2016 - Örebro Water Reservoir

Örebro Water Resevoir - Vattenskogen

Space Popular's proposal for a new high water reservoir to replace the iconic "Svampen" by Sune Lindström in the Swedish city of Örebro

Muchrooms "VattenSkogen" The Mushroom

On a symbolic level, "Svampen" (The Mushroom) in Örebro can never replaced. For over 50 years, its unique silhouette has been not only a recognizable image of the city for visitors but also a landmark for its inhabitants. To build a landmark is simple, to create a landmark, is something else entirely. For a building to be important not only to locals but perhaps also for the whole region a long-term perspective is required where the future is more important than the present.

ZOOM-IN OF THE STRUCTURE IN A SUMMER AFTERNOON. A maintenance dude can be seen reflecting on his existence.

Aluminium panel facade family of four.

Our proposal for a new water reservoir in Örebro challenges the classical idea of a landmark as a single object where the visual attraction drawn to a point or to an isolated form, and instead provides an experience of diversity and pluralism. The buildings exterior body consists of 92 pyramid-shaped peaks like caps of a mushroom cluster which rises towards the sky. This gestalt is also strengthened by the peaks external surface which is dressed in thin aluminum panels of different patterns which during the dark hours of the day are illuminated from the inside in colors that vary according to season. During the day a dark pine green can be seen at the base of the structure as the alluminium panels blend to white towards the top.

Sune Lindstrom's creation that today is so iconically associated with Örebro has many layers of symbolism that has helped the structure to become the landmark it is today. Svampen got its name from its shape, but all water reservoirs can symbolically be seen as the fruiting body of a fungus that extend far in all directions under ground just like the water network that the reservoir is connected to. Our proposal reflects this symbolism where the towers or caps can be seen as the fruiting bodies which is really only a small part of the "mycorrhizae" or fungal rot system that extends throughout the city and gives it life. The towers reach for the sky and suck moisture and nutrients from the soil. As the name indicates, VattenSkogen (The Water Forest) our proposal can also be seen as a part of the forest. Like a grove growing on a unique place with an abundance of water the building pulls moisture out of the ground.

Areal View on a winter morning with the peaks still illuminated

The construction industry in Sweden is currently experiencing a global renaissance for structured made of wood. After a century of little interest there is now a lot of energy going into research and development which has resulted in exciting new possible essential to once again build in wood. Our proposals towers and its supporting structure would be built in Swedish laminated timber, which has proven to be both strong, durable and fire resistant.

Standard Structural detail.

1: Glulam Structure 2: Aluminium Profile 3: Aluminium Panel 4: Steel Attachment

The climatic shell of the new reservoir mainly consists of five parts. Around the reservoir 20 columns are placed with a varying distance from the waterproof concrete wall. (Not less than 1 meter). These pillars are structurally completely separate from the reservoir walls and ceiling. These columns and the space between them is dressed in an insulated wall with its shiny steel surface reflects the trees around reservoir. On the columns rests a glulam lattice structure which supports the towers.

Physical model

The towers pyramid formed structure is also constructed of laminated wood. The meeting edges at the bottom of the towers have metal grated walkways for maintenance. Finally the structure is clad in aluminium panels of different shapes with a 5 centimeter gap from which light shines from within at night.