• LOCATION: MALMÖ, SE
• CLIENT: MKB FASTIGHETS AB
• SIZE: 21.000 m² NEW BUILDING
• YEAR: 2007
• STATUS: CONCEPT PROPOSAL – CLOSED
• ARCHITECT: CEBRA, GEHL ARCHITECTS

Magneten (the Magnet) is situated in the middle of Malmö´s Rosengård area. This area is a development dating back to the sixties, consisting of solitary and widely-spaced concrete blocks placed in a park-like landscape. Like many other modernist housing areas, Rosengård has become a ghetto struggling with social problems and unemployment. Few people leave the area and people from other parts of Malmö never go there.

To renew Rosengård’s sense of identity and attract visitors, MKB decided to build a friendly monument, Magneten. This would serve as a focal point for the whole region and be an icon that inspires pride. Metaphorically, it would be like placing an Eiffel Tower in the middle of the neighbourhood. However, unlike the classic French landmark, Magneten has a different set of programs revolving around water culture.

The new building is placed in Rosengård´s central green area, which is raised up to form a green mountain-like roof penetrated by a number of towers. The sloping roof is designed for outdoor activities, such as sun bathing or skiing, the green program. The spaces under the roof are for blue programs, such as swimming and steam baths. The supporting towers contain shops, hotels and meeting rooms. From one side, Magneten looks like row houses exploding into a monument, while from the park side it looks like an alpine mountainside.