SOM and Entasis chosen to design Scandinavia's tallest tower in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The London office of SOM and Copenhagen-based firm Entasis -- who collaborated with COWI in Denmark and Sweden -- was just announced as having the winning design for the Polestar Tower in Gothenburg, Sweden. Once built, the 230 m. tower will reportedly be Scandinavia's tallest tower.

Since our last update on the Gothenburg tower competition, five star-studded finalist teams submitted their proposals under anonymity. SOM and Entasis went against teams led by Zaha Hadid Architects, Ian Simpson Architects, Wingårdhs Arkitektkontor, and Manuelle Gautrand Architecture.

Read on for more details about the winning design.

"Commissioned by major contractor SERNEKE and the City of Gothenburg, this inspirational new residential  scheme includes Sweden’s tallest building, marking a shift from traditional development patterns in the   country. Drawing on their experience as designers of 6 of the world’s fifteen tallest buildings, SOM’s design is highly efficient, both in terms of floor space and energy use, while still including apartments with views focused on the city and waterfront.

The tower design is complemented by a sustainable vision for the entire area, strengthening Gothenburg as a whole – in particular the post-industrial business district north of   Götaälven. Extending from this bold vision the master plan creates a highly animated 143,000m2 mixed use district. Offering a vibrant destination with a range of retail, food and beverage opportunities, this new neighbourhood will act as a catalyst in making Lindholmen the premier north bank area.

A series of mid rise towers rising from a robustly expressed sequence of podium buildings creates a new cluster of taller structures providing context for Polestar. The tower will offer a variety of apartment types, including single storey flats, loft-style apartments and duplexes. Balconies to each apartment not only serve to provide flexible living space, but are also used to accentuate the fluid geometry of the building, a form  which takes its inspiration from ribbons blowing in the wind. 

The Polestar creates opportunities for community within the building, incorporating a shared residents’ lounge, a public restaurant, a gym and a roof deck at podium level. The building is topped with an observation deck which, as the highest point in Gothenburg will provide the public with an opportunity to share views to the city and the wider region.   In parallel to the competition, to celebrate the city’s four hundredth anniversary, the design team has proposed a new landscaped ring linking key sites in Goteborg and the formation of a new park through the realignment of Lindholmsallén."