ulf mejergren stacks red kiosk cottages to shape wooden sculptural tower in sweden

Kiosk Obelisk by Ulf Mejergren pops up in Knivsta of Sweden

Stockholm-based practice Ulf Mejergren (UMA) designs a permanent sculpture to be exposed in front of the city hall of Knivsta, Sweden. Winning the corresponding competition held for the creation of a permanent public artwork that would decorate the town located north of Stockholm, the team proposes a project that draws from the rich rural heritage of the region while addressing the ongoing transformation of the city in the research of cultural identity. Surrounded by farmland, the structure builds up a wooden tower stacking several house-like volumes reminiscing of the typical Swedish cottages painted in distinct red color. The ascending shape of the installation arranges the smaller-sized cottages on the top. Navigating through the rapid expansion of the area with modern high-rises erected in the city center, and the appreciation of traditional architecture ruled by the surrounding countryside, the construction merges kiosk typology with an overall obelisk mass.

Kiosk Obelisk | all images by Ulf Mejergren

merging Swedish cottage typology with monumental sculpture

The sculptural building, to be erected in one of the most central places in Knivsta, in front of the city hall, mixes the traditional architecture of cottage kiosks in modest design and small scale, and the monumental and grandiose volume of an obelisk. The shape of the tower is generated by stacking several typical red rural cottages on top of each other, gradually narrowing their forms going upwards. The public artwork by design studio Ulf Mejergren serves as a tribute to the Swedish cultural heritage, but, also, as a metaphor for the transformation of Knivsta.

The cottage-like kiosk at the bottom of the structure is intended for various functions, such as a temporary station for kids to sell cinnamon buns and lemonade, or an outdoor library arranged by the municipality. ‘Kiosk Obelisk’ revitalizes the square in front of the city hall with lively and convivial interactions, while also being monumental and imposing. An unlikely pairing of two contradictions in the proposal becomes a new type of breed for public installations.

concept diagram – the project merges rural cottage typology and monumental sculptures

elevation drawings

section through the site – the tower adorns the newly built square in front of the city hall in Knivsta

visualization of the new square with the new public artwork by Ulf Mejergren

the ascending volume of the Kiosk Obelisk resembles stacked wooden Swedish cottages

at night, the monumental kiosk tower lights up from within

project info:

name: Kiosk Obelisk
designer: Ulf Mejergren (UMA)

location: Knivsta, Sweden

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom