oscar Properties World, which will be built into the building’s concept in its entirety and will offer a range of unique services and products. From package delivery management to a digital concierge capable of making restaurant reservations and booking trips and cultural events, the platform is part of the broader goal of creating a simplified, creative living space.  

“The size of Gasklockan, with its 317 apartments, opens the way for a totally new type of residential service and peripheral services. From the very beginning both Herzog & de Meuron and us have had an ambition to create a living solution of the future. We want to simplify everyday life for everyone living in the building and also create an open, creative urban space for the people of Stockholm,” says Engelbert.