Wood and glass dominate Swedish city’s new ‘living room’

The winning proposal for a new train station and City Hall in the southern Swedish City of Växjö has been described by its architects as the city’s new “living room,” comprising multiple functions under one roof.

The building, which features a predominately glass exterior and predominately wooden interior, will function as a focal point for the city and feature a train station, tourist office, exhibition area, waiting room, cafes and shops, and meeting rooms. According to worldarchitecturenews.com, the 150,000-sf building’s roof will be sloped, reducing the building’s envelope to achieve lower energy consumption.

The City Hall portion of the building and the train station portion are linked via a wide staircase that has been designed as a meeting space for travelers, visitors, and employees.

In addition to acting as a living room for the city, the building’s functions will also stretch beyond its walls in order to better connect people with the city. A new park, a square, and a wooden bridge with a green roof will connect the building to its surroundings.

White Arkitekter is the architect for the project.