By Randers Tegl March 2, 2026.

Kallebäck Kv. 6 - Geometric composition rooted in time and place

Kallebäck kv. 6 is the tallest building in the area and was commissioned with the ambition of representing the wider Kallebäck district at a pivotal moment in its transformation. The client’s request was for a building with a clear and recognisable form. The project coincided with Gothenburg’s 400th anniversary, creating an explicit relationship to the city’s architectural history.

// Influenced from early american high-rises

Kallebäck kv. 6 is the tallest building in the area and was commissioned with the ambition of representing the wider Kallebäck district at a pivotal moment in its transformation.

The design is based on a distinct and legible volume, where the stepped formation is a defining architectural element. The architecture is described as both contemporary and backward‑looking, with references to Gothenburg’s built heritage from the Jubilee Exhibition one hundred years ago, as well as to North American high‑rise architecture of the last century and its early visionary ideals.

A key challenge in the design process was integrating the building’s technical and functional requirements without compromising the clarity of the architecture. Installations and building services needed to be handled within systems and details that allowed the overall form to remain clean, restrained and coherent, requiring a high level of coordination throughout the project.

The material strategy has been consistent across the entire building. The façade is executed entirely in brick, without the addition of other exterior materials. The intention was to allow the volume itself, proportion and the inherent qualities of the brick to define the architectural expression, without relying on layered materials or decorative additions.

// Volume, light and use

The building comprises approximately 21,500 square metres, with the high‑rise element reaching 20 storeys. The programme includes rental apartments, elderly care housing,special‑needs accommodation, commercial spaces and a garage. The ground floor is designed to accommodate active uses, concentrating movement around the base of the building as part of its everyday function within the area.

Social sustainability has been a significant consideration, with particular emphasis on issues of safety and perceived security. By organising activity around the lower levels of the building, the project aims to support a more animated and comprehensible environment at street level, linking the tall volume to daily life around it.

Balconies are integrated into the overall geometric structure and are set back within the corners of the building. This configuration allows for more protected outdoor spaces and contributes to improved acoustic conditions despite the building’s exposed location near major roads, while maintaining a clear and unified façade.Lighting has been designed to emphasise the building’s verticality during evening hours and to accentuate the texture of the brickwork. The project is described as a residential building that brings together contemporary architecture and historical references within a simple, geometric and disciplined whole.

// Geometric composition rooted in time and place

Olsson Lyckefors Arkitektur is a Scandinavian architecture firm with offices in Gothenburg and Stockholm. The studio works across a wide range of projects, from early strategic studies to buildings and interior environments for both public and private clients. The practice consists of 18 architects, interior designers and staff members, together with Otis, the office springer spaniel. Olsson Lyckefors Arkitektur iis guided by an exploratory and practical design process focused on developing clear and well‑considered architectural solutions.

The office has received both national and international recognition. In 2023, Merkurhuset was awarded the Kasper Salin Prize and was later nominated for the 2024 EUmies Awards.

// Unika - Exceptional detailing

Our Unika series bricks are crafted exclusively at our brickworks in Denmark. The Unika series consists of waterstruck bricks, a traditional manufacturing method that creates a vivid surface with rich variation and distinctive detailing. This expressive character is one of the series’ defining visual qualities and the very reason we continue to value this historic craft.

For Unika, we use carefully selected blends of the finest local and imported clays. Each product has its own unique recipe, defining its final colour palette. In selected types, the addition of charcoal during the firing process further enhances the depth and natural variation of colour.