The site is located in Sickla, a node point between the limits of Stockholm and Sickla’s municipalities. The area is characterized by an industrial history, in quick transformation into a very dynamically urbanized and cosmopolitan area, where offices, housing and services are being intensively developed. Due to the expansion of Stockholm city, such nodes tend to become part of the main city’s urban fabric.

One of the client’s requirements was for the new tower to stand as a reference landmark within Sickla’s surrounding context. The reason for an urban landmark on this precise location derives from fact that the site comprises a new tram and subway stops, which work as an interface pole for access to central Stockholm.

The dynamic volumetry of the building is the result of the plot’s footprint lines, complemented by the reaction to the heights of the close surrounding’s buildings and the cityscape visual connections.

Regarding the building’s setup, an early conceptual idea was for the tower to assume a round the clock use character, where its different parts would be alternatively activated during the whole day and a considerable part of the evening; hence reinforcing the image of a lively hub on the area. In order to achieve that sort of character throughout the whole building, two parallel strategies were pursued: a specific distribution of the required hybrid program and the splitting of the vertical circulation into three different levels.

The program consists of the subway station, shops, services, hotel, offices, conference rooms, restaurant and a “skybar”. The vertical circulation is established through the subway station access on level 1, the office’s lobby on level 2, and the creation of a “skylobby” at levels 8 and 9, which works as a node within the tower, and where are located the hotel main lobby, the restaurant, the conference rooms and the elevated outdoor gardens. The “skylobby” levels are accessible both to the hotel guests as to the office’s employees and visitors. Finally, the “skybar” on the top floors offers an overview of Stockholm towards West and a Nature reserve towards North and East.

In terms of energy efficiency, the “Breeam-SE / very-good” stamp was required; therefore several parameters were taken into account, regarding both the energy consumption and the quality of space use along the building. On technical matters, the façade consists of a two layer ventilated façade system with optimal thermal behavior, controlled openings percentages and accurate daylight values; the ventilation is mechanical on most parts of the building; the rain water is used for the building´s gardens irrigation.