Modern cities are filled with small technical buildings; sub- and pump stations that provide essential electrical, water and sewer supplies to their citizens. These buildings are often a kind of[...]

© Robin Hayes
Modern cities are filled with small technical buildings; sub- and pump stations that provide essential electrical, water and sewer supplies to their citizens. These buildings are often a kind of unassuming anti-architecture; something that works best when it is not seen at all.
© Robin Hayes
Stockholm Royal Seaport has decided to take a very different approach. Here, a new addition to Storängstorget (the public square in the Stockholm township of Norra Djurgården) takes the form of a small building that houses both an electrical substation as well as pumps for the square?s new fountain. The building?s asymmetrical volume is primarily of Corten steel with a south-facing façade in sculptural wooden ribs that doubles as a generous seating bench oriented toward the square and the afternoon sun.
© Robin Hayes
The remaining sides of the building are composed of a graphic pattern of grazing deer made by laser-cutting into the Corten steel, as well as an interactive light image that shows real-time information on how much electricity is being consumed in the homes located around the square. The goal is to allow this small, but essential part of the neighborhood´s infrastructure manifest itself by clearly communicating its public function. We have created a sunny pe...