Västra Staden

Urban Design was commissioned by the City of Nässjö to take part in the municipality’s work on a comprehensive area plan for Västra Staden. The area, west of the town centre on the far side of the railway, consists of a varied building typology with mixed functions — largely industrial estates connected to the tracks, along with various commercial operations. Our proposal is a strategy that allows an incremental process of change, respecting and caring for existing activity while letting new buildings and small-scale businesses establish themselves over time. Nässjö sits between three lakes; a new green structure and a new canal connect the lakes west of the tracks, and the proposal also includes a new pedestrian and cycle bridge tying the districts closer to the town centre. In the second phase we developed the site immediately adjacent to the railway station, where a new hotel with conference facilities, a small gallery of shops and a restaurant is proposed. The roof of the hotel’s base forms a new urban space that establishes the area and acts as a springboard for continued development. The hotel becomes a new landmark built in timber, following the strong local tradition of timber construction but in a contemporary language.