Block 1, Tamarinden

A new residential block designed by Marge for developers Serneke in Tamrinden, a new city district on the edge of Orebro. The block will be the first in the new district located on the borderland between city and countryside that has the aim of providing excellent conditions for a sustainable, active lifestyle. The block’s location provides an explicit entrance motif to the new area, which is characterised by climate-smart solutions.

The block is formed of two buildings that share massing and material characteristics. They are given a more urban north-facing façade with a receding scale towards the green areas in the south, where large sun terraces provide evening sun and long views to the adjacent golf course. The south-facing courtyard with its shared greenhouse, toddler’s play area and open stormwater management, provides ample opportunities for socialising. The north building houses a bicycle workshop, a “ski waxing hut”, and a glazed roof terrace that can be used as a meeting or event venue. To retain the courtyard’s natural qualities and facilitate cultivation and the planting of trees, the garage has been placed under the building volumes. Additionally, there is a carpool and a cargo bike loan scheme.

The generous width of the entrance balconies provides space for seating, plants, and outdoor equipment storage. The vertical wooden panelling together with the flower boxes integrated into the balcony railings create tactile and inviting entrances. The location of the storage room contributes to creating a private zone outside one’s front door, while providing a certain amount of privacy for the flats, all of which have balconies in two directions. The façades are composed of brick in a random bond, with protruding bands to accentuate windows and entrances. The eaves and coping are finished with a vertical running bond and minimal coping plates in Aluzinc. The entrances are fitted with wall armatures that provide a warm, welcoming light.

The concrete structure is climate compensated and the roof is equipped with a solar heating system and solar cells that store solar energy for rainy days. Accumulator tanks contribute to resource-efficient hot water management. This allows the scheme to achieve a silver certification from the Sweden Green Building Council.