The Cathedral – an inventor’s workshop for audiovisual design

The cathedral, an inventor's workshop for audiovisual design, forms a building that operates in the field of tension between two different landscapes, both as form and as idea. The building is located on the boundary between technology and untouched reed land, Mjärdevi Science Park with its large-scale buildings, and the boundary area between infrastructure and buildings where grazing and reed land has been allowed to expand. The building's location and design is a consequence of this context, where the volume wedges itself into existing built environment and opens up onto the surrounding landscape, both in plan and section. The building’s sculpturalform inroughtar paper, concrete and spruce plywooddefinesthe workshop,where itsessence manifests itselfin thevolume'sinterior– the Cathedral. Thesculpturalgivesclarity in relation toboththe site and the program, it creates a space ofconcentration and provides focuswithin the workshop,whilethe inner roomconnects to thelandscape and creates a place in close relationship to the expases of land. The materials of the building allow themselves to be transformed during the workshop’s process of development, they are let to change through the reworking and adding of layers. Their aging enhances the experience of the inner and outer rooms over time. This capacity for transformation makes the building durable and lasting. The building’s steel framework can be recycled and retain the same strenght and durability as steel made from iron ore. The concrete core has a large thermal mass which helps provide a stable indoor climate. The inside of the building is wood, a renewable material with good thermal insulation capacity. Art and cultural events take place here, as well as exhibitions, happenings and other encounters that allow visitors from all over the world to take part in the contemporary expression of design and technology.

Architects: Petra Gipp Architecture - Petra Gipp, Maria Videgård, Malin Heyman, Solmaz Beik, Jasmien Wouters
Location: Mjärdevi Science Park, Linköping
Area: 1500 sqm
Consultants:
Landscape Architect: Per Axelsson, Tema
Engineer: Olle Norrman & Allan Hammer, Konkret
Electrical: Åke Larsson, MIAB
HVAC: Göran Peterson, VVS-byrån
Project managemant: Kommi Kirvesniemi, Structor
Acoustics: Lennart Nilsson, LN Akustikmiljö
Construction Company: Building contractor: Kron & Karlsson bygg & mark ab.
Client: Björn Sandlund, Dataton AB