BRF Smedjan Courtyard Building and Gatehouse – Contemporary Residential Architecture in Olivedal, Sweden

Högberg Gillner Arkitektur’s BRF Smedjan Courtyard Building and Gatehouse revitalizes a historic industrial site in Olivedal, Sweden, blending heritage elements with modern residential design. Located on Tredje Långgatan, a street defined by a mix of building volumes, the project harmonizes remnants of early 20th-century industrial buildings with contemporary architecture. The surrounding urban block features brick façades, plastered surfaces, and natural stone bases that characterize the historic city fabric, inspiring the design of the new development.

Historical Context and Design Challenge

The site originally housed a blacksmith workshop built in 1902 by Olof Anton Möller, consisting of the workshop building in the courtyard and a representative false front façade along the street. Over the decades, both structures fell into disrepair, with the courtyard roof collapsed and interiors stripped of historical detailing. Heritage assessments concluded that the courtyard building lacked cultural value, while the zoning plan of 2017 allowed new construction behind the preserved street façade.

The architectural challenge was to integrate historical urban layers, modern zoning requirements, and industrial building techniques into a cohesive residential project. The approach focused on respecting the original site while creating high-quality urban housing with dignified materials that age gracefully.

The Courtyard Building

The new courtyard building is clad in flamed granite, echoing the rough-hewn stone bases typical of the block. Its façade follows a classical tectonic order, establishing a human-scale rhythm and a calm, cohesive expression. Rather than conventional balconies, the design incorporates floor-to-ceiling motorized vertical sliding windows, allowing each apartment to transform its façade into a functional balcony. This strategy preserves the courtyard space while ensuring openness and generous daylighting.

The building’s floor plan is organized in layers: stairwells occupy the darker core, while living spaces extend toward the bright façades. Non-daylit areas like hallways and bathrooms are located deeper within, ensuring naturally illuminated and airy living spaces even on the north-facing side. The courtyard apartments offer a seamless integration of light, materiality, and spatial comfort, reflecting Högberg Gillner Arkitektur’s commitment to thoughtful residential design.

The Gatehouse

The street-facing gatehouse, originally part of the smithy office, is meticulously restored. Collaborating with a building conservator, the architects recreated the façade to approximate its original appearance. Since the building never had a rear courtyard façade, the new side draws inspiration from the old workshop, featuring small-pane windows, lime-washed brick, pilasters, and a cornice.

The gatehouse now houses four urban townhouses, each with private patios and shared ground-floor social spaces. Distributed over two main floors and two mezzanine levels, the townhouses introduce a dynamic spatial configuration, offering innovative urban living while retaining a historical narrative within Linnéstan’s cityscape.

Materiality and Urban Integration

By blending flamed granite, lime-washed brick, concrete, and glass, the project bridges past and present. The design honors the historical industrial context while creating a modern residential courtyard that enriches the urban block. The regular stone façade, thoughtful window design, and spatial layering provide both dignity and contemporary livability.

BRF Smedjan Courtyard Building and Gatehouse exemplifies a sensitive urban transformation, combining historic preservation, contemporary architecture, and human-centered residential design.

All photographs are works  of Hampus Berndtson, Bert Leandersson, Högberg Gillner Arkitektur