Mälardalen University Campus Eskilstuna / AIX

Arkitekter + 3XN

© Åke E:son Lindman

+ 20
• Curated by Paula Pintos
UNIVERSITY
•

ESKILSTUNA, SWEDEN

• Architects: 3XNInterior Designers: AIX Arkitekter

• Area: 20000 m²
• Year: 2020
• Photographs:Åke E:son Lindman
• Manufacturers: AutoDesk, Gustafs, Interface, Atelje Lyktan, BLÅ
STATION, Edsbyn, Flokk RBM, Glimakra, Horreds, Keystone, Lintex, Million
CPH, Ogeborg Flooring, Trecé
Products used in this Project

•
Gustafs
Wood Cladding - Linear Module

•
 Gustafs
Acoustic Nano Panels

MORE SPECS

Save this picture!

© Åke E:son Lindman

Text description provided by the architects. To gather both students and staff, needed
Mälardalen University a new central campus building in the city of Eskilstuna. The new
campus's main goal is to create a feeling of belonging between students and staff and to
become a strong symbol for knowledge in the city. Effectivity and shared use were
introduced in the disposition of the spaces. AIX helped the University with the interior
design of the building.

Save this picture!

© Åke E:son Lindman

The building was designed by Danish architects 3XN. The proposal was a spectacular
building that incorporated a swimming hall located right down by Eskilstuna river,
designed by Paul Hedqvist in 1933. Eskilstuna is an old industrial city with many
characteristic brick buildings. Brick and water. Keywords such as warmth, variety, and
human-scale were the common thread through the design.

Save this picture!

© Åke E:son Lindman

Save this picture!

Plan - First floor

Save this picture!

© Åke E:son Lindman

In terms of color, the concept has been based on the industrial façade of the industrial
city, from the darkest iron oxide red to the lightest pale pink in the new areas. Water
and blue tones have been a theme for the transformed swimming hall. Together with
the University, AIX adapted the floor plan for the new ideas that were raised along the
way. The university's management was interested in new forms of teaching and
working methods as an activity-based workplace, in line to keep the staff together
across academic boundaries. AIX supported the University with workshops, both in
terms of office environments and teaching methods. Campus Eskilstuna is a workplace
for 290 people.

Save this picture!

© Åke E:son Lindman

The workplace must encourage transparency and creativity where there is room for
teamwork and individually concentrated work. The learning areas have been designed
based on the latest research regarding learning. A large variety of educational spaces
have been created, from large auditoriums to classrooms. There are also rooms design
for special functions such as studios, workshops, classrooms with hospital equipment.
Public areas and informal study places are crucial for the students' well-being as well as
for the study results. Great emphasis has been set on the design of study areas such as
rooms for teamwork, open meeting and study places, libraries, and lunchrooms for
students.

Save this picture!

© Åke E:son Lindman

A common meeting place has been on the border between the parts where students
move freely and the part of the building that belongs to the staff. Here, students and
university staff can meet outside scheduled teaching time. The library in two floors is in
the former swimming hall. On the entrance level, there is a library for publications, a
place for exhibitions as well as study places and rooms for teamwork.

Save this picture!

© Åke E:son Lindman

The two floors are connected by an auditorium with reading places and workplaces for
teams in the part that was previously the pool. The library's bookcases are on the upper
floor. There are also study places and a quiet study room here. The result has been an
inspiring and modern university environment where students, administration, teachers,
and researchers can interact and develop.