Baggeboskolan in Tibro is this year's best community property in Sweden

Fotograf: Jonas Anhede

Great architecture does not solely come from creative ideas, but also from a collaboration with everyone involved in the project. Metal builders, entrepreneurs and those who’ll use the space. Baggeboskolan is an example of collaborative architecture and has received the prestigious construction award "Construction of the Year" in Sweden. 

Baggeboskolan is a F-9-school and the focus of this eminent project was, of course, sustainability. The choice of material has carefully been thought through, and every choice has been preceded by life cycle analysis in order to establish if its according to the high sustainable standards that been set out for the project. Not only materials have been carefully selected, but also the interior. The furniture is all mostly high-quality vintage that has been recycled from its earlier life in previous other schools. There has not been a trade off between functionality and design, both the exterior and the interior are expressions of the city’s craft traditions.

"Learning, safety and joy" is Tibro's vision for Baggeboskolan. That was the basis of our work. The vision for us as architects was to create a school where you can feel safe in your own unit - dormitory, but at the same time have a strong participation in the common. And it was also to create a school that is characterized by light and overview, it provides security and togetherness.” says Anette Wallin, architect SAR / MSA, Liljewall Architects.

The design is also a collaboration between architects, educators, teachers, students and other companies involved in the project. They’ve all contributed to create a school with the best prerequisites for its students.

“If there is a trade-off between design and sustainability? Both yes and no. In that context, I spontaneously think of recycling, which we also worked on at Baggebo, especially on the interior design side. There, as architects and interior designers, we have an exciting challenge to learn to ask the question "can we recycle?" instead of believing that we always need to design something new. ” Continues Anette.

Can you say something about the design of the future, what will we be characterized by?
- I think the design of the future will be more eclectic, precisely because I think it will contain more recycling than we see today. It will feel natural to reuse, which will also place demands on the design of what is new. In order to be reusable, what we create must maintain a high quality, which can withstand being used for a long time and being reused. ”

The construction of Baggeboskolan is the largest new construction project carried out in Tibro in 40 years and the bar was set at a high level for both the educational environment and the school's design. The construction was carried out as a collaborative project between Tibro municipality and NCC with GlasLindberg as subcontractor of both interior and exterior glass and metal sections.

“Baggebo was in many ways a dream project to work with, we had a fantastic client with a strong desire to create the best educational environments based on the business they wanted to build. Working in Tibro, with ancient craft traditions, was also a unique opportunity. Nothing was impossible. If specially built cabinets were proposed, they arranged it. Or bent wood and designed fixtures, or carved handles for the doors. The challenge as an architect was, of course, to respond to it and take advantage of the opportunities that exist.” Anette Wallin, architect SAR / MSA, Liljewall architects.

With a total surface of 9 300 square meters, with a variety of classrooms, for both school and leisure, the facilities are designed as a ring around an atrium.

“I believe that varied learning environments have come to stay. Different room types and room sizes. It opens up so many opportunities in everyday life both to gather in the large group and to meet the individual student. Another thing that I experience that many long for, of those who today work in an older school, is a natural center in the school, a place where you meet in everyday life without it being planned. It provides togetherness and context. I also believe that the schools of the future will be even better from a sustainability perspective. Light, sound, energy and materials will be even more important than they are today. Sustainability, I hope, will also mean that we prioritize school construction in the way it was done at the turn of the last century. Then the schools were important buildings in the city, lavish and with solid material choices. Over time, it is always a good idea to invest in materials that stand the test of time, even if they are not always the cheapest in the construction phase, it pays off in the long run. Schools are being torn down incredibly hard and I think that is sometimes forgotten when planning, especially in the early stages when political decisions are made and the budget is set, where I hope for change and awareness.” concludes Anette Wallin.

The school achieved the certification Miljöbyggnad Silver.

Architect: Liljewall arkitekter
SAPA Customer: GlasLindberg
SAPA Products: SAPA Products: Door 2086, Door 2050 & Facade 4150