Slussen Master Plan Public Exhibition Previews Stockholm's New Face

The City of Stockholm recently opened a public exhibition of the Slussen Master Plan, an ambitious urban design project that seeks to replace much of the degenerated water and transportation infrastructure in the heart of Stockholm. The final plan results from the winning proposal by Foster + Partners in collaboration with Berg Arkitektkontor in the international Slussen Master Plan competition earlier last year (previously on Bustler).

“We are proud to be a part of this ambitious project to redefine this beating heart of Stockholm,” said Spencer de Grey, Head of Design at Foster + Partners. “The combination of a bold civic statement together with the repair of infrastructure that is critical to the future sustainability of the city promises a richer totality. With vastly improved access to the waterfront and generous amounts of new public space, the development will ensure that Slussen will become a popular civic focus for generations to come.”

Svante Berg of Berg Arkitektkontor said, “It is a privilege to work on this important project so close to home. It is also highly stimulating and a great pleasure to work with Foster + Partners.”

The Slussen Master plan covers an area of Stockholm adjacent to the navigation lock between the Baltic and the freshwater Lake Mälaren. The concept for the project is to create a modern urban quarter at the heart of the Stockholm archipelago and a dynamic new civic destination. The master plan will provide new public spaces, an accessible quayside, pedestrian and cycle routes and prominent new buildings while transforming the existing infrastructure to minimize the threat of flooding and creating a 21st century transport interchange. 

The catalyst is an urgent need to replace much of the degenerated water and transportation infrastructure. The City of Stockholm is taking the opportunity to transform this important part of the capital into a new destination, creating a balance between road vehicles and pedestrians while enhancing the public realm with easier access to the waterfront. The master plan scale and grain consciously preserves the city’s character at this historic location. 

A central feature of the new Slussen is the Water Square, a pedestrianized public space arranged around the new navigation lock and realigned quayside, animated by new restaurants and bars.  On the Södermalm side the ground plane around the existing City Museum is extended out over the new below ground transport interchange and shopping mezzanine to create a series of new public spaces. A range of mixed use buildings are integrated into the new quarter to become a dynamic urban focus for Stockholm. Slussen’s prominent waterside location opposite historic Gamla Stan will make it a magnet for the city’s best contemporary architecture, while the elegant new road and pedestrian bridges will become feature elements. Once complete, the new Slussen’s extensive public terraces will provide spectacular panoramas over Stockholm. 

The Slussen Master Plan exhibition opened on January 25 and will run through March 29.

Images: Foster + Partners