One material. But still such different effects. The choice is not just about stone. But just as much about what the architect wants to express. It becomes extra exciting to let different surfaces interact with each other on the same facade.
If you walk along Olof Palme Street in Stockholm, you will find the SIF building by Carl Erik H Fogelvik and Hans Birkholz. To The facade was made of Älvdalsquartzite in two shades; a polished surface set against a cross-hammered row. The choice of Älvdalsquartz, says Carl Erik H Fogelvik, felt natural based on his feeling for earthy materials with the ability to function as long-term decorative elements in an urban environment.
Carl Erik H Fogelvik describes himself as an architect with his feet on the ground who is positively inspired by Danish and medieval European architecture. He is now retired, but during his professional years was part of the architectural firm FFNS. For many years he worked primarily abroad in countries such as Peru, Ethiopia, Iran and Bangladesh in various aid projects for SIDA.
In Sweden, Carl Erik H Fogelvik is behind the residential area Ellagård in Täby, Stockholm, the redevelopment of the Lagern neighborhood at Klara kyrkogårdsgata in Stockholm, and Östersund Hospital, among other things.
For Hans Birkholz as a newly graduated architect, the SIF building was one of his first assignments. A project led by Carl Erik H Fogelvik.
In recent years, Birkholz's name has been associated with the center of Stockholm, where he has worked on the renovation of Hötorget and Sergelgatan. In his own words, he has tried to recreate life in those parts of the city. The methods he has used have been glazing the heavily trafficked Sergelgatan/Sveavägen street, renovating shops in the area and changing the street atmosphere with the help of lighting, new seating areas and spreading the paving stones on Hötorget to create uniformity across the square.
Hans Birkholz appreciated Älvdalsquartzite because it offered opportunities to put appealing surfaces with different characteristics – in this case, cross-hammered and polished – against each other. Side by side.
A city full of diversity and a facade with different stories. Quite naturally.
