Björnen – Government Offices of Sweden

The government headquarters in the centre of Stockholm have gone through a large transformation during de last five years, both on the outside and the inside. The long history of this area is clearly visible for everybody in the city, while working spaces have been updated according to today’s requirements on working environment, energy and sustainability.

Home - at last!

After years of renovations, the governmental offices are moving back to their headquarters. The ministries had moved in the late 1960’s and the area of Björnen was finished 1981. Thirty years later the rooms where worn down, the technique outdated and the working spaces to few for their current workforce.

During the renovation, new parts were built and others where torn down. On some parts of the area whole floors have been tear down and replaced with two to three new floors. In total almost 50 percent of the buildings from 1980’s torn. The new office building is larger but occupies less ground space. The number of work spaces was upped from 550 to around 900.

The block is administrated by the National Property Board in Sweden and has an aea of 44,000 sqm – their largest project so far. The renovation brought this office up to speed when it comes to new standards and, at the same time, contributes to a more varied and dynamic city landscape.

Client: Statens fastighetsverk
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Status: Completed 2018
Area: 44,000 sqm
Cost: Approx. 2 billion SEK
Photo: Anders Fredriksén

The new Björnen is structured in five buildings that together shape a small city within the city. The palace of Adelcrantzska is located here – a little gem from late 1600’s that has survived the 1700’s fires and the 1970’s, a period when many buildings where torn down. This government monument called for special care from our antiquarians. The ventilation system, for instance, is benefitting from the tiled stoves and from existing chimneys – but the technique is well concealed in the building original design.

The palace has been giving a meaning part of this area and city, because it is so recognisable from the street – with the Adelcrantzska palace always serving as an orientation reference.

In Adelcrantzska there are some of Sweden’s finest rococo interiors that have now been restored. Details – such as the patterned wooden floors and the stone floors were also used in the new interiors of the 80’s building. There is a feeling of Scaninavian design in the light natural materials.

In the new Björnen you move along the facade of the new central stairwells. There you have a view of the Adelcrantzska palace and can orient yourself in the block.

Taiga Koponen, Architect

The city is welcome

Björnen has been given a brand new entrance building in glass and the entrance has been moved from Drottninggatan to Herkulesgatan. The flow is now faster and it is easier to move between the premises. Thanks to the new glass facade, what was previously a closed area has been opened for those passing by. Through the facade you can see the long history of the neighborhood but also take part in its updated rooms. A step in recreating a vibrant urban environment in southern Klara.

Bright office environments

The office building’s 1970s design with small windows and dark interiors has been updated to an open and bright office environment. The materials are few and classic. In Björnen, ash panels on the walls, ash ceilings, textile floors, oak parquet, terrazzo and natural stone forms a whole. At the far end there’s a 14 meter wide, 22 meter long and nine storey high light garden, where light flows in from all directions. Here lies an auditorium with a roof hovers like a hat. Block walls that hang in the roof structure can be opened up so that the room is suitable for social activities or closed so that it becomes a traditional auditorium.

Smart energy solutions

On the roof is a maintenance-free 1,700 square meter blanket of sedum and moss. Here, a solar cell plant is being built that provides as much energy as the entire entrance building’s lighting needs over a year. In the basement of the office building there is a tank where waste from the restaurant turns into fuel and solar heat from neighboring houses is used for heating water. The energy of the lifts is also recycled. These built-in smart solutions reduce the energy demand to just under a quarter compared to before.