Europan 18 - Re-sourcing
Malmo, Sweden [2025]
with Matteo Almonti Architecture
open courtyards view
Hyllie, a place to be.
In the complexity of the contemporary world, cities are the place to be. In Europe, more than 77% of the population live in urban areas, and counting. Two oppositional forces seem to be driving the development of cities: cutting-edge technology and large network connections as opposed to proximity, nature-balanced lifestyles. Hyllie is a symbol of this cooperative endeavour. The neighbourhood is central to the route between Copenhagen and Malmö and, at the same time, a self-reliant microcity. Here, urban and rural intertwine, offering brand new buildings as well as vast permeable surfaces. In some way, we can say the crucial strategies of our project were already there, waiting to be applied.
energy, water and soil strategies
environmental resources.
Our approach was not to prevail but to preserve the elements of quality in Hyllie’s landscape, carefully mending them together. In this sense, the landscape becomes “performative”, not mere embellishment but a living system that ties together social, technical and environmental meanings. The delicate balance of this new ecosystem is inspired by the Swedish concept of Lagom, “not too much, not too little, just right”.
At every scale, natural resources were central in our design process, acting as given data capable of shaping architecture. To achieve this, we conducted an in-depth territorial study of these elements in the city of Malmö. The following step was the systematisation of resources in a coherent design.
climate forces reshaping Hyllie's urban landscape
hyllieland.
For us, it was essential to overcome the lowered infrastructure. Green bridges symbolize nature reclaiming territories, without compromising the motorway capacity. Hyllie is finally linked to Holma and Kroksbäck with an undulating, fun north-south axis. Parks are thematized with different uses. Stormwater Park and the Educational Park retain their features. Their paths are projected into the new pedestrian route, effectively unifying them in a single green network. The two lakes are connected by a linear wooden bridge, designed so as not to interfere with the constrained points of the railway system. The area near Malmö Mässan is regenerated as planned. The pond is converted as a leisure pond, inspired by the successful project for Naturbad Riehen. After crossing the motorway, the axis blends with the existent pattern of urban allotments. The impressive 67-metre Water Tower stands out against the horizon, manifesting the resilience of the neighborhood.
green networks merging polarities
form follows climate.
Three buildings take place in the brownfield site between the two lowered infrastructure. The concept for this units is driven by the 3 R’s, Re-Sourcing, Re-Use, Re-Cycle. Natural elements shape the buildings. Soil is restored and becomes a living element that hosts annexes and parking lots, resolving the height differences between the car route and the site. The “barrier” reaches the ground, providing a shield from strong winds and noise pollution, instead the cantilevered portions permit a nice air flow at ground level. Buildings are more open to the sun at east, with a continuous glass façade punctuated by balconies. The courtyards, common typological elements in Hyllie, open up and become a single, seamless public space, the door to the neighbourhood when entering from Lindeborg. The buildings relate to the alignments and heights of the existing fabric, with a maximum of seven floors towards Hyllie and a minimum of three overlooking the re-naturalized area.
environmental program
stay, play, work and live in Hyllie
LFL
2025