Orkanen, Malmö
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Orkanen, Malmö Univeristy
Regeneration of an industrial dock to create a building that houses the School of Teacher Education and the main library for Malmö University
The building is situated opposite Malmö central station, the terminus for international arrivals,and is the first example of contemporary Swedish architecture that visitors see.
Since Swedish universities are not permitted to own their buildings, Malmö University 'rents' the facilities with a tenure subject to a 20-year lease, whilst the City of Malmö still owns the land
The facade was originally designed clad in green copper, but this was changed to green-tinted structural glass due to environmental issues. The text behind the facade is described as 'words in various languages and on various themes'.
The spatial organisation of six accommodation blocks separated by courtyards fulfills the brief of an efficient, flexible and easily divisible internal organisation. The entire upper floor is given over to the library.
The teaching spaces are placed on the perimeter of the building gaining much natural light, with the office spaces behind, some with internal windows. The services have been left exposed, articulating the office spaces, which remain with a palette of concrete and timber.
Data
- Begun: 2002
- Completed: 2005
- Floor area: 40,000m2
- Sector: Education
- Address: Malmö högskola Orkanenbiblioteket , Nordenskiöldsgatan 10, Malmö, 211 19, Sweden
Professional Team 
- Architect: Diener and Diener
- Client: DIL Nordic
- Building user: Malmö University
- Executive Architects: FOJAB Arkitekter
- Interiors: FOJAB Arkitekter
- Main contractor: Heitkamp and Oetken Bauunternehmen
