Hammarby Gård’s volume was precisely determined from the city’s regulations, which permitted only a certain height, a recessed upper floor and balconies facing the courtyard. Designing within those parameters, all apartments became dual sided allowing sunlight exposure throughout the day, from morning to evening.
Conceptualization of an open plan became fundamental, with a central core containing the kitchen and entrance. Living and dining spaces became interchangeable, with the bedrooms connecting to the central spaces, thus removing the need for corridors. All apartments were designed with a generous glazed balcony facing the courtyard - a steel structure with sliding glass panels.
The project’s materiality and construction technique were adapted to economize the amount of material as well as reduce the hours of assembly. Do to the use of prefabricated concrete as the primary building material - the facades and dividing walls are load bearing elements - the construction method was simplified, the building time shortened, and the details prepared for budget cuts. Furthermore, because of the building’s simplicity, the qualities of the project could be retained, regardless of the builder. The process became an important tool for other projects, dealing with questions on how to utilize constraints as assets.
