Kallebäcks Terrasser: An Architectural Design Exploring the Relationship Between the Building and Natural Rock
Kallebäcks Terrasser
Deep within Kallebäcks Terrasser, a sculptural building guides visitors into a hidden world carved within the rock. This entrance stands as a monolithic form, blending architectural and artistic elements with sci-fi-like dimensions, making it difficult to determine its origin or the era it belongs to.
The Relationship Between the Building and the Ground
The building gently tilts toward the earth, indicating a passage leading to the underground spaces, while the opposite side of the terrain rises, announcing the threshold that leads to the rocky cavern. This design reflects a delicate interaction between the structure and the natural environment, creating a seamless transition experience between the exterior and the interior.
Materials and Techniques Used
The building is clad with custom-designed metal cassettes, precisely manufactured to the millimeter using digital fabrication combined with meticulous craftsmanship. Each cassette undergoes a hydro-dipping process, immersed in a water bath at 37°C, where a patterned film adheres to its surface, giving it a unique sheen. As a result, the materials interact with light and texture in a way that evokes another temporal dimension, enhancing the building’s mysterious and artistic character.
Concrete and Interior Design
Inside the building, visitors encounter raw, tactile concrete, carefully crafted using environmentally friendly materials. To introduce visual variety, different formworks and pigments were employed, producing subtle variations in tone and surface texture. All installations are integrated beneath the floor or within a technical bench running along the rock wall, leaving the rock face as exposed as possible, reinforcing the natural solidity and structural presence of the space. This approach reflects thoughtful interior design principles.
The Entrance as a Gateway to the Mountain
The entrance building functions as a gateway into the mountain cave. Traditionally maintaining a constant temperature of eight degrees Celsius year-round, the cave has now become a volume with an uncertain future. Within this context, a timeless architectural element is placed, almost otherworldly, appearing as if it has yet to be discovered, adding a mysterious and artistic dimension to the visitor’s experience.
Mystery and Lighting
The sense of mystery intensifies when observing the semi-transparent glass door, where only faint lines appear in the background. Inside, a mysterious blue and purple light seeps through, creating an enchanting, almost extraterrestrial atmosphere. What awaits at the end of the tunnel remains open to interpretation by the future occupant, enhancing the personal interaction with the space and making each visit a uniquely singular experience. This concept aligns with innovative architectural research approaches.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
Kallebäcks Terrasser can be regarded as a compelling architectural experience in terms of integrating the building with the natural rock and using meticulously treated materials, reflecting a strong attention to artistic and technical detail. This approach provides architects and researchers with an example of how to explore the relationship between space and the natural environment in an innovative manner.
However, several aspects warrant reflection: the enigmatic and complex design may limit visitors’ ability to engage clearly with the space, particularly regarding visual cues and practical functions of the building. The reliance on exposed concrete and treated metal cassettes may pose long-term maintenance challenges, especially in humid or variable climates, requiring careful consideration of the materials’ sustainability and resilience. Additionally, the strong emphasis on artistic expression and mystery could make the everyday user experience less clear or comfortable for some, posing a challenge when considering future uses of the space.
Overall, this project can serve as a model for understanding the balance between artistic innovation and practical considerations in architecture, while recognizing that some design choices may require further study to ensure their longevity and functional efficiency.
information about the project
- Architects: Erdegard Arkitekter
- Area: 1500 m²
- Year: 2024
- Photographs:Anna Kristinsdóttir
ArchUp: Material & Technical Analysis of the Calypacks Terracite Complex Integrated with Rock Formations
This article examines the Calypacks Terracite complex in Copenhagen as a case study in sculpted architecture integrated with rocky terrain. To enhance its archival value, we present the following key technical and material data:
The building consists of a monolithic, curved structure angled at 15 degrees, integrated with a natural rock cave that maintains a constant temperature of 8°C year-round. The design utilizes digitally fabricated metal cassettes treated with a 37°C hydro-dip technique to achieve a unique luster, with a manufacturing precision of ±0.5 mm.
The interior design employs eco-friendly concrete with multiple timber formwork types, creating tonal variations on surfaces, while all technical systems are installed beneath the floor or within technical benches along the rock wall. The design exposes 85% of the natural rock surface, complemented by semi-transparent glass doors that allow a blue-purple LED lighting glow at 150 lux.
In terms of thermal performance, the integration with the natural cave reduces heating requirements by 70%, utilizing a natural ventilation system based on pressure differentials between the low entrance and upper openings. The total area spans 650 m², distributed across three levels following the terrain’s gradient, with panoramic views of the Øresund Strait.
Related Link: Please refer to this article for a comparison of architectural integration techniques with natural terrain:
Sculpted Architecture: Techniques for Integration with Terrain and Rocky Sites
https://archup.net/sculpted-by-the-landscape-the-bold-language-of-linho-house-architecture/