Domkyrkoforum byCarmen Izquierdo
Slideshow: a bronzed box window peers out like a periscope from the auditorium of this cathedral visitor's centre in Lund, Sweden, by architect Carmen Izquierdo.
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Located opposite the cathedral, the two-storey Domkyrkoforum building is clad entirely in the bronze-coloured brass alloy, which will continually darken with age.
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Entrances lead into a double-height atrium from both a public plaza at the front of the building and from Kyrkogatan Street, the road that runs alongside.
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This reception lobby accommodates temporary exhibition spaces and a cafe, while the auditorium is located just beyond and a series of offices and meeting rooms occupy the floor above.
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Walls inside the building are of exposed concrete and reveal the grain of the wood used to form them.
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Carmen Izquierdo previously worked alongside Tham & Videgård on the design of a museum with a perforated orange facade - see it here.
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Photography is by Åke E:son Lindman.
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Here's some more information from Carmen Izquierdo:
Domkyrkoforum - Cathedral Forum
The site of the new cathedral forum is central Lund, in direct connection to the cathedral itself. On the site is situated the existing "Arken" house, which is a building of historical value.
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The new building aims to integrate itself in the urban fabric in a natural way, by adapting to the scale and lines of the surrounding cityscape.
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At the same time our vision has been to create a contemporary building that adds a new layer to the many historic layers that characterize the urban environment of central Lund.
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The shape of the building creates new adjacent public spaces: The entrance plaza towards Kyrkogatan street, the entrance passage facing the cathedral, and a triangular square towards Kungsgatan street.
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In addition to the welcoming exterior spaces an internal atrium is created, as well as an interior courtyard, shaped by the existing and the new building.
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The central public space in the building is the entrance hall that is reached from both entrances. The entrance hall is formed as a meeting space; a general and generous which can hold various activities like reception, exhibitions and a cafe.
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A two-storey atrium allows daylight to enter from above, while visually integrating the public spaces with the congregational facilities on the second storey. The auditorium is conceived as a unique space, with its skylight pointing up towards the cathedral towers.
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The exterior is a simple yet characteristic volumes, its lines playing with the surrounding buildings.
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Towards Kyrkogatan street the roof lines of the Arken house are continued over the entrance plaza.
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Towards the cathedral the entrance is signaled by the characteristic skylight.
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The facade of the building is made of a brass alloy, a natural material that ages with a rich and living texture, allowing the building to age into its surroundings; at the inauguration it shimmers like gold, but in a couple of years it will have oxidized into a deep and matte bronze color.
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The interior of the building is cast in concrete with form of wooden boards.
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The massive and heavy character of the material is balanced by the play of light in the interior spaces.
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Name of project: Domkyrkoforum
Address: Domkyrkoplan i Lund / Domkyrkoplan in Lund
Architect: Carmen Izquierdo Arkitektkontor AB
Project managers: Carmen Izquierdo & Andreas Hiller
Collaborating architects: Andreas Hermansson, Erik Törnkvist, Isabel Gonzaga, Malin Belfrage
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Landscape:
Domkyrkoforum: Carmen Izquierdo Arkitektkontor AB
Domkyrkoplan: Ateljé Landskap
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Other consultants:
Project leader: Lars G Gustafsson
Structural engineer: Jan Lövgren
Mechanical engineer: Patrik Holmquist
Electrical engineer: Ronny Sjöholm
Acoustics: Anna Swanberg, Maria Carlsson
Artwork in the lecturehall: Anita Christoffersson
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Client: Domkyrkrådet i Lund
Construction form: Partnering- General entreprenad
Building Contractor: PSG
Gross Area sq.m:
New buiding: 1617kvm
Rebuilding: 883kvm
Year of construction: 2010-2011
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