Anders Berensson Architects has designed a proposal for a
new water reservoir outside the Swedish city of Örebro. The competition brief
asked for a design to shape the new water reservoir into a grand monument that
could continue the tradition of the former water tower “Svampen” known locally for its unique
shape and viewing deck. We wanted to create a new landmark just like “Svampen”.
A landmark that is not only for show. We
want to create a landmark shaped from a function of serving the city with necessities.
Water is an important prerequisite for society to function but by building a
low “hidden” reservoir it is hard to display. So we decided to add an equally important
prerequisite; energy. We proposed that the new water reservoir would not only
collect water but also provide the city of Örebro with solar energy. The
proposed building is a sphere covered with a reflecting
surface of solar panels facing south generating energy for the city. Towards north
the sphere opens itself to the public with an illuminated inside of LED lights gleaming
like a ball of fire ( Eldklot in Swedish) towards the city of Örebro in the
evening. The new landmark will be visible from afar and look different depending on what
angle and time of the day you’ll see it from. The sphere holds great opportunities
to host various festivals and events. We hoped that by being a generous public
building with a timeless shape dressed with environmentally friendly technology
it could become a new modern symbol for the city of Örebro to enjoy.
