snøhetta completes undulating meadow landscape for swedish science park

on the outskirts of lund in sweden, snøhetta’s landscape architecture for the MAX IV laboratory is complete. the vast landscape has been undergoing a transformation since 2011; a project that has been realized to complement the advanced research venue to form the first part of the swedish region’s vast ‘science city’ development.

a plan was developed to create slopes and undulations to reduce the amount of vibrations effecting the labs
image © mikal schlosser

set on 19 hectares of land, the MAX IV buildings were designed by FOJAB architects, whilst the vast green site, defined by the undulating topography and meadow vegetation was created by the norwegian firm. snøhetta based their development of the landscape architecture on four concepts: ground vibrations, mass balance, storm water management, and plant selection and maintenance. this led to the formation of the uneven meadows.

on the MAX IV site, the ground vibrations range between 10 to 40m in height, therefore the flatter the landscape, the more likely these vibrations will interfere with the scientific experiments inside. using 3D-modelling, the distributions of numerous mounds has resulted in the bold pattern which manages water run-off and mass balance on site.

image © mikal schlosser

‘the step from advanced geometry to fabrication is still one of the largest challenges we face in design today. in MAX IV the process was like having a giant 3D printer producing the project on a 1:1 scale. the high-tech research facility together with the lowtech meadowland creates the iconic image of the waves that protects the research facility from the vibrations.’ – snøhetta

image © mikal schlosser

ground vibrations — the tolerance for vibrations in the ground is critical for the use of a synchrotron. the dynamics group (researchers and engineers) discovered through testing that the surrounding highway (E22) was causing vibrations that could influence the experiments in the laboratories. consequently, a plan was developed to create slopes and undulations to reduce the amount of ground vibrations

MAX IV is a national laboratory operated jointly by the swedish research council and lund university
image © mikal schlosser

mass balance — a cut and fill strategy was needed to keep the existing masses on site, allowing for the option of potentially reverting the land to agricultural use in future. by uploading the digital 3D-model directly into the GPS-controlled bulldozers, the design team was able to relocate the masses to their final position in one operation. by september 2011, approximately 60% of the mounds were created and no masses were transported off site. the last section of the wave pattern will be finished in 2016.

bike shelter for employees
image © snøhetta

plant selection and maintenance — the facility has a 25-year maintenance contract with the client. the discovery of the nearby natural reserve area at kungsmarken made it possible to use a selection of natural species by harvesting hay and spreading it on the new, hilly landscape. this gives plants up to five growing seasons until the completion of the project in summer 2016. the maintenance strategy includes a combination of grazing sheep and conventional machines suitable for meadowland.

the project forms the first part of the region’s vast ‘science city’ development
image © snøhetta

storm water management — the city planning department restricts the quantity of water permitted to run into lund’s pipe lines. consequently, the earth works needed to collect and store water on site.

the advanced research venue forms the first part of the region’s vast ‘science city’ development
image © mikal schlosser

the layout was established by extracting the nature of vibrations into rational values inserted in a generic model
image © cecilia holm

the creation of a new, green public park rather than a fenced, introverted research center makes a difference in the
public realm
image © mikal schlosser

the site instills the image of the meadow vegetation on sloping hills as a recreational area
image © mikal schlosser

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