Chipperfield's sparkling brass-clad scheme selected to be new home of Nobel Prize

A unanimous competition jury has selected David Chipperfield’s and Christoph Felger’s slender brass-clad building as the winner in the Nobel Center architectural competition.

“We are extremely excited and honoured to have been selected to be the architects for the Nobel Center. We look forward to working together to develop a building that reflects both the values of the Nobel Prize and the high expectations of the citizens of Stockholm,” says architect David Chipperfield.

According to the statement of the jury, the proposed building has an elegant, timeless and attractive external appearance with a clear identity of its own. The revised façade design, with its shimmering vertical brass elements and glass, has a lofty elegance and quality that can be associated with the Nobel Prize.

“The jury finds the lightness and openness of the building very appealing and consistent with the Nobel Foundation’s explicit ambition to create an open and welcoming Center for the general public,” says Lars Heikensten, chairman of the competition jury and Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation.

The transparent ground floor helps create a pleasant setting in the immediate vicinity of the building, thereby also enriching the urban public space. Meanwhile the building’s moderate footprint creates good opportunities for a public city park in a sunny south-east position.

The jury is of the opinion that after additional refinement in collaboration with the client and with public authorities, the proposal can lead to a dignified, exciting and inviting Nobel Center building while helping create a better, more engaging and beautiful urban setting on the Blasieholmen peninsula in central Stockholm.

Per Wästberg, writer, member of the Swedish Academy, Chairman of the Nobel Committee for Literature and one of the members of the competition jury says, “We view the winning proposal as a concrete interpretation of the Nobel Prize as Sweden’s most important symbol in the world. Stockholm will gain a building – magnificent but without pomp, powerful yet graceful – with qualities like those the City Hall gave the capital a century ago.”

In the now-completed second stage of the competition, the jury assessed proposals from three finalists: David Chipperfield and Christoph Felger från David Chipperfield Architects Berlin (Germany), Johan Celsing from Johan Celsing Arkitektkontor (Sweden) and Gert Wingårdh from Wingårdh Arkitektkontor (Sweden).

The Nobel Center will build up its activities around the Nobel Prize’s unique combination of disciplines – sciences, literature and peace. The ambition is to make the Nobel Center one of Stockholm’s most attractive destinations, including public spaces for exhibitions, programme and school activities, events and interdisciplinary meetings of various kinds.

Take a look at the renderings that won the competition:

©David Chipperfield Architects

Phoenix-based architecture firm Jones Studio will design the Water Education Center for Central Arizona Project (CAP)—a 336-mile aqueduct system that delivers Colorado River water to almost 6 million people, more than 80% of the state’s population. The Center will allow the public to explore CAP’s history, operations, and impact on Arizona.

MFPRO+ New Projects | Nov 21, 2023

An 'eco-obsessed' multifamily housing project takes advantage of downtown Austin’s small lots

In downtown Austin, Tex., architecture firm McKinney York says it built Capitol Quarters to be “eco-obsessed, not just eco-minded.” With airtight walls, better insulation, and super-efficient VRF (variable refrigerant flow) systems, Capitol Quarters uses 30% less energy than other living spaces in Austin, according to a statement from McKinney York.

Image by F. Muhammad from Pixabay - California building electrification laws could prompt evictions

MFPRO+ News | Nov 21, 2023

California building electrification laws could prompt more evictions and rent increases

California laws requiring apartment owners to ditch appliances that use fossil fuels could prompt more evictions and rent increases in the state, according to a report from the nonprofit Strategic Actions for a Just Economy. The law could spur more evictions if landlords undertake major renovations to comply with the electrification rule.

Codes and Standards | Nov 21, 2023

Austin becomes largest U.S. city to waive minimum parking requirements

Austin, Texas recently became the largest city in the United States to stop requiring new developments to set a minimum amount of parking. The Austin City Council voted 8-2 earlier this month to eliminate parking requirements in an effort to fight climate change and spur more housing construction as Texas’s capitol grapples with a housing affordability crisis.

MFPRO+ News | Nov 21, 2023

Underused strip malls offer great potential for conversions to residential use

Replacing moribund strip malls with multifamily housing could make a notable dent in the housing shortage and revitalize under-used properties across the country, according to a report from housing nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners.

Giants 400 | Nov 16, 2023

Top 100 Science + Technology Facility Architecture Firms for 2023

Gensler, HDR, Page Southerland Page, Flad Architects, and DGA top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest science and technology (S+T) facility architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking factors revenue from all science and technology (S+T) buildings work, including laboratories, research buildings, technology/innovation buildings, pharmaceutical production facilities, and semiconductor production facilities.