The Subterranean Concrete Orgy by Toki Drobnjakovic and Per Sundberg (Per & Toki) is a reinvention of the "infamous" Blue Star building in Stockholm. The designers, looking for a new studio and office space for Studioverket, have collaborated with concrete producer Butong to realize a space of "homogenous diversity" by using a new type of concrete sealed air bubble casting. By incorporating new design features and in reinventing some of the existing, the basement space has been transformed from pornography shop to elegant studio defined by a series of unique interventions. See the changes after the break...
Portico
"The sequencing of space & placement of elements was determined by the two freshly baked entrepreneurs - Butong was then to propose design solutions. Starting with the stairs, the space needed to make a distinct division between exterior & interior space."
"On the vertical surfaces, the translucent layers of concrete are removed for an organic pattern of transparency, made possible by the moiré distribution of holes. The wall is also an acoustic barrier as acoustic foam behind the panels absorb street sound, preventing it from spilling down into the lounge."
Vertical Garden
"Spatial formation and the relation to the cold light from the vertical garden aim at mirroring the cave typology. The entrance, with its dimmed light, is the darkest space and further in where people work regularly, a lighter environment is created."
Ambience
"The four nodes of the project are connected by intricate moiré lighting effects, caused by small & sharp light sources behind transparent parts of the material, which are turned on when suitable for the setting."
Green-Wall
"The graphic organic of the entrance space has its continuation in the truly organic green-wall. A mix of seeds & plant cuttings were used. The seedlings break their way through the ultra-thin layers of concrete in the hollows & are root spread in the underlying substrate, giving a dynamic vegetation."
"Lots of herbs, chillies & other edible plants are grown to be used for drinks or as spice at company events. Tenants and visitors are also invited to plant seeds, available beside the wall. Hopefully this will give create a sort of connection between people and place."
Sound Wave
"Opposite from the vertical garden a sculptural element defines the space between the two pieces. As a reference to the adjacent music studio - the shape is an illustration of sound waves, placed frozen on the wall."
Girl in the Wall
"As this used to be a shady porn shop/erotic bar, the more expressive Girl in the Wall has found its fitting home close by the emergency exit. This one of a kind piece was created by movie producer Erik Liss, by simply casting Butong."
The Casting Process
The unique, perforated panels were "made by pressing concrete in-between two layers of Sealed-Air bubble. After pressing, the panels can be shaped for approximately one hour". In using high strength EXM concrete, the "leaf-thin layers of concrete - where bubbles have connected - can either be removed for transparency or be kept for translucency". In the case of the vertical gardens, a "mineral substrate is held in place behind the panel and the created sandwich is watered by a dripping hose at the top."
Architects
Toki Drobnjakovic and Per SundbergLocation
Stureplan, Stockholm, SwedenStudioverket Team
Toki Drobnjakovic, Per SundbergDesign Team
Noa Ericsson, Erik LissButong Team
J-C Violleau, Andreas Berkebo, Lars HöglundProject Year
2013Photographs
Per LundströmLocation
Stureplan, Stockholm, SwedenProject Year
2013Photographs
Per Lundström
References: Studioverket
