The transformation of the Luna Quarter is one of the most extensive urban development projects in the history of Södertälje’s city centrea. Currently known as Lunagallerian, the area is set to be transformed into several open urban districts. To ensure the best proposal, Telge Properties, which owns the Luna properties in central Södertälje, and Södertälje Municipality, which is developing the new detailed planning of the area, launched an architectural competition.

The competition attracted significant interest, with a total of 35 architectural firms participating in the pre-qualification round. The jury, consisting of representatives from Södertälje Municipality, Telge Properties, and the Swedish Architects Association, ultimately selected four architectural firms to develop their proposals for the new Luna Quarter.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, March 26, it was announced during a ceremony in one of the Luna buildings that C.F. Møller Architects was the winner with their submission "The Sky is Our Roof.".

"We are incredibly proud and happy with the trust placed in us to develop one of Södertälje's most well-known districts. The transformation of the Luna Quarter is an ambitious and forward-looking project with high ambitions to promote well-being for both people and our climate. This project combines gentle demolition with low-impact construction. Our hope is that the transformation of Luna can become a model for other cities in Sweden and Scandinavia," says Mårten Leringe, partner and architect at CF Møller.

Jury’s comments on "The Sky is Our Roof
“The winning proposal "The Sky is Our Roof" impresses with its approach to sorting and selecting actions that create value. This applies to the landscape, the city, the district, and the people who will live here. The thoughtful solutions enrich the surroundings in every direction.
The proposal is considered very convincing with beautiful daylighting, the distribution and placement of various activities, and the way entrances are designed and oriented. The plan leverages level changes, providing high long-term value through the conditions the structure creates.
We see attractive and inviting spaces and an architecture shaped with balanced scale and immersive design, which can add great qualities to the city and give Luna a strong character and identity.”

C.F. Møller's winning proposal will now form the basis for a new detailed plan.

About the Competition:
The competition area, Luna district is centrally located in Södertälje's modernist city centre and is a substantial and crucial part of downtown Södertälje. The properties within the competition area include several existing buildings. Most of these structures were built in the late 1970s, although there are also buildings dating from the turn of the previous century and from the 1960s. Culturally significant buildings are found both within the competition area and in the surrounding area.

Description of the Project Proposal
The Luna Quarter embraces the city and the sky. New public spaces and pathways create a human-scale urban structure, framed by careful architectural design. The introduction of the new Culture Square at Storgatan's level and the new Knowledge Place at Nygatan's level ensures accessibility to the district from both higher and lower city levels. These new urban spaces are connected by the lush Tälje Staircase, which becomes a landmark in the city. The staircase serves as an engaging focal point, playfully recalling the city's historical natural environment.

The scale and design of the urban spaces create clarity without unnecessary complexity or hidden corners, offering diverse experiences throughout the district. The inner part of Luna becomes visible from several directions: from above Nygatan, one can see all the way diagonally down to Stora Torget, and vice versa, through the generous opening from Storgatan and the inviting square that piques the curiosity of passersby and visitors alike. The diagonal connects to existing flows in the city centre, thus connecting the surroundings.

By fostering synergy between the functions of the buildings and adjacent public spaces, conditions can be created for urban life and security throughout much of the day and year. Concentrating buildings focusing on art and culture at Culture Square and activities centred on play, activity, knowledge, and innovation at the Knowledge Place give the area a distinct and appealing identity. In the evenings, the Biotope Terrace illuminates, becoming a new brightly shining symbol of urban life where the sky is our roof. In the new Luna Quarter, the public space is prioritised and creates indoor environments that seamlessly blend with the surrounding city. This approach fosters a lively, welcoming, experience-rich, and safe part of Södertälje's city centre.

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