The winning proposal titled “Kiruna 4-ever” creates a sustainable vision for the long-term expansion of the city eastwards. It allows for the further development and broadening of Kiruna’s mix of cultures and diverse population by creating a welcoming and global city, unique in its placement within the arctic landscape. The proposal strives to create a destination of great dignity, attractive venues and fantastic living environments.

- Our ideas on how and where to move Kiruna are based on knowledge of what exists today, along with a strong vision for its future. Kiruna will be an internationally acclaimed model city, says Mikael Stenqvist, head architect of the winning proposal, developed in cooperation
with the Norwegian Ghilardi + Hellsten Architects.

Iron ore has created jobs and prosperity in Kiruna since 1900, when Sweden’s most northerly city was founded. But it is also the same underground mining that makes it necessary to move large parts of the city to safer ground. The relocation is a physical change of enormous magnitude. In 2007 the first decision was made to move the entire centre along with many of the town’s buildings. An architectural competition for a new city centre was announced, which resulted in victory for White defeating nine international teams from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, England, Spain, Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland.

Sustainability issues are key to the proposal. Kiruna is the largest iron producer within Europe and the greatest energy consumer in Sweden. An added complication is the city needs to be transformed at a fast pace in an extreme climate. This provides unique opportunities for new thinking in sustainable city planning and requires a long-term and flexible, holistic approach at all stages. The transport system is optimized for Kiruna’s climate by focusing on a cable car to internally connect all parts of the city including the mine, and a rail line with a station in the heart of Kiruna. The proposal is resourceful in its utilization of local materials and the reuse of those that currently make up the structures threatened by the mines deformations, this approach enables the creation of a unique and resource-efficient city.

- The proposal offers, above all, strategies to deal with an uncertain future, which may involve further ground deformations far beyond the competition brief of 2033, says Ellen Hellsten at Ghilardi + Hellsten Architects.

For information:
Monica von Schmalensee, CEO at White, 08-402 25 84
Mikael Stenqvist, Head architect White, 08-402 26 75
Ellen Hellsten, Head architect Ghilardi-Hellsten Arkitekter : +47 90 05 99 15

For images:
http://www.white.se/aktuellt-press/

White has a long tradition of being a pioneer on environmental issues within architecture and construction. For two decades the company has been building up a unique bank of knowledge and has established leading-edge skills within the full spectrum of sustainability – from alternative energy, materials expertise and climate change to specialist competence in social sustainability, strategic consultancy and certification of individual buildings and entire urban districts within all of the major certification systems on the Swedish market.

A Master of Engineering, Anna Graaf has been working for White in Gothenburg since 2001 and has many years of experience in driving forward and coordinating environmental and sustainability issues in building projects as well as in urban planning. In recent years, she has also been working on the British market, where there is great demand for Swedish sustainability know-how.

At close quarters Anna has seen how environmental issues have grown from being a lukewarm, mandatory matter to a core activity within large parts of the construction sector.

– Sustainability has become a matter of course within all serious architecture and construction operations. It has been an exciting journey, and it is now time to take the next step."

She lists three factors that have hastened developments. The first of these was Al Gore and the film "An Inconvenient Truth". The second was the new round of building standards issued by the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning, containing stricter energy requirements, and the third was the certification systems that have made it possible to compare buildings based on the same criteria.

– It has really raised awareness and got the industry moving, says Anna, who describes her new role as a combination of coach, ambassador and visionary.

– My job is to formulate a shared objective for our work on environmental and sustainability issues and to drive it forward. We have a large, broad base of knowledge among our staff of just under 700 people. We will gather, package and pass on that knowledge both within and outside White.

For information:
Anna Graaf, tel 031-60 86 28

Press images:
http://www.white.se/aktuellt-press/pressbilder

The new building, designed by Scandinavian practice White arkitekter in partnership with UK-based architects Sprunt and structural engineers Price & Myers, was the winning scheme in an international design competition organised by the Landscape Institute in 2009. The design ‘Sculpted by Wind and
Wave’ was favoured for responding to the conditions of the site whilst presenting a radical deviation from the traditional Victorian architecture of the town.

Originally constructed in the Victorian era, the pier has survived fires, boat crashes, two world wars and economic decline, as well as undergoing a series of design alterations and amendments since it opened in 1830. The cultural centre is the first structure added to the pier head since 2000 when a new lifeboat station was built and it is hoped that the centre will revitalise the historic pier’s fortunes following the fire that devastated it in 2005.

Unlike most British piers, which are populated by amusement arcades and rides, the new cultural centre aims to reinstate Southend’s most famous landmark as a continuation of the seafront town onto the water by creating a vibrant public space on the pier from which to enjoy the landscape of the Thames Estuary.

The building’s sweeping geometric form and harmonising palette of materials celebrate the topography of the windswept site integrating it into the scenic landscape. The dynamic roof shape, which measures up to 9 metres from floor level, houses a large multi-purpose events space with floor to ceiling glazed elevations. Orientated South facing, the entrance façade is set back beneath the roof forming a sheltered entrance and café terrace from which to enjoy views out onto the water. 

The building has sloping walls and a twisting hyperbolic paraboloid roof form. Modeled in 3D using Catia, software more commonly used in the design of planes or cars, the geometry of the structure gives the building its signature sweeping profile. The complex modular arrangement of triangular frames makes efficient use of material. A system of supporting trusses gives the building the stiffness it needs to spread its weight evenly over the pier’s 100-year old cast iron piles.

Due to the challenging conditions of the site, contractors Kier fabricated the building off site at Tilbury Docks and craned it into place in one piece. The 170 tonnes steel frame structure was transported from the docks on a barge along the Thames Estuary and craned in at high tide using a 400-tonne marine sheer leg crane. The structure itself was strong enough to be hung from only four points without twisting or damaging itself in the exercise, which required careful planning and precision and was successfully achieved in just 24 hours.

Salt corrosion, wind and wave loads are some of the elements that combine to make the pier head a hostile environment for building. Durable materials have been specified throughout to help achieve a long expected lifespan under these conditions. The roof and wall panels are built of insulated marine plywood decking covered with a waterproof membrane. The walls are clad with Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) panels, whilst the roof is treated with a non-slip textured top coat which is colour matched to the GRP walls to give the building a unified expression. 

Working in consultation with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) the team has specified a roof surface treatment to sustain the Turnstone birds that roost on Southend Pier. Similarly the facade glazing is tinted green to discourage the birds from flying into it. 

The new cultural centre boasts some impressive environmental credentials: the superstructure is built of recyclable steel; the building envelope achieves a high level of insulation and air tightness; and the building achieves 10% renewable energy with the provision of air source heat pump technology, mechanical ventilation and a heat recovery system.

Flood proofing strategies include raising the building 1.5 m from the deck of the pier. Reclaimed decking from underneath the building provides a datum at the base of the building and a ramped timber walkway made of the same FSC-certified tropical wood provides access. 

The main space, with its dynamic waveform ceiling, has been designed to accommodate a range of cultural activities and events programmed by Southend Council, including art exhibitions, theatre and music performances, film screenings and private events such as weddings. The triangular panels of roof, which anchor to the long wall of the building create unexpected oblique views out. Floor-to-ceiling glazing on the North and South elevations gives a clear view through the entire building and frames a panoramic view back to the shoreline.

Adjoining the main space is a 40 sq m artist’s studio, a café which opens onto the entrance terrace, public toilets, a kitchen and store.

During the day the GRP cladding has a translucent quality which changes tone, appearing white in bright sunlight and greenish grey when the sky is overcast. At night luminaires delineate the building’s sculptural profile. Southend Pier is a landmark structure closely associated with the town and particularly to the typology of Southend’s shoreline. The new Cultural Centre brings new life to the promenade and reclaims the pier as the town’s main attraction for both the town’s residents and tourists.

PRESS ENQUIRIES:
Claire Curtice Publicists
Tel: 00 44 (0)207 613 1442
Email: mail@clairecurtice.co.uk

Professional photographs © Luke Hayes are available upon request.

A short film produced by Apricot Productions documenting the craning in of the structure is available for online streaming and can be viewed at: http://vimeo.com/45574433

NOTES TO EDITORS:
Brief history of the Pier:
1830 Pier first constructed as 150-metre long structure for loading boats at high tide
1843 Pier extended to 450 metres
1848 Pier extended to 2,100 metres
1889 The entire wooden structure was replaced with cast iron structure
1890 The pier’s electric train made its maiden voyage
1897 Pier head added
1908 Upper floor added to the pier head
1995 Fire destroys the bowling alley
2000 New lifeboat station added to the pier head
2005 Fire damage destroys the old pier head including southern train station, emporium and bar
2007 Saville Jones appointed to restore the pier structure
2009 White arkitekter win international competition for the design of Southend Pier Cultural Centre and invite UK based Sprunt to collaborate as design partners
2009 Saville Jones restore the pier structure, deck and train station
2011 Planning permission obtained for Southend Pier Cultural Centre
2012 Southend Cultural Centre opens to the public

Project facts and credits:
Location: Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK
Size: Cultural Centre: 376 sq m, External deck and stairs: 264 sq m
Client: Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
Architect: White arkitekter
Executive Architect: Sprunt
Structural Engineer: Price & Myers
Services Engineers: Atelier Ten and DGR Mechanical Services
Building Contractor: Kier Construction
Quantity Surveyor: Sweett Group
Fire Consultant: IFC, International Fire Consultants Ltd.
Acoustic Consultant: SRL technical Services Ltd
Planning Consultant: Turley Associates
Environmental Consultant: AECOM
Marine Consultant: HR Wallingford Ltd
Culture Planning: Noema Culture & Place Mapping

Project Schedule:
Competition date: August 2009
Design phase: July 2010 - Dec 2011
Construction: Jan 2012 - August 2012
Big Lift craning in: May 2012

White arkitekter
With over 60 years experience in architecture and masterplanning, White arkitekter is Scandinavia’s leading architectural firm and, with around 600 employees, one of Europe’s largest. White’s expertise encompasses architecture, urban design, landscape architecture and interior design with an emphasis on making sustainable architecture that contributes to building a sustainable society. The internationally acclaimed sustainable city developments of Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm and at the Western Harbour in Malmö demonstrate the practice’s commitment to, and innovation within, the
field of sustainability.

In the UK White arkitekter is regenerating a 1.5 hectare inner city site in Greengate Salford, into a new sustainable neighbourhood. Elsewhere in Manchester White have developed a Sustainability and Environmental Framework for the regeneration of West Gorton, an area of the city which has historically suffered from serious deprivation. The practice is one of 6 practices to be shortlisted for The Sunday Times British Homes Awards 2012 design competition, Tomorrow’s Smart Home, the winner for which will be announced on 19 September.

Sprunt
Established in 1988, Sprunt are masterplanners, urban designers, architects and landscape architects. Through organic growth, Sprunt has enjoyed nearly 25 years’ experience in designing and implementing projects in London and the South, with an emphasis on Regeneration, Residential, Education, Leisure, Health and Mixed Use developments. Through care, dedication and a thorough approach to design, Sprunt has inspired change and developed vibrant, safe, secure and dynamic places that will endure.

Price & Myers
Price & Myers was established in 1978 in London as a firm of consulting structural engineers, with the aim of working with good imaginative architects to make excellent buildings. In its first 33 years the company has completed over 21,000 jobs and won over 400 awards. Price & Myers have offices in London, Nottingham and Oxford, and currently employ about 130 people. 

Kier Construction
Part of the Kier Group, Kier Construction provides a comprehensive building and civil engineering service delivered through a nationwide network of locally managed businesses, complemented by a major projects capability. Its eastern operations, carried out from offices in Witham, Wisbech and
Norwich, have a lineage stretching back over 140 years and provide an unrivalled service to both the public and private sectors.

Big Lift: Scheduled w/c 14 May 2012

A new 350 sq m cultural centre commissioned by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and designed by Scandinavian practice White arkitekter, working in partnership with London based architects Sprunt, will be craned onto Southend Pier next week.

Weighing 170 tonnes, the structure will be transported in one piece from Tilbury Docks, where it has been fabricated off-site. It will be transported by barge along the Thames Estuary and lifted onto the pier head the following day at high tide using a 400-tonne marine sheer leg crane. Once in place on the pier head the structure will be clad with an external skin and fitted out ahead of a grand opening this
summer.

Originally constructed in the Victorian era and measuring 1.34 miles in length, Southend Pier is the world’s longest pleasure pier. With an illustrious history, the Grade II listed pier, which has its own train line, has survived fires, boat crashes, two world wars and economic decline, as well as undergoing a series of design alterations and amendments since it opened in 1830.

The new cultural centre will be the first structure added to the pier head since 2000 when a new lifeboat station was added. Sited at the far end of the pier, the challenge of this project has been building onto a listed and fragile structure in an offshore environment. White arkitekter’s ambitious design, ‘Sculpted by Wind and Wave’, the winning entry of an international competition in 2009, responds to the conditions of the site and represents a radical deviation from the traditional Victorian architecture of the town. Its sweeping geometric form and harmonising palette of materials celebrate the topography of the windswept site to integrate it into the scenic landscape. The dynamic roof shape, which measures 9 metres at its highest point will house a large multi-purpose hall with floor to ceiling glazed elevations offering spectacular views out to the Thames Estuary.

The building has sloping walls and a twisting hyperbolic paraboloid (double curved) roof form. Modelled in 3D using Catia, software more commonly used in the design of planes or cars, it is the geometry of the structure that gives the building its signature sweeping profile. The complex modular arrangement makes efficient use of material. A system of supporting trusses gives the building the stiffness
it needs to spread its weight evenly over the pier’s piles. The structure is strong enough to be hung from the crane by only four points without twisting or damaging itself during installation. Following the competition win White teamed up with UK practice Sprunt to oversee the development of the design. White have worked with structural engineers Price & Myers from the outset to overcome the technical challenges presented by the site and to bring their vision to reality. All three partners have worked closely to maintain the integrity of the original concept with onsite pile testing undertaken to ensure the pier will withstand the weight of the new building.

Contractor Kier have overseen off-site construction and are tasked with the challenge of managing the Big Lift. They have worked closely with the London Port Authority to coordinate the sequence, slowing river traffic to prevent large bow and stern washes, which could adversely affect the gentle descent of the building. When landing the building it will be lowered at only 2mm a minute to mitigate impact
damage to the 100-year-old cast iron piles that support the pier.

Salt corrosion, wind and wave loads are some of the elements that combine to make the pier head a hostile environment for building. High specification materials have been used throughout to help achieve a long expected lifespan, despite these conditions. The roof and wall panels are built of insulated timber panels covered with a waterproof membrane. The walls are clad with Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP)
panels, whilst the roof is treated with a non-slip textured top coat which is colour matched to the GRP walls to give the building a unified expression. Working in consultation with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) the team have specified a roof surface treatment to sustain the Turnstone birds that roost on Southend Pier. Similarly the facade glazing is tinted to discourage Turnstones flying
into it.

The building boasts some impressive environmental credentials: The superstructure is built of recyclable steel; original timber decking uplifted from the pier to make way for the new structure will be reusedto build the timber plinth it sits upon to raise it above a worst case scenario wave and flood line; the building envelope achieves a high level of insulation and air tightness; the building achieves 10% renewble
energy with the provision of air source heat pump technology, mechanical ventilation and a heat
recovery system.

On completion this summer, the new Cultural Centre will house a multi-purpose hall, seating approx 185 people; a 40 sq m artist studio; a café with outdoor terrace; ancillary accommodation (WCs, store and kitchen). It will host a programme of indoor and outdoor cultural activities, bringing new cultural life to the promenade and reclaiming the pier as the town’s main attraction.

“We named our original 2009 competition-winning entry ‘Sculpted by Wind and Wave’. The design has undergone a series of iterations since but it still stands up to the name as it speaks of the unity of the dramatic scenery of the Thames Estuary and the dynamic shape of the emerging building. With the arrival of the Cultural Centre, Southend Pier stands some 120 years young ready to meet future generations
of visitors.”
Fredrik Petersson, Project Architect, White arkitekter

Disclaimer: the proposed big lift date is subject to weather conditions and may have to be postponed if
adverse conditions are predicted.

Since White's establishment in the early 1950s, it has had a global perspective, with many foreign assignments over the years. Over the most recent decade, the international demand for White's services within high-quality architecture and master planning has increased considerably.
The UK and Norway are two markets in which White has been awarded major commissions, after competing with many of the world's leading architectural practices. Put simply, in Norway it relates to schools and homes, and in the UK to urban renewal on a large scale.

Success breeds success. Every project implemented in Norway and the UK has given rise to new commissions. In London, its address is a well-known one – The Building Centre – which houses a large number of companies and businesses that all have architecture and master planning as a common denominator. Here, White is located adjacent to the UK Green Building Council. Keith Boxer, a British architect who has acted as a consultant for White for many years, is Manager for the British market.

In Oslo, White is establishing itself in a hothouse of creativity on Møllergata, where White is sharing with Ghillardi+Hellsten Arkitekter, Florian Kosh and other creative colleagues.

"An inspirational environment right in the city centre which is just perfect for us," says Johan Lundin, Office Manager in Gothenburg with responsibility for the establishment in Norway.

For information:
Monica von Schmalensee, tel +46 (0)8 4022584
Keith Boxer, tel +44 (0)16 25 59 02 60
Johan Lundin, tel +46 (0)31 60 86 94

"There is a need for more people who move between politics and the economy in both directions. I am pleased to contribute to reducing that chasm and increasing trust," says Maria Wetterstrand.

"I am extremely pleased that Maria is coming onto the Board. She is an authority on sustainability and the environment, who commands great respect in all camps," says Magnus Borglund, Chairman of the Board at White.

For almost ten years, Maria Wetterstrand was a member of the Swedish parliament and mouthpiece for the Swedish Green Party. In September 2011, she left politics and has been acting since then as an independent debater, writer and lecturer. At heart she is still green and environmental issues are at the top of her agenda.

"I met White's CEO, Monica von Schmalensee, at a construction industry conference, and she asked whether I could imagine myself taking up a place on the Board. At that time, I had already begun to wonder about a task such as this, to learn more about how the private economy functions and about the knowledge and ideas I would be able to contribute."

White is an industry pioneer in sustainability, with unique experience and competence. Internationally, Monica von Schmalensee is in demand as a lecturer within the field of low-energy construction and social planning, focusing on sustainability.

"Maria is a clear reinforcement on our Board. We have a distinct shared foundation in environmental issues and I am looking forward now to being able to take up an even clearer position as a world-leader within sustainable building," says Monica von Schmalensee, who is also Chair of green industry organisation, Sweden Green Building Council.

Chair of the Board, Magnus Borglund, emphasises the importance of having independent members on the White board, where Maria Wetterstrand is now complementing Per-Håkan Westin (former CEO of property company AP Fastigheter) and Hans Bergenheim (business economist). Other people on the Board are White employees.

"We need people who are not different from us, who enable us to lift our gaze because of their different skills and new perspectives. Maria has a broad-based interest in society, and has skills that will benefit us greatly," says Magnus Borglund.

For information:
Magnus Borglund, Chair of the White Board, +46 (0)31 60 86 05
Monica von Schmalensee, CEO White, tel +46 (0)706 53 60 46
Maria Wetterstrand, tel +46 (0)702 42 416

Uppsala city centre is being upgraded on an ongoing basis, to retain its power of attraction. A string of pearls is being developed in the form of significant spaces and distinctive streets within the city centre. Four teams were selected for the competition on Forumtorget and the adjacent Smedsgränd lane, and White emerged victorious with its ”SOfFtA” proposal.

As the name makes clear, the proposal is very playful and, at the same time and as requested, brings together and strengthens the identity of the square – perhaps mainly in comparison with the huge, recently face-lifted Åhléns department store with its powerful façade. Or in the words of the competition jury itself:

"A robust and well functioning proposal with a clear concept that is judged to fit into an increasingly self-confident Uppsala in which historic beauty and cultural inheritance exist in a harmonious relationship with a new era. Forumtorget becomes a square to move across as well as an attractive new meeting place for everyone."

"Our vision is for the Forumtorget of the future to be one of Uppsala's most attractive meeting places. We perceive it as a new obvious meeting place in the city," says Gustav Jarlöv, Lead Architect for the proposal which is based on three strong design elements: subdued paving, a powerful sofa and a generous plateau.

In the square, you can forget shopping, take a break from shopping or gather your strength for more shopping. The paving, sofa and plateau form pawns in the most fundamental board game being played out on this square – seeing and being seen. They can all be used for spontaneous performances as well as more formally arranged meetings – political speeches, dancing exhibitions, displays. However, they also function as places of respite and as seating for spectators.

• The sofa offers varied seating areas with different heights and designs. The sofa's interpretation can be varied over the year, using changes in lighting and featured plants. There is an opportunity for flexibility in its use, for different purposes and requirements.
• The plateau is a sculpture, a seating area and a place for playing. It also contains an integral water feature, which is a positive, soft element within this city environment.
• The paving is a ground covering that fits in well with the paving in the city round about, yet having its own strong identity.
"The sofa is probably the component that will be talked about most," Gustav Jarlöv believes. "In principle, from a pure design perspective, it can be as long as you like. It is going to be extremely exciting to be involved in developing this low-lying landmark in Uppsala."

For further information:
Gustav Jarlöv
+46 (0)18 18 38 16
For pictures: See "download". Please indicate illustration: White

The original competition brief invited proposals for the design of a development of 120 family homes on the 1.5 hectare site in Greengate close to the centre of Manchester. The brief highlighted the provision for sustainable healthy living, requesting that urban design proposals respond to the findings of the Marmot report.

With a team lead by architect Geoff Denton and landscape architect Jake Ford, White arkitekter’s winning proposal combinines a robust Salford-inspired architecture with light and spacious Scandinavian family home types. Every home has access to it’s own private exterior space, whilst large gardens create a framework and focus for the community, nurturing the English love of gardening and vegetable growing. A key element of the design is a series of large-scale greenhouses within each courtyard garden, which provide practical and inspirational spaces for a sustainable family lifestyle.
The project has been developed together with Northerngroup, Great Places, Stockley, AECOM, Gardiner & Theobald as well as White’s own sustainability engineers.

The project represents the practice’s third significant commission in the UK following their appointment as architects for the regeneration of Southend-on-Sea Pier in 2008 and as Sustainability and Environmental Framework Architects for the regeneration of West Gorton, Manchester in 2010.
Monica Von Schmalensee, CEO White arkitekter said:

“The Salford House 4 Life competition provides a unique opportunity for White to bring the practice’s deep knowledge of sustainability to bear on one of society’s most urgent challenges: to provide affordable and truly sustainable family housing in the heart of the city. This is another fantastic success for White in the UK”.

John Merry CBE, Leader of Salford City Council, said:
”This housing will be different to anything we have seen in Salford before. It will be exciting to watch the scheme take shape over the coming months and years, bringing innovative and sustainable housing into the city for our residents to enjoy.”

Catherine Burd, RIBA Adviser said:
“The judges were all extremely impressed by all three shortlisted entries. In the end, the clarity of White’s landscape-led approach emerged as a clear winner. The scheme, which builds on a Scandinavian model of family apartments and flexible tenancies, provides all households with views and access to a range of imaginatively landscaped private and shared garden spaces, within a simple and robust urban footprint.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:
White arkitekter
With over 50 years experience in architecture and masterplanning, White arkitekter are Scandinavia’s leading architectural firm and, with around 600 employees in Sweden and Denmark, one of Europe’s largest. The practice first started working in the UK in 2008 when it won a significant commission to regenerate England’s coastline, with a competition winning proposal to transform the Grade II listed Southend-on-Sea Pier devastated by fire in 2005. White’s expertise includes architecture, urban design, planning, landscape architecture, interior design, architectural heritage, sustainability and project management.

The founder, a young architect named Sidney White, had a strong belief in an equal society; his aim was to change and improve Sweden through architecture. Today his legacy lives on in our ambition to contribute towards the building of a sustainable society. For nearly two decades, White has invested in establishing a unique department of highly qualified experts in the field of sustainable design. Our leading role in internationally acclaimed sustainable city developments, such as Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm and at the Western Harbour in Malmö, bear witness to our ability.

Geoff Denton graduated from Sheffield University School of Architecture in 1986. Having worked with Marks Barfield Architects, he joined Ralph Erskine Architects and Planners in 1999. He became a partner soon after. At Erskine’s he was responsible for the development of Greenwich Millennium Village. He has worked on integrated sustainable urban planning projects throughout Europe. He joined White Arkitketer in 2010 and is International Director for the Stockholm office.

Jake Ford qualified as landscape architect from Manchester University 1995. He has worked with Zaha Hadid, Kinnear Landscape Architects and Camlins Landscape Architects before joining White arkitekter in 2010. He has studied at the Royal College of Art in Stockholm. Jake is a founder member of Medium, a creative studio based in Stockholm producing projects related to public space, architecture and visual culture. Projects by Medium often focus on the context of our everyday lives, the commonplace things that often go unnoticed.

The Marmot Report
In November 2008, Professor Sir Michael Marmot was asked by the Secretary of State for Health in the UK to chair an independent review to propose the most effective evidence-based strategies for reducing health inequalities in England from 2010. The strategy will include policies and interventions that address the social determinants of health inequalities

Press enquiries:
Claire Curtice Publicist
+44 (0)20 7613 1442

Principal contacts at White arkitekter
Keith Boxer, Director Innovation and Sustainability
+44 (0)7977 203359

Geoff Denton, architect
+46 8 402 26 15

Selected from 54 entries, White arkitekter is the only non-British practice to reach the shortlist of six in the RIBA organised design competition for The Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust (HPWRT). The Trust is looking to identify an architect to work with in their redevelopment plans to reinvent Hastings Pier, as well as assisting in their fundraising campaign and in stakeholder and public consultation. Shortlisted practices also include Adams & Sutherland, de Rijke Marsh Morgan, FAT, Niall McLaughlin and Wilkinson Eyre.

With over 50 years experience in architecture and masterplanning, White arkitekter is Scandinavia’s leading architectural firm and, with around 500 employees in Sweden and Denmark, one of Europe’s largest. The practice first started working in the UK in 2008 when it won a significant commission to regenerate England’s coastline, with a competition winning proposal to transform the Grade II listed Southend-on-Sea Pier devastated by fire in 2005.

£3 million funding has now been secured for the first phase of their winning proposal ‘Sculpted by Wind and Wave’ to transform the landmark from a pleasure pier into an urban pier creating a ‘street’ with restaurants, cafés and other social spaces. The initial phase of Southend-on-Sea Pier, featuring a new cultural centre is scheduled to complete next year.

Both projects represent major steps to regenerate Britain’s coastline by improving the attractions in seaside resorts.

For press enquiries and visuals of Southend-on-Sea Pier contact:
Claire Curtice Publicists
020 7613 1442

“Recruiting and filling key positions is sometimes easier than normal. By quite simply allowing Alexandra and Carl to swap jobs with one another, we now have a new International Manager and a new Office Manager in Malmö – and two qualified employees who are getting the stimulation of new challenges.

After successes with major assignments, mainly in the UK, Denmark and Norway, White has been attracting a lot of attention as a player on an ever-more globalised architecture market. This smooth chess move of managers in Malmö fits in well with our ambitions to make the next move in our international initiatives, in which the International Department becomes a specific support function for the office’s sales and for carrying out assignments.

After just over seven years as manager of the Malmö office, Carl Bäckstrand was ready for new challenges. The Malmö office has doubled the number of people it employs, moved to new inhouse-designed premises, broadened and intensified customer relationships in both the private and public fields.

“With his many years of experience and large network of contacts, Carl is very well placed to lead the next stage of our international initiative, while Alexandra as new office manager, is also able to take up new challenges in a region that is a veritable melting pot for innovative architecture,” says Anders Svensson.

Alexandra Hagen has already got things underway very successfully and has been leading White’s international initiative for three years. She has valuable experience in strategic sales and in international competition, something that is extremely tangible on an everyday basis within the Öresund Region.

“This feels like a chess move in which everyone is a winner,” says Monica von Schmalensee, who takes up her post as new CEO for White at the turn of the year.