Page 140 - AIT0416_E-Paper

WOHNEN • LIVING INNERE WERTE • INNER VALUES
Ganz in Ocker: Konferenzraum im Erdgeschoss • All in ochre: conference room on the ground floor sive: The former nave extending over two levels had room for a studio with up to 26
Alle Farben vereint die Wand im Gemeinschaftsraum. • The wall in the common room combines all the colours.
Untergeschoss • Basement
1 Eingang • Entrance
2 Teeküche/Lobby • Coffee station/Lobby
3 Atelier • Atelier
4 Konferenzraum • Meeting room
5 Pausenraum • Rest area
6 Tonraum • Sound room
7 Ruheraum • Quiet room
8 Verwaltung • Administration
140 • AIT 4.2016
A lready in the early Middle Ages, the Swedish town of Jönköping on Vätterse had
been an important market place and meeting point for travellers from all parts of
the country. Centuries later, it became internationally famous for its match industry. Right
in the town centre of Jönköping, in the 1960s the Swedish architect Hans-Ancker Holst
built a church for the Salvation Army. Since then, the building never changed its use or
its owner – until now: Whereas the Christian Free Church reduced its location, the NY
Reklambyrå advertising agency in Jönköping was urgently looking for new premises since
their old office had meanwhile become too small. They found the solution in the former
church. The four female architects of Marge Arkitekter from Stockholm were commissio-
ned with converting the building. Pye Aurell Ehrström, Katarina Grundsell, Louise
Masreliez and Susanne Ramel turned the church into a modern and functional office –
without in the process affecting the special spatial qualities. A large glass surface with a
frame of white brick dominates the façade whose lower part with the main entrance is
slightly recessed compared to the upper one. With the massive entrance doors giving
replaced glazed doors with wooden frames, the low vestibule became a bright lobby
where clients are received and waiting visitors can while awaytheir time.
Studio in the former church nave
Due to the low ceiling height of the vestibule, the next room looks all the more impres-
desks. To admit as much natural light as possible into the interior, the wall between the
former nave and the vestibule was removed and replaced with a glass wall. The wall
separating the mezzanine located above it from the large hall now also consists of glass.
This gives the employees of the administration sufficient privacy; yet the open, continu-
ous working environment is preserved. It was thus furthermore possible to bring even
more daylight into the studio space – complementing the skylights opposite the gallery.
In the former nave, the more than 30 employees are able to enjoy a light-flooded working
environment which communicates spaciousness and gives the advertising agency its very
own appearance. Regarding the acoustics, however, the conversion of the church posed
quite specific challenges for the architects. Since the reverberation in the large hall was
to be reduced in order to create a pleasant, open office atmosphere, acoustic plaster was
used. Additional sound-absorbing elements were mounted on the ceiling and are now
concealed behind extended-metal grids of brass. The fabric-covered seating steps linking
the ground floor with the upper storey and can be used for relaxed sitting together, lec-
tures or film shows, also contribute to pleasant acoustics. The characteristic materials
were not to be covered in the course of the conversion but emphasized and complemen-
ted with suitable additions. In the former church hall, the typical wooden floor with its
unusual installation pattern framed by brass strips reminds of the design of public spa-
ces. Some of the brick surfaces were left unfinished, in other places they were painted
white. Inspired by an extraordinary working environment, the employees are able to give
free rein to their creativity on a total of 670 square metres!
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Erdgeschoss • Ground floor Obergeschoss • Upper floor