Architects
Nyréns Arkitektkontor
Location
Gävle, Sweden
Opening
2024
Solution
Kvadrat Shade Minimal Bracket system with Clearview, and a comprehensive selection of Kvadrat textiles, including Twill Weave, Raas, Watercolour, Balboa, Zulu 2, Floyd Screen, Tonus 4, and Steelcut Trio 3.
Photography
Felix Gerlach
Designed to be equally inviting from every angle, Agnes Kulturhus in Gävle embodies openness and accessibility. The new cultural centre, which houses the city’s main library together with community and exhibition spaces, integrates Kvadrat Shade roller blinds and a wide range of Kvadrat textiles to enhance comfort, flexibility and aesthetic cohesion throughout the interior.
The building’s fluid, rounded façade creates a sense of movement and welcome, ensuring a consistent experience from all directions. Its golden sand-coloured cladding, inspired by the surrounding ochre brick and plaster facades, reflects Gävle’s architectural heritage. Horizontal ribbons across the façade pay homage to the 1960s building that previously occupied the site, maintaining a dialogue between past and present.
"Wir können nur raten, wie die Bibliotheken der nahen Zukunft aussehen werden. Daher war es für uns unerlässlich, dass das Gebäude so flexibel wie möglich ist." Johan Forsman Sachs, Architekt SAR/MSA bei Nyréns
From the outside, the façade and shading work in harmony. The metallised Clearview textile reflects sunlight with a thin layer of aluminium on their exterior-facing side, reducing heat and glare while visually blending with the golden façade. This cohesion between façade and blinds strengthens the architectural unity and supports the building’s refined expression.
Inside, the design focuses on flexibility. The structural system of pillars and beams allows interior walls to be added or removed as the needs of the library and community evolve. This approach ensures that the building can adapt to the changing role of public spaces and the future of libraries.
"Eine wichtige Herausforderung im Projekt bestand darin, Rollos zu integrieren, die zur Klimaregelung und Energieeffizienz beitragen würden, ohne Kompromisse bei Ästhetik oder Nachhaltigkeit einzugehen. Wir suchten nach einer phthalatfreien Lösung mit raffiniertem Ausdruck" Ernesto Garcia Innenarchitekt und Möbeldesigner SIR/MSA PhD-Kandidat, Nyréns Arkitektkontor
Light, comfort, and clarity
Kvadrat Shade roller blinds with Clearview provide refined control of natural light throughout the building. The blinds are centrally operated and connected to a sensor-based system that automatically adjusts them in response to sunlight, ensuring optimal performance and consistent indoor comfort. Users can also operate the blinds manually when needed.
Visual comfort for reading and learning
Clearview offers an excellent balance of visual and thermal comfort, essential qualities in a library setting. Glare is minimised while maintaining clear outward visibility, creating bright, comfortable reading areas, and preserving the building’s sense of openness. The Minimal Bracket system, designed by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, supports the architecture’s sense of openness when installing the roller blinds solution.
„Wir haben uns für Kvadrat-Produkte entschieden wegen ihrer außergewöhnlichen Haltbarkeit, zeitlosen Ästhetik und dem Engagement für nachhaltige Produktion“Ernesto Garcia Innenarchitekt und Möbeldesigner SIR /MSA Doktorand, Nyréns Arkitektkontor
Textiles that bring spaces to life
Across the interior, Kvadrat textiles add tactile depth. Materials such as Twill Weave, Raas, Watercolour, Balboa, Zulu 2, Floyd Screen, Tonus 4 and Steelcut Trio 3 were chosen for their balance of texture, tone and performance, creating calm reading areas as well as vibrant communal zones.
Designed for the future
Every aspect of Agnes Kulturhus has been conceived with longevity and adaptability in mind. From the durable, light-reflecting façade to the flexible interior layout and high-performing Kvadrat solutions, the building sets a new standard for sustainable, human-centred public design in Gävle.