Smörslottsgatan in Gothenburg

In the east of Gothenburg, the 1960s neighbourhood along Smörslottsgatan is undergoing a thoughtful expansion. The street stretches from Härlanda Tjärn to Östra Sjukhuset and serves as a popular, nature-rich pathway for the city’s residents. Here we have designed a pre-school and two residential buildings that blend naturally into the wooded, rocky terrain of the area.

Preschool and housing in harmony with nature

Smörslottsgatan marks the first phase of a larger development in the expanding and desirable area of eastern Gothenburg. The three structures include two apartment buildings with a total of 88 units, a preschool with six sections built into the hillside, and a hidden car park integrated into the rock.

The roof of the preschool also serves as a common courtyard for the apartment buildings, with a communal barbecue area and extensive greenery. Pergolas echo the repetitive gabled roofs of the buildings’ architecture, providing a sense of calm and shade for children and adults on warm, sunny days.

Client: Fastighets AB Balder
Place: Gothenburg
Status: Completed 2020
Photo: James Silverman

Smörslottsgatan – Preschool and Housing in harmony with nature.

The residential buildings and preschool introduce a more intimate scale to the area, with thoughtful details that provide access to the wooded surroundings. The use of nature-inspired materials connects the new structures to the trees on the hill.

Tobias Hesselgren, Lead Architect

The materials in the three buildings convey a clear and coherent language. The facades are clad in three types of brick from Randers Brickworks in Denmark. Slate was chosen for the tower building, while timber and Corten steel add texture and vibrancy. The repeated gabled roofs contribute to a sense of smaller scale. The façade concept is simple and refined for the residential buildings, while the preschool features a playful arrangement of square windows in varying sizes, creating a visually engaging composition.

Natural Play – For Everyone

Outdoor learning fosters respect for nature and care for plants and animals. Research shows that such environments stimulate children’s curiosity and imagination, enhance motor skills, and encourage more equitable play. At Smörslottsgatan Preschool, we have designed a courtyard filled with features to inspire creativity. The natural resources and unique characteristics of the site have shaped the educational environment surrounding the children. The courtyard includes vegetable plots, rainwater harvesting barrels, and a vibrant butterfly garden that attracts pollinators in the warmer months.

We have put significant effort into encouraging children to explore the nearby forest, sparking their curiosity and engaging their natural sense of wonder.

Ulrika Bergbrant, Landscape Architect

One of the challenges of the project was to playfully invite children into the wooded area on the hill behind the building. The hill, initially a barrier to play in the forest, was transformed into an opportunity to draw children in. A sturdy wooden ramp ensures that the forest is accessible to all, while a long rope anchored to the ground provides an alternative and exciting path into the small woodland.

Further up, huts and enlarged sculptures of the forest’s smallest creatures invite imaginative play. Indoors, the architecture continues to prioritise the children’s perspective. For example, windows are positioned low to the ground so that even the youngest can see and engage with the movement and life outside.