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Argus Knowledge and Cultural Center
Falkenberg, Sweden

  • client Falkenberg Municipality
  • landscape architect Fojab Arkitekter AB / Caroline Hjalmarsson
  • lighting designer Fojab Arkitekter AB / Caroline Hjalmarsson
  • electrical planning Ledel AB
  • photographer Werner Nystrand
  • Representation Selux Sverige

In the town of Falken­berg in Sweden, the new Argus Learn­ing and Cul­tural Centre was com­pleted last year. Located in the city centre, it is designed as a space for cre­ativ­ity, curios­ity and for enjoy­ment of learn­ing. The build­ing com­plex houses the munic­i­pal library, a school, the tourist infor­ma­tion centre as well as a cul­tural school and cul­tural centre. Sit­u­ated between the his­toric market square and the new munic­i­pal park, the centre acts as a nat­ural meet­ing point.

Together with the munic­i­pal centre and town’s the­atre, the learn­ing and cul­tural centre forms a strong cul­tural clus­ter con­nect­ing the exist­ing centre of the town with its north­ern part, thereby increas­ing attrac­tive­ness of the dis­trict. The goal of the build­ing design by archi­tects Fojab Arkitek­ter AB was to con­tribute to ver­sa­til­ity and social sus­tain­abil­ity in the town. It rep­re­sents the largest invest­ment ever made by Falken­berg munic­i­pal author­ity to date, com­pris­ing two build­ings, the newly built Argus cul­tural centre and the upgraded, extended build­ing of the town’s sec­ondary school.

From the market place, vis­i­tors enter the foyer through the wel­com­ing main entrance — the win­dows of which are those of the children’s library and a café with an open-air seat­ing area. As well as a recep­tion and infor­ma­tion centre, the library is located here, extend­ing for almost 2800 square metres over two levels and sur­round­ing a large, uncov­ered inner court­yard. A green­space for use as a seated area for pre­sen­ta­tions and a children’s area with a fairy tale cave invites vis­i­tors to stay for a while and linger. The ren­o­va­tion has lent the school build­ing an entirely new char­ac­ter, chang­ing it from an old, dusky school into a bright, airy centre for learn­ing. A pedes­trian bridge links the gram­mar school with the cul­tural centre, thereby enabling access to the munic­i­pal park even when it is closed.

For the light­ing design, Fojab Arkitek­ter AB col­lab­o­rated with Car­o­line Hjal­mars­son, land­scape archi­tect LAR/MSA, who has used Olivio Grande, Medium and Spot lumi­naires to illu­mi­nate the public space in front of the cul­tural centre. Using Olivio gobo pro­jec­tors, it has been pos­si­ble to create artis­tic light­ing accents. The lumi­naires create a pleas­ant envi­ron­ment for any vis­i­tors who wish to stay for longer in this bustling loca­tion.

  • The organic design of Olivio and its functional versatility due to the modular design of this luminaire family is inspired by role models from nature. As a result Olivio forms the basis for light concepts in urban living areas where the focus is on the well-being of people. Olivio luminaire heads are available in the sizes Grande, Medio and Piccolo and can be combined with various arms and pole types from the three design lines Sistema, Floracion and Candelabra. Yet it is not just the design that can be adapted individually according to the situation – various optics and light colours from 2,700 to 4,000 Kelvin also cater for challenging lighting tasks efficiently and without glare: from illumination of paths and squares, floodlighting of façades and accent lighting of buildings. The new Olivio Cap also reduces light scatter and for special requirements, with its camera and loudspeaker modules, Olivio can be integrated into smart application scene. The special wooden-pole aesthetic emphasizes the Olivio's high quality, organic luminaire design. Combined with luminaire heads in a harmonoius colour tone such as bronze, this results in a timelessly comforting spatial ambience.

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